When the press release for Luz: The Flower of Evil popped up in my email, my jaw dropped. A quick scan through the beautiful images led me to the film’s description: “The Witch meets Jodorowsky’s El Topo meets The Sound of Music landscapes and with a sort of Terrence Malick tone…” Whatever this movie was, I knew I had to see it for myself. This was either going to be the biggest cinematic accomplishment of all time or a total letdown.

Director Juan Diego Escobar Alzate delivers a visual feast in this trippy fever dream, where good battles evil in an overly saturated mountain town. Alzate’s highly-ambitious fantasy horror film may sound like an explosion of genres-which it is- but it’s one of the most unique and bold expressions from a filmmaker I’ve seen recently.

Blurring the lines between heaven and hell, the leader of a small religious cult reigns over his community. El Señor (Conrado Osorio) is an overly protective, single father of three girls Uma (Yuri Vargas), Laila (Andrea Esquivel), and Zion (Sharon Guzman), and considers his word to be gospel. One night, he returns to his mountainous village with a young blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy who he claims to be the new Messiah. But not everyone believes this child is the second coming of Christ, especially when death and destruction suddenly befall El Señor’s own family. This causes his daughters to question the existence of God and the dangers of their blind faith.

It’s gory and graphic and, yes, there is a demonic goat, but Luz: The Flower of Evil is more than just shock value antics.

The desire for freedom lies at the heart of Luz: The Flower of Evil. For El Señor’s daughters, they long to be able to make their own choices regarding their faith, their hobbies, and their budding sexuality. It’s only when freeing themselves of the societal religious chains they proclaim, “by letting go of Jesus, I finally understood the true meaning of God.”

In this incredible trip to heaven and hell, Alzate is ultimately showing the duality of mankind. We as humans are all part good and part evil, much like how some religions preach that God and the devil co-exist. The imagery that goes along with this message is nothing short of inspiring, every scene has a beautiful composition and texture. Kudos to the colorist Felipe Martinez and color grading company We Make Color for creating such aesthetically rich and unforgettable visuals.

It’s gory and graphic and, yes, there is a demonic goat, but Luz: The Flower of Evil is more than just shock value antics. It carries a powerful message of unnecessary harm we endure due to manmade problems. Much like Nomadland‘s take on the power of the natural world’s restorative healing capabilities, this film reminds us that nature doesn’t cause pain. Appreciate miracles, don’t go chasing them. And always remember that harmony brings peace and light. After playing in 34 festivals and winning 14 awards, Luz: The Flower of Evil is finally available to stream on Shudder next Monday, December 21st.