When I first saw the title for writer/director Xia Magnus's SANZARU, I immediately assumed that this was an Asian production, since it takes its title from the Japanese name for the three wise monkeys that see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. So I was surprised to see that the story is actually set in a farmhouse in Texas.
Starring Aina Dumlao, Justin Arnold, Jayne Taini, and Jon Viktor Corpuz, SANZARU has the following synopsis:
Evelyn, a nurse from the Philippines, moves in to care for Dena, an elderly woman declining into dementia. When Evelyn’s nephew, Amos, is forced to come stay with them, he develops a connection with Dena’s enigmatic son. Mysterious forces haunt Dena, and her violent hallucinations begin to hint at a dark secret lurking in the house. As the two broken families find themselves dangerously isolated under one roof, Evelyn uncovers a haunting truth that threatens to resurrect everyone’s past traumas.
The film will be making its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival this weekend, with its first screening scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 26th. A second screening will follow on Wednesday, January 29th.
Ahead of the premiere, a trailer has arrived online and can be seen below. SANZARU looks quite promising to me, check the trailer out and see what you think: