The Flesh Itself

Directed by Ian Sbf Brazil 202596 min. Rated R (unrated)

Ostentor CinemaSat, April 18, 20268:00 PMEuropean premiere

AndreasstadelSun, Apr 19, 20268:30 p.m.

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That is what it is about

Fleeing from the army, three deserting Brazilian soldiers in the Paraguayan War around 1870 seek refuge in a remote house, whose owner turns out to be a violent, racist creep. As if that weren’t enough, the house is littered with occult symbols, and it even has a torture chamber. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes clear that there is no chance of escape—and that they have gone from the horrors of war into an even darker hell.

What you should know

Set against the backdrop of one of the bloodiest conflicts in South American history, which claimed over 400,000 lives, director Ian SBF crafts a harrowing and shocking, highly immersive blend of psychological and supernatural horror. In doing so, he does not shy away from extreme gore. What is particularly striking, however, is the dense, hopeless atmosphere that unites victims and monstrous perpetrators in a place of no escape that harbors an infernal secret.

Original Title: A Própria Carne

Copyright holder: Carolina Alves

Language: Portuguese

Cast: Pierre Baitelli, Camillo Borges, Jorge Guerreiro

Film Festivals: Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, FilmQuest Festival

Direction

Ian SBF is from Rio de Janeiro—and originally from the world of comedy. The YouTube channel “Porta dos Fundos,” which he co-founded in 2012, became Brazil’s most-subscribed channel in less than a year; his channel “Sociedade da Virtude,” launched in 2017, is now part of Adult Swim’s lineup. THE FLESH ITSELF is his sixth feature film and, following the sci-fi thriller CICLO, his second foray into the genre. At the 2025 FilmQuest Festival, he won three awards, including Best Director.