Title Card - Rosario

Rosario (2025) Review & Summary

Tapping into the first-generation American experience, and all it takes to make it in America, you get Rosario, which reminds you some sacrifices are paid for in blood.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

[Unless Said Otherwise] Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Rosario” Film Details

  • Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 28 Minutes
  • Released On: In Theaters
  • Public Release Date: May 2, 2025
  • Director(s): Felipe Vargas
  • Writer(s): Alan Trezza
  • Genre(s): Horror
  • Rating: Rated R
  • Distributor: Variance Films

Summary

Rosario, a first-generation Mexican-American, is living the dream her parents made sacrifices for to come to this country. However, upon the death of her grandmother, Rosario comes to learn the sacrifices weren’t solely monetary, time, or risking safety to come to America, but spiritual as well.

Cast and Characters

Rosario (Emeraude Toubia)

Rosario (Emeraude Toubia)
Rosario (Emeraude Toubia)
  • Character Summary: Rosario is living the dream. She works in investments, and does so well, she works on 34th street, has a car that picks her up, an office with a view, a home that can see over other buildings, in New York City, and all this from a girl whose parents came from Mexico, where they worked as factory workers. But, in the process of getting to this point, she didn’t realize all the work and sacrifices being made behind the scenes, especially by her mother and grandmothers. But by the time the movie is over, she gets a full understanding of what it took for her to be this great, and it wasn’t just going to the right schools and studying.  

Why Is “Rosario” Rated R?

  • Dialog:
    • Cursing: Occasional
    • Discriminatory Language: No
    • Innuendo: None
    • Suicide Mentions: No
  • Violence:
    • Gun Violence: None
    • Violence Against Animals: No
    • Violence Against Children: No
    • Domestic Violence: No
    • Gore/ Blood: Moderate
    • Body Horror: Yes
    • Notable Violence: Self-Harm
  • Sexual Content:
    • Nudity: None
    • Sexual Situations: None
    • Sexual Violence: No
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Drinking: No
    • Drug Use: None
    • Vomiting: Yes
    • Smoking: No
    • Vermin: Insects/ Maggots

Links

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

Complex Villain [83/100]

In Rosario, the villain often is less so nkitas or Kobayende, as it is negative thoughts and feelings that stay with a place. To be more specific, Rosario’s mother, father, and maternal grandmother immigrated to New York from Mexico. The mom and dad would work 15 hours daily in a factory, and while the dad and grandma had a relatively easy time getting into America, the mom did not.

The villain is essentially all the negative feelings that the mother never openly shared. Whether it was the trauma of nearly being caught, seeing those who didn’t make it, amongst many other things, which she told her husband, Rosario’s father, at the time, but never passed on to Rosario. Which, as Rosario seemingly wanted to become more American by going by Rose, through this entity, you get a sense of a mother who felt abandoned by her child in small and big ways. Which, considering the sacrifices she made and the burdens she was forced to bear, can cause animosity. The kind that manifests itself into demonic figures.

Despite The Focus On A Relatively Unknown Actress, She Keeps You Engaged [84/100]

So let me be clear, Emeraude Toubia is not green or new to acting, from starring in With Love and Shadowhunters, she has established herself. However, I think it is safe to say she doesn’t have that name where if someone told you it is mainly going to just be her on screen, you could easily sell the film to someone.

But let me be the one to say, she holds it down. Yes, there are scenes shared with José Zúñiga and David Dastmalchian, but Toubia, as she explores her grandmother’s apartment, whether it is the accessible rooms or the hidden ones, or learns about her grandmother’s faith, she takes you on a journey that keeps you engaged. You never wish for her father or Dastmalchian’s character, her grandmother’s neighbor, to come around more. Rosario is more than enough, and whether she is being comical about the madness going around her, running, or fighting back, in her own way, you are right there with her, hoping for the best and prepping for the worst.

On The Fence

The Cultural Aspect [78/100]

As noted in “Lullaby,” which is a horror movie which uses figures from the Jewish faith, what the horror genre needs more than anything is to move beyond the tried, true, and formulaic. It needs to tap into different faiths, cultures, and go beyond Christianity and Catholicism. Now, when it comes to Rosario, yes, there is an element of Catholicism involved, but it is mixed in with indigenous, African, faith, specifically Palo.

Now, does Rosario portray Palo in a similar vein to how voodoo often is? As something that is more so dark magic than focused on having elements of protection, community, and fulfillment? Sadly, yes. However, just exploring something different and, even if a negative portrayal, presenting real names and figures, I feel brings a light to something which, for those who might be curious enough to explore on their own, maybe they can counter balance the portrayal of what was given.

Overall

Our Rating (81/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

Rosario may not fully do justice to the Palo faith, as it uses some of the horror genre’s pitfalls in showcasing indigenous beliefs, but there is no denying that as it explores culture, sacrifice, the dreams parents have for the next generation, and channels that through Emeraude Toubia’s performance, you get a more complex than expected horror movie.

What To Check Out Next

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.