Poor, hungry peasant Macario longs for just one good meal on the Day of the Dead. After his wife cooks a turkey for him, he meets three apparitions, the Devil, God, and Death. Each asks him to share his turkey, but he refuses all except Death. In return, Death gives him a bottle of water which will heal any illness. Soon, Macario is more wealthy than the village doctor, which draws the attention of the feared Inquisition.

Year1959

CountryMexico

DirectorRoberto Gavaldón

Films with Similar Energy

Cinematic Threads

Del Toro explicitly states that Roberto Gavaldón’s films, particularly 'Macario,' were foundational in shaping his own cinematic language, including his visual style, thematic preoccupations with death, folklore, and the supernatural, and his unique blend of gothic horror, social realism, and rich visual storytelling. He draws parallels between Gavaldón’s use of chiaroscuro and gothic atmosphere and his own work, such as 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Devil's Backbone'.