we are what we are movie
“We Are What We Are” is a slow-burn horror film about a reclusive family hiding a brutal, ritualistic secret tied to cannibalism, blending family drama with atmospheric dread.
What is “We Are What We Are”?
There are actually two closely connected films with this title:
- We Are What We Are (2010) – Mexican original, Spanish-language, set in a poor urban family that must continue a violent ritual after the father dies.
- We Are What We Are (2013) – American reimagining, set in rural upstate New York, following the Parker family whose bleak religious “tradition” hides cannibalistic practices.
Most current discussions and “latest news” usually refer to the 2013 version, since it’s more visible on streaming and horror forums.
Quick Plot Scoop (2013 movie)
- The Parker mother dies suddenly during a storm, leaving daughters Iris and Rose and young Rory with their strict, highly religious father Frank.
- The family observes mysterious “Lamb’s Day” rituals that turn out to be a generations‑old pattern of kidnapping victims, killing them, and consuming them as part of a supposed covenant.
- Flooding in the area washes human remains out of a hidden gravesite, drawing the attention of Doc Barrow, whose own daughter vanished years earlier.
- As Barrow investigates and Frank grows more unstable, the daughters begin to question the tradition and their faith, leading to a violent, shocking reversal at the end where the girls turn on their father.
The tone is somber , patient, and more tragic than jump‑scary, leaning on mood and moral tension rather than constant gore.
The Original 2010 Version
- Set in Mexico City, the story follows a poor family after the death of their father, who was responsible for obtaining “meals” for a cannibalistic ritual.
- The sons Alfredo and Julián and daughter Sabina struggle to keep the tradition, targeting sex workers and other victims while police pressure mounts.
- The film mixes urban decay, social critique, and family breakdown, ending in chaos as the ritual and family structure collapse.
This version feels grittier and more grounded in social reality, with less overt religious framing and more focus on poverty, marginalization, and violence.
2013 vs 2010 at a Glance
| Aspect | We Are What We Are (2010) | We Are What We Are (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Country / language | Mexico, Spanish-language horror drama. | [3]USA, English-language horror drama. | [1]
| Setting | Urban Mexico City, street markets and cramped housing. | [3]Rural upstate New York, rivers, woods, isolated house. | [1]
| Main family role | Father is a watchmaker, sole provider, his death triggers the crisis. | [3]Father is a strict religious patriarch enforcing an ancestral covenant. | [1]
| Theme focus | Poverty, social decay, survival, urban violence. | [3]Religious fanaticism, inherited trauma, family loyalty vs morality. | [7][1]
| Police / outside pressure | Detectives investigate bodies tied to the family’s ritual killings. | [3]Doctor and sheriff/deputy investigate floods revealing human remains. | [5][1]
| Tone | Gritty, grimy, with bursts of brutality. | [3]Slow-burn, elegiac, with sudden graphic shocks. | [7][1]
| Ending (no detailed spoilers) | Family implodes under police and community pressure. | [3]Daughters confront the father and the tradition head‑on. | [5][7]
Forum & “Trending” Context
- The 2013 film tends to resurface online whenever people discuss “underrated horror” or “slow-burn cannibal movies,” especially around Halloween seasons and horror marathons.
- Common forum takes include:
- Praise for its bleak atmosphere, strong performances (especially the daughters and the father), and the grim, memorable final scene.
* Some viewers find the pacing too slow or the cannibal theme too disturbing, especially given the religious framing and scenes of family meals.
* The remake is often compared favorably to other “elevated” rural horror like “The Witch” or “Hereditary” in terms of mood, if not on the same prestige level.
You’ll also see people debating which version is “better”: fans of the original prefer its rawness and social angle, while others prefer the remake’s moody visuals and emotional focus on the daughters.
Should You Watch It? (Mini Guide)
Consider watching the 2013 movie if you like:
- Slow, atmospheric horror that focuses on family tension more than jump scares.
- Stories about inherited beliefs, abuse of religious authority, and children trying to break cycles of violence.
Consider the 2010 original if you want:
- Rougher, more grounded genre cinema with a social edge and less polished feel.
- A different cultural perspective on the same core idea of a cannibal family clinging to a deadly ritual.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.