Mexico will face a zombie apocalypse in the TV series “Prefiero la Muerte”
Por Miriam Gonzalez ·
The Mexican zombies are more likely to make you laugh than terrify you; they’re teenagers searching for their identity while trying to save a small town in rural Mexico from the zombie apocalypse—a universe that’s part of the series “Prefiero la muerte,” set to premiere on October 2.
In an interview with EFE, co-star Lilith Curiel explained that, unlike dramas such as “The Last of Us,” this Mexican project focuses on humor and the culture of the Mexican people, who laugh at death even as they consider themselves religious.
“The series is something super, super Mexican—all the elements, the music, everything. The way the characters act, the way they talk, the jokes, the atmosphere. There’s the corner store, there are the devout ladies,” he explained.
The story takes place in Mendoza, a small provincial town—a setting that lends a sense of everyday life and with which the creators hope the audience will identify.
“There are a lot of small towns out here, like Mendoza, where people might watch it and say, ‘Hey, that happens here,’ or ‘Oh, that woman is just like the woman who lives next door.’ I feel like that will help a lot of people relate to it better,” he said.
Directed by Mexican filmmaker Sebastián Sariñana, the series follows three teenagers: Cris, a dark, gothic girl (Lilith Curiel); Archie, a shy boy (Diego Bernal); and Brenda (Farah Justiniani), Archie’s crush, as they discover just how difficult it is to grow up and navigate adulthood.
Archie turns into a zombie after being bitten at the little village store—a transformation that, far from making him terrifying, turns him into a comical hero who sets out to save Mendoza.
Bernal said that the director’s freedom to develop the character led him to take classes to learn how to move and act like a zombie.
“I had to learn how to break my body down into sections. One day I’d work only on the mobility of one arm; the next day, I’d work on my neck. Sebastián also gave me some key pointers to help me get the hang of it,” she explained.
The actor also highlighted the chemistry between the lead actors.
“The chemistry between the characters feels very natural because we got along really well from day one. I think everything turned out very natural and very beautiful,” she said.
Curiel, for his part, acknowledged that he drew on aspects of his own personality to develop his character.
“Cristina is a character who, honestly, is just me. Everything about her is kind of ‘geeky’ (weird)—she likes darker, edgier stuff—she’s super serious, and she has a pretty sharp sense of humor. She might not be trying to be funny, but the audience is going to find her hilarious,” she said.
The series also aims to convey a message about believing in yourself and not putting off doing what you want to do.
“This story, as absurd as it sounds, is based on real things that actually happen to us. After realizing that these might be his last days in this life, he (Archie) finds the courage to try new things. I think that’s also the point—that you don’t need something surreal to happen to give you the courage to do what you love,” the actress said.
“I’d Rather Die” will premiere on Prime Video on October 2, according to Agencia EFE.