The Day of the Lord (film)
A former priest confronts possession and his own wavering faith.
The Day of the Lord (original Spanish title: *Menendez Parte 1: El día del Señor*) is a 2020 horror film from Mexico and Spain. It was directed by Santiago Alvarado Ilarri, who co-wrote the script with Ramón Salas. The cast includes Dolores Heredia, Ximena Romo, and Juli Fàbregas.
The story centers on Menéndez, a former Catholic priest just out of prison. He was incarcerated after a botched exorcism killed a young boy. Now free, he is haunted by guilt and recurring dreams of the boy and his mother, Marisa, for whom Menéndez harbors feelings. Marisa visits often, cleaning his home and insisting she does not blame him. A prison friend, Sebas, then asks for help, believing his daughter Raquel is possessed. Menéndez hesitates but eventually agrees to see her. Sebas leaves Raquel in the priest’s care. She is rebellious, denies possession, and seems to enjoy provoking Menéndez, who swings between being amused and repulsed. Throughout, Menéndez speaks on the phone with an unnamed caller he addresses as God.
Convinced the girl is possessed, Menéndez has Sebas join him in an exorcism. Their methods are questionable and involve torturing Raquel to force the demon out. When nothing happens, Sebas breaks down, embraces his daughter, and apologizes. At that moment, the demon reveals itself, easily overpowers both men, ties them up, and forces itself on a horrified Sebas. Menéndez escapes, and together they restrain Raquel again. They resume the exorcism with greater intensity, successfully expelling the demon into a physical form. Menéndez recognizes it as the same entity that possessed Marisa’s son. He drives it off with a makeshift cross. A grateful Sebas and Raquel leave. Bloodied, Menéndez reports his success to the unknown caller, but the phone is shown unplugged. In the distance, a nun-like figure floats toward a smiling Menéndez.
The cast includes Dolores Heredia as Marisa, Ximena Romo as Raquel, Juli Fàbregas as Menéndez, Hector Illanes as Sebastián, and Oscar Gordillo as Demonio.
- Release year
- 2020
- Country
- Mexican-Spanish
- Director
- Santiago Alvarado Ilarri
- Writers
- Santiago Alvarado Ilarri and Ramón Salas
- Starring
- Dolores Heredia, Ximena Romo, Juli Fàbregas
- Genre
- Horror
Lore & Background
Menéndez eventually decides Raquel is possessed and, with Sebas, attempts an exorcism using questionable methods that involve torturing Raquel. When the demon does not reveal itself, Sebas embraces his daughter and apologizes. At that moment, the demon manifests, overpowers both men, and forces itself on Sebas. Menéndez escapes, and together they retie Raquel and continue the exorcism. They expel the demon into a physical form, and Menéndez recognizes it as the same demon that possessed Marisa's son. He overcomes it with a makeshift cross, and it flees. Sebas and Raquel leave, and Menéndez reports success to the caller, but the phone is shown unplugged. A nun-like figure floats toward a smiling Menéndez.
Reader's Guide
The Day of the Lord is a 2020 Mexican-Spanish horror film that explores themes of guilt, faith, and the consequences of failed religious rituals. Its significance lies in its portrayal of a former priest grappling with his past failure and his wavering belief, set against a possession narrative that subverts traditional exorcism tropes. The film's ambiguous ending—with the phone unplugged and a nun-like figure approaching—leaves the reality of Menéndez's experiences open to interpretation. The cast includes Dolores Heredia as Marisa, Ximena Romo as Raquel, Juli Fàbregas as Menéndez, Hector Illanes as Sebastián, and Oscar Gordillo as Demonio. The film is available on Netflix and has an IMDb entry. Its legacy is as a contemporary horror film that blends psychological and supernatural elements, focusing on the internal struggle of its protagonist rather than solely on demonic spectacle.
Did You Know?
- The film is also known as Menendez Parte 1: El día del Señor.
- The director Santiago Alvarado Ilarri co-wrote the film with Ramón Salas.
- The character Menéndez is a former Catholic priest who went to prison after a failed exorcism killed a boy.
- At the film's end, Menéndez's phone is shown unplugged while he speaks to an unnamed caller as if to God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Day of the Lord (film)?
It is a 2020 horror movie co-produced by Mexico and Spain, originally released under the Spanish title *Menendez Parte 1: El día del Señor*. The story tracks a disgraced ex-priest who must reckon with guilt, supernatural possession, and a rapidly crumbling faith after a failed exorcism cost a child his life.
Who directed and wrote The Day of the Lord (film)?
Santiago Alvarado Ilarado helmed the project and shared screenwriting duties with Ramón Salas. Together they shaped a script that weaves religious doubt and supernatural dread into a single, personal narrative.
What is the plot of The Day of the Lord (film)?
Menéndez, a former Catholic priest recently freed from prison, is tormented by recurring nightmares of the young boy he failed during an exorcism and the boy's mother, Marisa, for whom he carries unspoken feelings. As Marisa keeps showing up to clean his home and look after him, Menéndez is forced to confront both a lingering possession and the near-total collapse of his own belief.
Who are the main actors in The Day of the Lord (film)?
The principal cast includes Dolores Heredia, Ximena Romo, and Juli Fàbregas. Heredia and Romo carry the emotional weight of the story, while Fàbregas completes the core trio of performers.
Why is The Day of the Lord (film) notable in Mexican horror?
Rather than following the familiar 'priest banishes the demon' template, it uses the exorcism framework to explore a man's internal spiritual crisis, making the horror as much psychological as supernatural. It also sits within a broader wave of Mexican-Spanish co-productions that are pushing regional horror voices onto a wider stage.
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