HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2025 REVIEW! Director James A. Castillo co-wrote the screenplay for The Quinta’s Ghost with Julio Serrano. The animated horror short starts when esteemed artist Francisco de Goya moves into La Quinta del Sordo. The man is exhausted and just wants to spend his remaining time focusing on himself, away from the peering eyes of the public. But as the looming specter of death inches ever closer, the painter is visited by the ghosts of his past that he cannot shake. As his sanity crumbles, Goya creates new works in the house.
The filmmakers take a novel approach by having the house, La Quinta del Sordo, narrate the goings-on. Maribel Verdú is the voice of the abode and does an amazing job at articulating the complicated emotions on display. It is a weird and complex part, but the actor sells it and keeps the horrific atmosphere alive.
“…as the looming specter of death inches ever closer, the painter is visited by the ghosts of his past…”
The story is good and interesting, sure, but the animation is the element that works the most. The designs are creepy just to look at, much less to witness in action. The lighting and use of color create an eerie vibe that enthralls as much as it scares. For a film that is less than 20 minutes long, it is more creative and scary than several feature-length offerings from the big studios.
The Quinta’s Ghost is a 17-minute-long journey through a fractured psyche. It is a visually wonderful and entirely creepy affair. The animation is atmospheric and frightening, while Verdú’s narration intones an engaging narrative.
The Quinta’s Ghost screened at the 2025 HollyShorts Film Festival.
"…the animation is the element that works the most."
