If you’ve spent any time on the weirder corners of MUBI lately, you’ve probably stumbled across a film that looks like a fever dream of neon lights, beach parties, and... well, a lot of male nudity.
That movie is Rotting in the Sun.
Directed by Sebastián Silva, who also stars as a deeply depressed version of himself, this film isn’t your typical indie drama. It’s a jagged, uncomfortable, and surprisingly hilarious critique of modern life that basically spits in the face of influencer culture. Honestly, it’s one of those movies that makes you want to scrub your brain and immediately watch it again.
Why Rotting in the Sun Hits Different
Most movies about "finding yourself" involve a beautiful sunset and a realization that life is worth living. Rotting in the Sun takes that trope, douses it in ketamine, and sets it on fire.
The story kicks off with Sebastián, a filmmaker living in Mexico City who is obsessed with the writings of nihilist philosopher Emil Cioran. He’s miserable. He’s snorting K in his bathtub. He’s Googling how to buy Pentobarbital—a drug used to euthanize dogs—to end it all.
His friend Mateo finally convinces him to take a trip to a gay nudist beach in Zicatela. It’s here that the movie really finds its stride, mostly because it introduces Jordan Firstman.
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The Firstman Effect
Jordan Firstman plays, well, Jordan Firstman. If you’ve seen his viral "impressions" on Instagram or TikTok, you know exactly what you're getting: a high-energy, vapid, and strangely charming whirlwind of social media narcissism.
The contrast is incredible.
- Sebastián: Suicidal, intellectual, hates everyone, hates himself.
- Jordan: Obsessed with his "brand," films everything, thinks everyone is his best friend.
When Sebastián almost drowns and Jordan "saves" him, their lives become hopelessly entangled. Jordan wants to collaborate on a TV show. Sebastián thinks Jordan is a clown. It’s a match made in hell, and it’s spectacular to watch.
That Mid-Movie Twist (No Spoilers, But Seriously)
About halfway through the Rotting in the Sun movie, the entire genre shifts. It stops being a meta-comedy about two guys at the beach and turns into something closer to a Hitchcockian thriller, but with much more poppers.
Sebastián goes missing.
Jordan shows up at his apartment in Mexico City, expecting to work on their pilot, and finds only Vero, Sebastián’s housekeeper.
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The Real Star: Catalina Saavedra
While the boys get all the flashy scenes, Catalina Saavedra as Vero is the actual soul of the film. She played the lead in Silva’s breakout film The Maid (2009), and here, she’s playing a version of that same character but trapped in a much darker situation.
The way the movie handles the class divide between the wealthy "expats" (like Jordan) and the working-class locals (like Vero) is biting. Jordan uses a translation app on his phone to talk to her. The app is glitchy, the translations are wrong, and the results are both funny and deeply tragic. It highlights how even when we have all the tech in the world, we still can’t communicate for crap.
Is It Just "Shock Value"?
Critics have pointed out that the movie features a lot of unsimulated-looking nudity and drug use. Some people think it’s just Silva being provocative for the sake of it.
I disagree.
The graphic nature of the film is part of its point. It’s showing the "rot" in the title. These characters are surrounded by beauty—the sun, the ocean, beautiful people—but they are so stuck in their own heads (or their own phones) that they can’t see any of it.
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The sex isn't sexy.
The drugs aren't fun.
It’s all just... there.
What You Should Know Before Watching
If you're planning to check this out, here's the reality check:
- It’s Very NSFW: Seriously, don't watch this on a plane or with your parents unless your family is extremely progressive.
- The Tone Shifts Fast: Be prepared for the movie you start watching to be completely different from the movie you finish.
- It’s Mean: The film is cynical. It mocks the art world, it mocks influencers, and most importantly, Silva mocks himself.
Actionable Takeaway for Film Fans
If you liked The White Lotus or Triangle of Sadness, you need to add this to your list. It captures that same "terrible people in beautiful places" energy but with a much grittier, indie feel.
To get the most out of Rotting in the Sun, watch it on a screen where you can actually see the details of the background. There is so much environmental storytelling happening in Sebastián’s messy apartment and the construction noise outside that adds to the feeling of inevitable decay.
Stop scrolling through TikTok for an hour and give this a shot. It might just make you want to put your phone down forever.