Press & Festivals

'Slasher Terror, Cartel Nightmares and a British Folk Monster Join Black Mandala’s New Horror Slate (EXCLUSIVE)'

"Babybacks,” written and directed by Geno Marx and co-written by Kent Rodricks, stars Viridiana Márquez, Melissa Chambers, Ray Acevedo, Ryan Rathbun, Alfred Gonzales and Peter Lucas. The survival horror film, produced by Tara Tovarek, centers on a young couple on the run from cartel hitmen through the Sonoran Desert who take shelter with an outwardly kind older couple – who turn out to be predators of their own. The film has been selected for the 2026 International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival."

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'BABYBACKS’ IS A GRISLY STANDOUT

"Part of what makes BABYBACKS so impressive is its ability to both maintain and consistently ratchet up the tension in a scenario that seems at once all too plausible and remarkably outlandish. It feels the same cocktail of dangerous and near ridiculous as something like Tobe Hooper’s TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE."

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A meal worth eating…even when you know the ingredients.

"Babybacks works as a locked door thriller before it ever gets to its appropriately gory climax. Carol and Wayne are great antagonists. Zoe and Mateo are likable protagonists. The dynamic simply works."

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Audience Reactions

Letterboxd

Slide 1 of 9

The subject matter is controversial but relevant and serves as the perfect backdrop to a very well balanced story of people. Twisted and depraved and desperate people, but people all the same. Excellent watch! A throwback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

- Alex Trusk

This was a tasty and twisted treat. Strong recommend for when it gets a wider release. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Chris Duck

Holy smokes the casting for the main two villains was insane, I was incredibly unnerved the whole time I was watching. As well as our main two, who do an amazing job portraying the fear their characters go through. Our main quartet give it their all in this performance and they really do deserve their flowers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Jordan

For fans of low-budget horror with a taste for gore and grindhouse sensibilities, Babybacks offers plenty to chew on. It may stumble in its early moments, but by the time the credits roll, the film delivers exactly what its blood-soaked premise promises: a messy, brutal spectacle that proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. ⭐⭐⭐

- Zachary

So fun in a crowded theater. Excellent cast, excellent crew!! Esp Mateo and sound gahdamn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- aparkerb

Loved it. Also the guy who plays Mateo is super dreamyyyyy. More of him pls ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

- ricothefrog

This movie was wild! Lot more gory and bloody than expected and it was a surprise and this movie reinforces that old people are scary! ⭐⭐⭐✨

- biggoobz041

I may never eat ribs again. A committed performance by Melissa Chambers is a bit much for even this scenario. If Trump knew about this movie he’d give it to ICE as a propaganda video to deter illegal immigration. ⭐⭐⭐✨

- stueygeorge

Good Watch! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Aideezyy

The subject matter is controversial but relevant and serves as the perfect backdrop to a very well balanced story of people. Twisted and depraved and desperate people, but people all the same. Excellent watch! A throwback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

- Alex Trusk

This was a tasty and twisted treat. Strong recommend for when it gets a wider release. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Chris Duck

Holy smokes the casting for the main two villains was insane, I was incredibly unnerved the whole time I was watching. As well as our main two, who do an amazing job portraying the fear their characters go through. Our main quartet give it their all in this performance and they really do deserve their flowers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Jordan

For fans of low-budget horror with a taste for gore and grindhouse sensibilities, Babybacks offers plenty to chew on. It may stumble in its early moments, but by the time the credits roll, the film delivers exactly what its blood-soaked premise promises: a messy, brutal spectacle that proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. ⭐⭐⭐

- Zachary

So fun in a crowded theater. Excellent cast, excellent crew!! Esp Mateo and sound gahdamn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- aparkerb

Loved it. Also the guy who plays Mateo is super dreamyyyyy. More of him pls ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

- ricothefrog

This movie was wild! Lot more gory and bloody than expected and it was a surprise and this movie reinforces that old people are scary! ⭐⭐⭐✨

- biggoobz041

I may never eat ribs again. A committed performance by Melissa Chambers is a bit much for even this scenario. If Trump knew about this movie he’d give it to ICE as a propaganda video to deter illegal immigration. ⭐⭐⭐✨

- stueygeorge

Good Watch! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Aideezyy

The subject matter is controversial but relevant and serves as the perfect backdrop to a very well balanced story of people. Twisted and depraved and desperate people, but people all the same. Excellent watch! A throwback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

- Alex Trusk

This was a tasty and twisted treat. Strong recommend for when it gets a wider release. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Chris Duck

Holy smokes the casting for the main two villains was insane, I was incredibly unnerved the whole time I was watching. As well as our main two, who do an amazing job portraying the fear their characters go through. Our main quartet give it their all in this performance and they really do deserve their flowers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Jordan

For fans of low-budget horror with a taste for gore and grindhouse sensibilities, Babybacks offers plenty to chew on. It may stumble in its early moments, but by the time the credits roll, the film delivers exactly what its blood-soaked premise promises: a messy, brutal spectacle that proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. ⭐⭐⭐

- Zachary

So fun in a crowded theater. Excellent cast, excellent crew!! Esp Mateo and sound gahdamn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- aparkerb

Loved it. Also the guy who plays Mateo is super dreamyyyyy. More of him pls ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

- ricothefrog

This movie was wild! Lot more gory and bloody than expected and it was a surprise and this movie reinforces that old people are scary! ⭐⭐⭐✨

- biggoobz041

I may never eat ribs again. A committed performance by Melissa Chambers is a bit much for even this scenario. If Trump knew about this movie he’d give it to ICE as a propaganda video to deter illegal immigration. ⭐⭐⭐✨

- stueygeorge

Good Watch! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Aideezyy

'Slasher Terror, Cartel Nightmares and a British Folk Monster Join Black Mandala’s New Horror Slate (EXCLUSIVE)'

'BABYBACKS’ IS A GRISLY STANDOUT

A meal worth eating…even when you know the ingredients.

Audience Reactions

The subject matter is controversial but relevant and serves as the perfect backdrop to a very well balanced story of people. Twisted and depraved and desperate people, but people all the same. Excellent watch! A throwback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This was a tasty and twisted treat. Strong recommend for when it gets a wider release. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So fun in a crowded theater. Excellent cast, excellent crew!! Esp Mateo and sound gahdamn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved it. Also the guy who plays Mateo is super dreamyyyyy. More of him pls ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This movie was wild! Lot more gory and bloody than expected and it was a surprise and this movie reinforces that old people are scary! ⭐⭐⭐✨

I may never eat ribs again. A committed performance by Melissa Chambers is a bit much for even this scenario. If Trump knew about this movie he’d give it to ICE as a propaganda video to deter illegal immigration. ⭐⭐⭐✨

Good Watch! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The subject matter is controversial but relevant and serves as the perfect backdrop to a very well balanced story of people. Twisted and depraved and desperate people, but people all the same. Excellent watch! A throwback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This was a tasty and twisted treat. Strong recommend for when it gets a wider release. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So fun in a crowded theater. Excellent cast, excellent crew!! Esp Mateo and sound gahdamn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved it. Also the guy who plays Mateo is super dreamyyyyy. More of him pls ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This movie was wild! Lot more gory and bloody than expected and it was a surprise and this movie reinforces that old people are scary! ⭐⭐⭐✨

I may never eat ribs again. A committed performance by Melissa Chambers is a bit much for even this scenario. If Trump knew about this movie he’d give it to ICE as a propaganda video to deter illegal immigration. ⭐⭐⭐✨

Good Watch! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The subject matter is controversial but relevant and serves as the perfect backdrop to a very well balanced story of people. Twisted and depraved and desperate people, but people all the same. Excellent watch! A throwback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This was a tasty and twisted treat. Strong recommend for when it gets a wider release. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So fun in a crowded theater. Excellent cast, excellent crew!! Esp Mateo and sound gahdamn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved it. Also the guy who plays Mateo is super dreamyyyyy. More of him pls ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This movie was wild! Lot more gory and bloody than expected and it was a surprise and this movie reinforces that old people are scary! ⭐⭐⭐✨

I may never eat ribs again. A committed performance by Melissa Chambers is a bit much for even this scenario. If Trump knew about this movie he’d give it to ICE as a propaganda video to deter illegal immigration. ⭐⭐⭐✨

Good Watch! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Awards & Selections