Stephen King Promotes Netflix’s ‘My Sad Dead’ Ahead of Its Release on September 24

Ghost stories often have the most impact when they sneak up on you, and ‘My Sad Dead‘ has done just that. This Spanish-language supernatural series from Netflix is a psychological horror project inspired by the works of Argentine author Mariana Enríquez, yet it has garnered surprisingly little attention in North America. However, that is set to change as the 4-part limited series premieres on September 24.

At the helm is Pablo Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker known for ‘Jackie,’ ‘Spencer,’ and ‘Maria.’ He has previously explored the macabre, notably transforming dictator Augusto Pinochet into a literal vampire in ‘El Conde’ to delve into Chile’s political history. Larraín also directed all 8 episodes of ‘Lisey’s Story,’ the Apple TV+ adaptation featuring Julianne Moore and Clive Owen.

This connection explains why a renowned author is backing the series. Stephen King, who penned every episode of ‘Lisey’s Story,’ has publicly endorsed ‘My Sad Dead’ ahead of its debut. In a post on X dated September 18, King expressed his excitement with a cheerful “Cool idea!” and crafted his own eerie pitch.

King envisioned a character who can hear and sometimes see the dead as they fall into a city’s water supply and begin to decompose. He humorously suggested that once everyone drank the water, they too would gain this ability. He concluded by highlighting the September 24 premiere date and referred to Larraín as an old friend.

His post has clearly resonated, amassing over 75,000 views and approximately 1,600 likes at the time of writing. Coming from the master of horror, this endorsement lends significant credibility to the Netflix series, particularly for English-speaking audiences who might overlook a Spanish-language offering.

King’s summary serves as a brief overview, while Netflix’s official synopsis introduces Ema, a recently retired doctor who can see the dead and is grappling with her mother’s death and unresolved issues of her own.

The arrival of Ema’s niece, Julie, alongside the murder of three teenagers in Piedrabuena—a neighborhood plagued by violence—triggers an unusual phenomenon. This disrupts the delicate balance between the living and the dead, causing Ema’s burden to spread throughout the community. Soon, no one can escape the echoes of their own ghosts.

The cast features Mercedes Morán, Dolores Fonzi, Alejandra Flechner, and Carolina Álvarez, with Carlos Portaluppi, Germán de Silva, and Chilean actress Luz Jiménez rounding out the ensemble. The adaptation was crafted by Enríquez, Guillermo Calderón, Anastasia Ayazi, and Larraín himself.

Larraín’s production company, Fabula, collaborated with Argentina’s K&S Films, the team behind the Netflix success ‘The Eternaut.’ Filming took place in Buenos Aires for exterior shots and Santiago, Chile, for interiors. Enríquez has described adaptations of her work as interpretations, noting that the process was calm and respectful.

The director has been transparent about the type of scares viewers can expect. In a statement released alongside Deadline’s exclusive trailer debut, Larraín explained that the horror in the series stems from “the everyday.” He described it as a narrative about a city, poverty, violence, and the forgotten social classes, filled with themes of abandonment, death, and love.

This framing aligns with the series’ festival credentials. ‘My Sad Dead’ was selected for the Official Selection competition at the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival, where it will be screened in a feature-length format prior to its Netflix release. Larraín expressed his delight in returning to a festival that celebrates Spanish-language culture.

Fabula’s impressive track record adds further weight to this project. Founded by Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín, the production company has already won an Academy Award for ‘A Fantastic Woman’ and a Silver Bear in Berlin for ‘The Club,’ in addition to receiving Oscar nominations for ‘No’ and the biopic trilogy of ‘Jackie,’ ‘Spencer,’ and ‘Maria.’

For a project that quietly flew under the radar, this supernatural miniseries now boasts a wealth of promising elements. It features an acclaimed director with a strong genre background, the celebrated stories of an Argentine author, a talented regional cast, and now, the endorsement of the reigning king of horror.

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