Aftershock

Earthquakes strike a Chilean coast town, trapping a group of tourists inside a collapsing hotel and surrounding streets. The disaster forces them into a claustrophobic maze where resources dwindle and fear tests loyalties. What begins as a survival ordeal quickly spirals into a fight for control as the group's dynamics fracture under pressure. The film uses a grindhouse tone to blend brutal violence with dark humor, while the remnants of the town become a perilous backdrop filled with rotted backdrops and aftershocks both literal and psychological. As their protection breaks down, decisions under stress threaten to turn allies into enemies. This tense setup keeps the danger close, denying comfort or easy escape.

Directed by Nicolás López and produced with Eli Roth and Guillermo Amoedo, Aftershock was made on a modest two million dollar budget and released in 2012. The screenplay comes from López along with Amoedo and Roth.

Cultural chatter around Aftershock centers on its unapologetic brutality and its grim tone that mixes exploitation cinema with a tense survival story. The film helped spotlight a collaboration between Chilean filmmakers and international horror talent and drew attention to its pragmatic location shoots.

Critics noted the film's lean setup and ruthless pacing, with some praising its willingness to place characters in peril rather than relying on elaborate effects. The themes of trust versus manipulation under pressure emerge, showing how danger reveals both courage and survival instincts.