Creatura

Creatura is a 2023 Spanish drama film directed, co-written and starred by Elena Martín Gimeno. It is shot in Catalan.

Plot
Upon moving in to a family summer house on the coastline of Maresme with boyfriend Marcel, Mila confronts sexual trauma, with flashbacks to her earliest moments of sexual awareness (5 years old) and her teenage years (15 years old).

Production
The film was produced by Vilaüt Films, Lastor Media, Avalon PC, and Elastica Films. It was produced in association with Suris/Bishop Film, and it had the participation of TV3 and Filmin and backing from ICAA, ICEC and Creative Media Europe. It was shot in Catalan. Shooting locations in Catalonia included Sant Vicenç de Montalt, L'Escala, Blanes, Barcelona, and Sitges.

Release
The film world premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023. Distributed by Avalon, it was released theatrically in Spain on 8 September 2023.

Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews from critics.

Nikki Baughan of ScreenDaily considered that the film, an exploration of the "close relationship between guilt, shame and desire" should "attract attention for its female-centric story and strong visual identity".

Dustin Chang of ScreenAnarchy deemed Creatura to be "an interesting film about how the female sexuality frightens men".

Carlota Moseguí of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, underscoring it to be "a strong claim on the exposure of female desire" in the verdict.

Top ten lists
The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023: