Latino Representation in Horror // The Expendables

Recently, I have been rewatching my favorite comfort horror movies—a sign of the times. I think I went through Elvira’s entire catalogue, and I watched quite a bit of Spanish-language horror. My favorites, though, are slashers all day. Good times, except that I found myself growing increasingly annoyed. Is this all we’ve got in terms of Latino representation in horror films? Coincidentally, it’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and I usually share my favorite Spanish-language horror movies. However, this year, I want to draw attention to the terrible Latino representation.

I am angry about the poor writing and the sad Latino characters. Just like all marginalized groups, including black and indigenous people, queer, and differently-abled, we’re rarely seen as the Final Girl/ Guy. Also, Latinos are usually the bad guy or the dead guy (Read The Black Guy Dies First). Here, in no particular order, are some examples of Latino stereotypes commonly used in horror movies. In turn, we have little to no screen time and will most likely die a horrible death. If we survive, we will have gone through a living nightmare.

My Bloody Valentine (2009): The Maid

First, I do appreciate the homage to the “body in the dryer” from the 1981 original; however, the off-screen death made this one more egregious. Maids are Latinas, and they’re always casualties of a slasher or otherwise. That’s the trope. My Bloody Valentine was a great topic for an old episode of my podcast, and we sure as hell got into about the maid. Why did Axel and Sarah even have a maid?!

No One Gets Out Alive: The Hardworking Immigrant

An immigrant in search of the American dream is forced to take a room in a boarding house and soon finds herself in a nightmare from which she can’t escape. Mexican actress Cristina Rodlo represents so many true stories of immigrants working in shitty conditions, dealing with family who turn their backs once they’re Americanized, and they are easy targets for predators. Furthermore, to kick her while she’s down, she seeks to buy papers, and she is taken advantage of and robbed by another coworker. And it happens all the time. Yes, this is a supernatural movie involving a demon, but what is the reason to highlight our stories if just to keep showing us beaten down?

Birth/ Rebirth: The Single, Latina Mother

First of all, I liked this movie, and it was disturbing. Director Laura Moss had a sick idea, and I couldn’t turn away. Dr. Rose Casper (Marin Ireland) and Celie Morales (Judie Reyes) are excellent characters played by incredible actresses. Here’s the trope. Reyes’ character, Celie, is a single Latina mother and nurse. I do love that America sees us in these nurse caregiver roles, but it’s a box. Open it and let us breathe. Celie struggles throughout the movie with a beautiful little girl and little to no help, and for what? SO glad for the inclusion.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: The Un-American

I was thrilled to see my favorite childhood storybook brought to life. Bonus: One of the leads is a young brown man named Michael Garza. I’m delighted to see a Brown face in a lead role. Not glad to see him harassed and hate-crimed. And not so happy to see and hear a word that I had heard so often as a child that I became numb to it. Throw in that they have him on the run, hiding from a war. They got him with the, serve your country and be a real American propaganda. Unfortunately, I fell for it, too. What’s more, the uniform didn’t make me more American to anyone else. Off to war this kid goes.

The Faculty: The Sexy Latina

I’ll admit that when I see Salma Hayek, I will watch the movie. The Faculty is a favorite, but Salma Hayek plays the school nurse, whose character is taken over by an alien. In turn, she becomes sexy. Additionally, her character is a vampire in From Dusk Till Dawn. Sexy is the character. Of course, she’s gorgeous! Just give the Latinas more to do in horror than just be sexy.

Silent Night: The Criminals

This is billed as an action thriller. A tormented father witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. He makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen to avenge his son’s death—a great example of what they think is representation. Give the white man a Latina wife and have a son. When the son is killed, let’s go on a bloody rampage, killing all the rest of the Latinos in this film. What is this trying to promote? What’s the fucking message? And racists across America continue to see nothing but Latinos represented as criminals and murderers.

Holland: The Bullied Latino

If you’re tired of hearing it, imagine how tired I am of seeing it. Tired of the stereotypes and racism that seem to be so natural to movies that they will feature a Brown man (Gael García Bernal) in a lead role, opposite a white woman, who is hate-crimed just so that he can have character. The sad Latino teacher is hated, and that’s all they could say about it. What was the reason?! People hate Mexicans—the end? It’s lazy writing. Thanks, Holland, I feel represented. Consider this a thank-you letter for the inclusivity.

My voice matters. My opinion is just as important as yours. And I am not a foreigner or an immigrant in America (which we want and welcome). Most importantly, I spend the almighty dollar on horror. I buy movie tickets and media, and I spend way too much on movie merchandise. And my family and friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are mostly Black, Brown, and/or queer, neurodivergent, and differently-abled. My point is that we are the audience. Where’s our Latino representation? It’s not just a sea of white faces hanging out at the theater. As in all aspects of living in America (our home), we had to make a space for ourselves in horror. And we are here to share and uplift all of our voices. You are welcome to my continued patronage. Do better.