El Conde 2023

In the 18th century, a royalist French soldier named Claude Pinoche, who happens to be a vampire, narrowly survives an assassination attempt. As the tides of the French Revolution sweep across the nation, he witnesses the harrowing execution of Marie Antoinette. With death looming, he fakes his own demise to escape, eventually becoming embroiled in the suppression of numerous revolutionary upheavals that unfold throughout the centuries. Fast forward to 1935, and he finds himself in Chile, adopting the identity of Augusto Pinochet and enlisting in the Chilean Army. His ambition propels him into the ranks of power, ultimately orchestrating a coup against the socialist government led by Salvador Allende in 1973. Under his authoritarian regime, he cornices himself the country’s dictator, insisting that he must be addressed as “The Count” by those closest to him.

After stepping down from power, his illicit wealth and brutal human rights violations draw scrutiny from authorities, prompting him to stage another death and retreat to a secluded farm. After 250 years of existence, Claude finds himself grappling with an existential ennui, which worries his wife, Lucia, and his devoted butler, Fyodor, a white Russian noble whom Pinochet turned into a vampire. In a desperate bid for rejuvenation, Fyodor dons Augusto’s military garb and embarks on a bloody spree, hunting human hearts throughout Santiago.

Suspecting their father’s involvement in the troubles surrounding the family’s financial dealings, the Pinochet children—feeling the weight of their inheritance—decide to hire a nun named Carmen under the guise of auditing their estate. As they journey to the remote farm, Carmen’s undeniable charm and fluency in French captivate Augusto. Meanwhile, he learns about Fyodor’s affair with Lucia, which he chooses to overlook as his affections for her have waned over time. During her investigation, Carmen meticulously interviews every member of the household, secretly compiling a dossier on their shady finances and misdeeds.

When Carmen eventually reveals her true identity and attempts to exorcise Pinochet, she finds herself overwhelmed by his forceful persona and succumbs to temptation, engaging in an intimate encounter with him that leads to her transformation into a vampire. This shocking turn of events draws the attention of a powerful figure—Margaret Thatcher, who is later unveiled as Claude’s estranged mother. Upon learning about the circumstances of his conception, she harbors jealousy towards Carmen, suspecting her intentions with her son. In a twist of fate, instead of erasing her from existence, Augusto showcases his wealth to Carmen, only for her to unveil her deceit. Her vampiric transformation is a mere facade orchestrated by the Roman Catholic Church to infiltrate the Pinochet family and unravel their corruption. As she attempts to escape, she is captured by Fyodor, who ruthlessly destroys her dossier.

In the ensuing chaos, Fyodor, Lucia, and the Pinochet children conspire to eliminate Augusto and Thatcher for their inheritance. However, in a moment of betrayal, Augusto pierces Lucia’s heart with a stake, delivering a final, fatal blow. He then beheads Fyodor with a saw, solidifying his claim to immortality. As Augusto and Margaret replenish their strength with the essence of vampire hearts, they set their sights on a new beginning, leaving the children to navigate the ruins of their legacy. Just as they depart, the familiar figures of Carmen’s fellow nuns appear on their doorstep, signaling an unearthly conclusion to a saga steeped in blood, betrayal, and the dark legacies of power.