A horror film opening up with that “based on a true story” message is certainly a way to send shivers down the spine. Even when filmmakers take plenty of liberties with the source material, the fact that part of the terror on screen is grounded in a reality someone experienced adds a whole new element of horror. This tag came with the 2017 Spanish horror film Veronica, which soon spread by word of mouth as the scariest movie added to Netflix.
Veronica takes place in 1991 Madrid and follows the story of a teenager named Veronica (Sandra Escacena) and her two friends. The film begins with the group conducting a séance: Veronica aims to contact her deceased father, while one of her friends hopes to reach her late boyfriend. However, this act launched Veronica into a series of disturbing events, finding herself possessed by a demonic entity bent on torturing her and those around her.
Veronica is directed by famed horror director Paco Plaza, who is best known for creating one of the best found-footage horror film franchises of all time with the [REC] films. Plaza drew inspiration from real-life events, with Veronica loosely based on the possession of Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro, known as “the Vallecas case.” Here is what you need to know about the real-life inspiration behind 2017’s Veronica. Of course, with a “true story” case like this, it’s important to remember that much of what is reported comes from anecdotal, contradictory, or unsourced claims.
Who Was Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro?
Her Tale of Demonic Possession Would Inspire ‘Veronica’
Veronica is inspired by the real-life story of 18-year-old Estefanía, a schoolgirl who lived with her family in Vallecas. She had five siblings and a normal life, with friends to hang out with. Yet Estefanía found herself drawn to darker subjects growing up, and would develop a (what should have been harmless) interest in the occult. Her interests led her and two classmates to use a Ouija board to contact her friend’s deceased boyfriend, who died in a motorcycle accident.
They began playing with the Ouija board, and, according to the girls present during the séance, they witnessed unusual occurrences. Notably, the glass pointer on the Ouija board began to fly around the board and shattered. Although they couldn’t conjure the spirit of the deceased boyfriend, smoke emerged from the board, which Estefanía inhaled, often cited as the catalyst for her subsequent possession.
Their game was interrupted by a nun, who started questioning them about this occult activity. The nun took away the board and destroyed it. Following this strange event, Estefanía’s life changed forever, as she became the target of paranormal events. This legacy would also, apparently, pass to her family members, who, even after she passed away, were subjected to similar hauntings.
Is ‘Veronica’ Based on a True Story?
The Alleged Story Behind the Film
Although the Vallecas Case has been a topic of discussion among fans of macabre subject matter, to date, none have been able to determine the reason behind Estefanía’s deteriorating state — was it a death caused by paranormal activities or due to an unknown health condition? The truth remains a mystery, though her brothers now claim she died from an epilepsy attack. Still, it is undeniable that playing with a Ouija board would be the reported catalyst for Estefanía’s change in behavior, which included experiencing violent convulsions and hallucinations (via Ghost Watch).
Estefanía explained her hallucinations and actions as being caused by malevolent shadows roaming her room and tormenting her. She began to suffer seizures and insomnia, accompanied by less-understandable behavior, like scratching walls, barking, and attacking others. Despite her worsening mental and physical state, doctors reportedly could not identify any underlying physical or cognitive condition. Estefanía’s condition would worsen, with priests, doctors, and specialists unable to help her. Almost six months after the Ouija board incident, she was found lifeless in her hospital bed, with autopsy reports citing cardiac arrest as the cause of death.
After her sudden death, the Lázaro family continued to experience supernatural events: they constantly heard someone scream and laugh; Estefanía’s things in her room were all scattered; the door and windows would slam; there were scratches on the wall; a black figure was roaming and crawling around the house; furniture was damaged; and electrical appliances went on and off. In one instance, Estefanía’s photo fell on the ground and burned while the frame remained undamaged, while a nearby crucifix flipped.
Distraught, the Lázaro family reached out to Inspector José Negri. The police noticed something suspicious inside the house, felt a drop in temperature, and reported paranormal activity during their inspection. This investigation yielded no results or offered solace to the family, and, in desperation to escape the events, they sold their home and moved.
The Vallecas Case remains a topic of discussion among paranormal enthusiasts, with one notable theory from the YouTube channel The Paranormal Scholar, which posited that Estefanía’s grandfather may have been to blame. Notably, it is believed that he spoke his dying words to her, “If I cannot harm you in this life, I will do it in the next one.” This is one of the many speculations surrounding the bizarre case that would inspire Veronica.
How Does ‘Veronica’ Differ From the Actual Events?
It is important to note that with all the above, much of the case of Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro is up to speculation, even small details like her conducting a séance on a Ouija board with friends versus alone, to more substantial info, such as her cause of death, are all up for contention. The ambiguity is part of the reason people love to deep-dive into this case, and why the Vallecas case is perfect fodder for a horror movie.
With Veronica, director Paco Plaza made many creative modifications while also drawing on elements from the original story, including the Ouija board setup to welcome evil, accompanied by a warning from a nun. Yet, this scene also shows the liberties taken with the story, as Estefanía’s dad was very much alive and lived to see his daughter’s demise, which lasted months rather than a few days.
Of course, when it comes to Veronica‘s many sensational, creepy reveals and shocking jump scares, there is always room for embellishment to make it feel more theatrical. So, while the 2017 film included details reported to have happened, such as dark shadows, strange screams from nowhere, Veronica’s erratic behavior, insomnia, and convulsions, all of this should be taken as a very fantastical retelling of events.
Veronica is a film that remains true to some real events, though the Vallecas case itself is shrouded in mystery and open to interpretation.
Where To Watch ‘Veronica’
Veronica, several years after its release, remains one of the scariest horror films of recent years and stands out among many other releases in Netflix’s library. Horror fans should definitely watch it, as it is a masterclass in building tension and utilizing jump scares without that “cheap” factor that makes some movies feel shallow. As a Netflix Original film, Veronica is available to stream exclusively on the platform.
- Release Date
-
August 25, 2017
- Runtime
-
105 Minutes