An Interview With Davar Villegas - Videogore (2025)

Disturbing Cinema: I'd want to begin this interview by asking you what specific event or period in time inspired you to pursue a career as a filmmaker, particularly in the extreme horror sub-genre and what is one of the first ever experiences that you can recall that you had with the sub-genre? 

Davar Villegas: As cliché as it sounds, I’ve wanted to make horror and genre films since I was a kid. But my interest in extreme horror really took off when the Saw franchise stopped being enough to satisfy my bloodlust. That’s when I discovered “Horrible Reviews” on YouTube, which didn’t just fuel my love for (extreme) horror—it expanded my cinephilia as a whole. That’s where I first heard about Martyrs, Audition, and A Serbian Film—cornerstones of the sub-genre. I became obsessed, and honestly, I still am.

Disturbing Cinema: You've previously stated that real snuff films have always deeply disturbed you because of their violence and the thin border between fiction and reality, and that your fear of them is one of the reasons you created Videogore. Having said that, do you have any memory of watching a snuff film that truly fucked you up that you could share with us all?

Davar Villegas: Fortunately, I’ve never seen a real snuff film in the strictest sense of the word. But the very idea of an industry that captures actual death and sells it as porn deeply unsettles me. That’s not Jason or Freddy—it’s horror next door. It’s pure, unfiltered sadism. Terrifying… and yet, weirdly intriguing. That said, the term “snuff” is often misused to refer to cartel footage or similar real-life violence. That mislabeling makes the whole conversation messier and harder to navigate. What truly scares me, though, is the idea that—being a gorehound myself—there’s a slight chance I could enjoy a real snuff film. That’s where I draw the line. That’s the limit of my ethics and morality.

Disturbing Cinema: How was it like working with actors Lisset Reynoso and Andre Musich, but also the rest of the crew who happen to be some of your best friends. What was your support like to them during the filming process, particularly during the most challenging and disturbing scenes? 

Davar Villegas: Working with close friends—and making new ones in the process—was a real blessing. Even though filmmaking has its hierarchies, there’s a strong sense of community when everyone’s passionate about the same twisted vision. Lisset, André, and the entire cast were absolute angels, even during the most difficult days on set. Shooting horror is never easy. We really had to rely on clear communication and genuine care for each other, especially during the most disturbing scenes. My career is just getting started and moving at its own pace, but I truly value the love and support of my friends and chosen family throughout this process.

Disturbing Cinema: As a young filmmaker. I'd like to know now: What piece of crucial advice would you give to another young filmmaker attempting to create a film within the extreme horror sub-genre? What is the one lesson you learned as a young filmmaker that you would impart to those who are thinking about entering the film industry, particularly those who want to craft disturbing films, based on your early experience? 

Davar Villegas: My first and most honest advice is: make it your own. Don’t wait for the approval of the “real cinema” crowd, because we’re never going to get it. Horror, especially extreme horror, is counterculture. We can’t sit around hoping the elite will one day say, “Yes, your film has value.” We have to claim that value ourselves and that starts with discipline. Write full scripts. Do your breakdowns. Storyboard the hell out of it. Rehearse. There’s no room for error in independent filmmaking, but there’s endless room for experimentation, listening, and trusting your vision. If it disturbs you, if it excites you, chase it.

Disturbing Cinema: You’re someone who loves gore. Your film contains a lot of it. Your film title literally has the word gore in it. What is it about gore that you love so much and could you talk me through the process of creating that beautiful and realistic gore that we see in your film? 

Davar Villegas: I’ve always loved blood: the color, the texture, the way it moves. Some people might call it a kink, but I wouldn’t go that far. That said, I’ve always been clear about my limits when it comes to real blood. Out of respect for real victims, I draw a hard line there. But when it comes to crafting realistic special effects, you do need to study what real injuries look like. You have to sit with real gore, understand it, analyze it—without turning away. Fortunately, I had the chance to work with an incredibly talented team of FX and makeup artists who brought that pain and suffering to life in the most glorious way possible.

Disturbing Cinema: Mexico has created some excellent extreme films, such as We Are The Flesh (2016) and Atroz (2015). We Are the Flesh is a bizarre, arthouse film featuring themes of incest, murder, and cannibalism, whereas Atroz is a very controversial film that focuses on a deranged spree of torture and murder, similar to the August Underground films which I know that you really love. What is the horror/extreme scene like in Mexico compared to other countries? In comparison to other fans, what distinguishes Mexican followers of such genres? 

Davar Villegas: I’ll say something controversial, but it’s the truth: there’s hardly an extreme horror community in Mexico. Sure, there are filmmakers exploring this path—but it’s a complicated one. Mexico is a deeply violent and conservative country, where things like cartel brutality and violence against women are tragically part of everyday life. Because of that, extreme horror films aren’t exactly welcome in traditional cultural spaces. They’re often misunderstood, dismissed, or seen as insensitive. But for the people who do watch them, these films can be a form of catharsis—a way to process and confront the horror we live with every day in our sociopolitical reality.

Disturbing Cinema: I'd like to conclude our interview by asking you one of my signature questions: What is the most disturbing film you have ever seen?

Davar Villegas: Not counting the bullshit that is MDPOPE, I’d say Martyrs. It was my favorite film for a long time, even though I’ve grown out of it a bit. Still, the impact it had on me was massive: it destroyed any faith I had in God or the afterlife. It’s violent, it’s depressing as fuck, and it left a scar I still carry.

Disturbing Cinema: Congratulations on the film, and thank you once again for taking your time answering my questions, Davar Villegas. It was an absolute pleasure interviewing you my friend.

Videogore (2025) Plot Summary: On a night like any other, Alma stumbles upon an underground film hidden in the shadows of the internet, unaware that it is more than just an urban legend: a snuff film that will unleash a cycle of unstoppable violence. On screen, her loved one is brutally tortured by a woman whose identity feels eerily familiar…