Latin American Horror Industry Expands as Grupo Morbido and Eli Roth Collaborate on Argentine Feature Burger Night

The landscape of Latin American genre cinema is undergoing a significant transformation as Grupo Mórbido, the influential Mexican media conglomerate dedicated to horror and fantasy, formalizes its latest high-profile international collaboration. Pablo Guisa, the founder and CEO of Grupo Mórbido, has officially joined the production team of the upcoming Argentine feature film Burger Night: Luli, Magda & Lore. This project marks a pivotal expansion of the "MorbidoGate" initiative, a strategic alliance between Globalgate Entertainment and Grupo Mórbido designed to identify, develop, and localize intellectual properties (IP) with high commercial and critical potential for global markets.

Burger Night: Luli, Magda & Lore is a horror-thriller currently in development that draws its narrative inspiration from the cinematic universe of Jimmy and Stiggs, a project originally conceived by the prolific American independent filmmaker Joe Begos. The Argentine adaptation seeks to transpose the extraterrestrial threat and high-octane tension of the original American concept into a distinct South American context. The production has garnered significant industry attention due to the involvement of Hollywood heavyweight Eli Roth, who serves as an executive producer through his banner, The Horror Section. Roth’s involvement underscores a growing trend of established international filmmakers investing in the burgeoning talent pool within the Latin American horror scene.

Strategic Framework and the MorbidoGate Alliance

The development of Burger Night: Luli, Magda & Lore was prominently featured during the IP Showcase of MorbidoGate, held at the Fantastic Pavilion during the Marché du Film in Cannes. The Marché du Film, the business counterpart to the Cannes Film Festival, serves as the world’s premier venue for film professionals to negotiate rights and forge co-production deals. Within this ecosystem, the Fantastic Pavilion has emerged as a dedicated hub for genre cinema, providing a platform for projects that traditionally might have been overshadowed by mainstream dramatic features.

The MorbidoGate model is built upon the premise of "glocalization"—the adaptation of globally recognized concepts to suit local tastes and cultural nuances while maintaining an international standard of production quality. By leveraging the intellectual property of Joe Begos’ Jimmy and Stiggs, the production team aims to create a film that resonates with Argentine audiences through local settings and casting, while remaining highly exportable to horror fans worldwide. This strategy is part of a broader effort by Globalgate Entertainment to build a library of localized versions of successful films, a model that has proven successful in comedy and drama and is now being aggressively applied to the horror genre.

Creative Leadership and Production Pedigree

The film will be directed by Sebastián De Caro, a prominent figure in the Argentine film industry known for his deep knowledge of genre tropes and his ability to blend suspense with character-driven narratives. De Caro is also co-authoring the screenplay alongside Matías Orta. The project has already secured a formidable creative team, including creative producer Ramiro García Bogliano, a veteran of the Latin American horror circuit.

A notable addition to the technical crew is cinematographer Mariano Suárez. Suárez has recently gained international acclaim for his visual work on the seminal Argentine horror films Aterrados (Terrified) and Cuando acecha la maldad (When Evil Lurks). The latter, directed by Demián Rugna, became a global sensation, winning the top prize at the Sitges Film Festival and achieving record-breaking box office numbers for an Argentine horror film in the United States. The inclusion of Suárez suggests that Burger Night will prioritize a sophisticated visual aesthetic, moving away from the "lo-fi" tropes often associated with independent horror.

The cast is set to be led by a trio of rising stars in the region: Agostina Palazzolo, Agustina “Papry” Suásquita, and Maia Tarcic. Their involvement is expected to draw a younger demographic, particularly given Suásquita’s significant following and presence in digital and traditional media.

Chronology of Development and Future Milestones

The trajectory of Burger Night: Luli, Magda & Lore reflects a long-term planning strategy common in international co-productions. While the project was officially presented to the industry during the 2024 Cannes circuit, the production timeline is set for the long haul.

• May 2024: Official presentation at the MorbidoGate IP Showcase in Cannes.
• Late 2024 – 2025: Finalization of the script, location scouting in Argentina, and securing of secondary financing.
• 2026: Pre-production and final casting calls.
• January 2027: Scheduled commencement of principal photography in Argentina.

This extended timeline allows the production to navigate the economic complexities currently facing the Argentine film industry. By securing international backing from Grupo Mórbido and Eli Roth early in the process, the project is better insulated against local inflationary pressures and shifting government subsidies for the arts.

The Role of the Blood Bank Platform and Regional Expansion

The announcement of Burger Night follows a series of aggressive moves by Grupo Mórbido to consolidate its influence across Latin America. Recently, Pablo Guisa was incorporated as a producer for two other significant regional projects: Lo que trae la tormenta and Saludos desde Maryland.

Lo que trae la tormenta, directed by Miguel Ángel Ferrer, is a co-production between Costa Rica’s La Pájara Cine and the U.S.-based Magic Films. Meanwhile, Saludos desde Maryland, directed by Ricardo B’atz’, is produced by the Salvadoran outfit Cayaguanca Films. These titles were the recipients of the Morbido Films Co-production Award at the Costa Rica Media Market (CRMM).

Crucially, these films, along with Burger Night, are among the first to be integrated into "Blood Bank," a new global platform established by Grupo Mórbido and the Fantastic Pavilion. Blood Bank is designed as a comprehensive ecosystem to facilitate the development, financing, and international circulation of horror and fantasy intellectual properties. It serves as a bridge between creative talent in developing markets and the financial resources of global distributors.

Industry Context: The Rise of Latin American Genre Cinema

The backing of Burger Night by international figures like Eli Roth is not an isolated event but rather a response to the proven commercial viability of Latin American horror. Data from the last five years indicates a surge in the consumption of non-English language horror on streaming platforms such as Shudder, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

The success of films like When Evil Lurks has demonstrated that Latin American filmmakers can produce "elevated horror"—films that combine visceral scares with social commentary and high production values—on a fraction of a Hollywood budget. For Grupo Mórbido, this represents an opportunity to act as a gatekeeper and facilitator, bringing these projects to a global stage while maintaining a stake in the intellectual property.

Industry analysts suggest that the "Burger Night" model—taking an existing IP and transplanting it—reduces the inherent risk of film financing. By starting with a concept that has already been vetted in the U.S. market, investors are more likely to commit capital to a production in an emerging market like Argentina.

Implications for the Argentine Film Market

For Argentina, a country with a rich history of cinema but currently facing severe austerity measures affecting its national film institute (INCAA), the involvement of Grupo Mórbido and international partners is a vital lifeline. These co-productions ensure that high-level technical jobs remain in the country and that Argentine stories (or Argentine-flavored stories) continue to reach international screens.

The collaboration also signals a shift toward private-equity-driven filmmaking in the region. As state funding becomes more precarious, the ability of producers like Sebastián De Caro and Ramiro García Bogliano to tap into networks like MorbidoGate and Blood Bank becomes essential for the survival of genre cinema.

Conclusion and Outlook

Burger Night: Luli, Magda & Lore stands as a testament to the evolving nature of global film production. It is a project that bridges the gap between the DIY spirit of American indie horror (represented by Joe Begos), the commercial acumen of Hollywood (represented by Eli Roth), and the creative vitality of the Southern Cone.

As the project moves toward its January 2027 production date, it will likely serve as a blueprint for future collaborations under the MorbidoGate banner. The focus on high-quality cinematography, localized storytelling, and strategic IP management positions the film to be a significant contender in the international festival circuit and the global streaming market upon its eventual release. For Grupo Mórbido, it is another step in their mission to turn Latin American horror into a dominant force in the global entertainment industry.