About Culture Shock

'Culture Shock' is a 2019 horror movie released as part of the Into the Dark anthology series on Hulu. It is directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero. The movie reflects on the dark side of the American Dream intertwining satirical elements with a suspenseful narrative. The plot follows Marisol, a Mexican woman in pursuit of the American Dream, who crosses illegally into the United States, only to find herself in an American nightmare.

Making / Production

'Culture Shock' was produced under Blumhouse Television and was exclusively released on Hulu. Gigi Saul Guerrero directs the script written by James Benson, Efren Hernandez and Guerrero. It was part of the anthology series "Into the Dark", each episode of which is inspired by a holiday from the month of its release, with 'Culture Shock' fittingly premiered on the Fourth of July.

Actors

• Martha Higareda as Marisol: Higareda portrays the lead role of Marisol, a pregnant woman crossing the border into America, and her desperation and resilience make up the core of the narrative.
• Richard Cabral as Santo: Cabral plays the mysterious figure Santo, whose true intentions are revealed over the course of the film.
• Barbara Crampton as Betty: Crampton plays Betty, the overly friendly and seemingly perfect "American mom"
• Felipe de Lara as Oscar: De Lara's character Oscar is Marisol's guide and a significant person in her journey across the border.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• 'Culture Shock' is Gigi Saul Guerrero's feature directorial debut.
• The film cleverly uses the theme of Fourth of July, the Independence Day holiday in the US, as a backdrop for its narrative.
• The scenes of the idyllic American town were shot with a retro 70s aesthetic, aiming to depict an idealised perception of American life.

Quotes

• "This is America. Everything is possible." - Betty
• "You try to run, you won't make it past the green light." - Santo
• "You have a chance to build a family here in America. You can have a life here far better than any life you've ever known." - Betty

Music, Soundtrack

• "When I Get to Heaven" performed by Iceburg
• "Born in the USA" performed by Bruce Springsteen