What Is History of the Occult About?
The premise of History of the Occult in 325 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the waning hours of a chilly 1987 night, the city of Buenos Aires is bathed in a stark black‑and‑white palette that feels both timeless and unsettling. The final episode of the cult‑favorite news program 60 Minutes Before Midnight is about to air, a live broadcast that has become a national ritual in itself. The show’s reputation for daring investigations has drawn an audience that hangs on every word, and tonight the stakes feel higher than ever as a midnight rally looms on the horizon, promising to turn the city’s restless energy into something palpable.
At the center of this charged moment sits Adrián Marcato, a charismatic journalist who also serves as vice president of the country’s most influential corporation. Rumors swirl that he practices the dark arts, a whisper that adds an ominous edge to his relentless pursuit of truth. Across the studio table, Alfredo—the program’s seasoned host—offers steady composure, while Senator Matías Linares arrives as a political heavyweight whose connections to the government are both obvious and enigmatic. Beside them, Daniel Aguilar, a sociologist‑writer, brings an intellectual counterpoint, and Natalia, a field operative moving through the city’s shadows, hints at a deeper undercurrent of secretive activity beyond the studio lights.
The atmosphere crackles with a blend of investigative journalism and an almost palpable occult undercurrent. The characters’ interactions are laced with tension, curiosity, and a shared sense that the broadcast could pierce a veil long kept hidden. The film’s tonal palette—cold monochrome that gradually hints at color—mirrors the uneasy balance between the visible world of politics and the unseen forces that may be pulling its strings.
As the clock ticks toward midnight, the audience is drawn into a precarious dance between revelation and concealment. The premise promises a night where a single broadcast might expose a tangled link between government authority and an obscure, secretive society, leaving viewers to wonder just how far the truth can travel when spoken aloud on live television.
What Happens in History of the Occult?
The complete story of History of the Occult, from the first scene to the last, in 605 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Shot in stark black-and-white, this 1987 Buenos Aires-set thriller unfolds on the night of the final episode of the controversial late-night program 60 Minutos Antes de la Medianoche. The show has been canceled after a year-long investigation that promises to expose President Belasco’s economic policies, corruption, and alleged ties to the occult. The live broadcast is anchored by host Alfredo and will feature a poised lineup: a hard-nosed interview with Senator Matías Linares, a sharp-witted sociologist-writer Daniel Aguilar, and Adrián Marcato, the vice president and co-founder of Kingdom Corporate, Argentina’s largest corporation, long rumored to be entwined with warlock lore. A mysterious notebook found at the scene of a ritual murder a year earlier braids Belasco to the coven and to Kingdom Corporate, hinting at a conspiracy that reaches into the country’s power structure. Watching from a safe house, the show’s producers and journalists — María, Lucio, Jorge Federicci, and Abel — await Marcato’s on-air confirmation, while their backup Natalia combs the city for a hidden base that might hold the critical evidence before midnight.
As the program goes to air, Marcato puts Linares on the spot, pressing him about the truth behind his family and his loyalties. Linares answers with two, yet Marcato insists there are three, claiming he has forgotten the youngest daughter because she no longer belongs to “this reality.” Off-screen, the team has been dosed with hallucinogenic tannis root from Von Merkens labs, provided by Belasco’s opponents, a ritual designed to coax the elusive evidence into the open before the stroke of midnight. The confession is more than a reveal: Marcato admits he is a warlock, having been initiated in childhood by his grandmother, a revelation that reframes every prior claim and motive.
On the set, Jorge begins to glimpse visions of a red light and a strange, burned figure, while Maria probes whether Marcato’s past holds more secrets than his present public persona suggests. Maria’s responses about Marcato’s supposed lack of children clash with the family lore that viewers have heard, deepening the tension. The ritual team pushes forward with the séance-like ritual and witnesses disturbing sights: a flashing red light, a burned figure, and a tentacled being that seems to press against the edge of reality itself. A flashback reveals the dark bargain at the center of it all: Marcato was cast out by his coven, and his alliance with the journalists was born of a deal — expose Belasco on national television in exchange for access to a hidden artifact the coven guards in secret bases all over Buenos Aires.
When Jorge awakens, Lucio is missing and Abel is dead, fueling Maria’s suspicion that Abel was a warlock infiltrated by the coven; she claims to have killed him after he killed Lucio and attacked her. Jorge’s questions about the children persist, and Natalia, having retrieved the artifact, is pursued by a coven member whom she ends up shooting. As the clock nears midnight, Natalia arrives at the studio bearing the artifact: a modern-day smartphone. A tremoring Marcato phones his daughter and lays bare everything: Kingdom Corporate is, in fact, a coven of warlocks who struck a pact with beings from another world to install Belasco and seize control of the Argentinean government. In a final, breath-stealing moment, he tells his daughter to read a single word aloud from a book, and then he speaks to the audience one last time before the broadcast cuts to color. Marcato vanishes from the frame, and Alfredo watches with a stunned expression, asking if anyone heard the word, while Maria and Jorge, still in black-and-white, stare at the TV in hollow disbelief.
History of the Occult Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Final episode airs in Buenos Aires” to “The word is uttered; color shifts and disappearances follow”. 12 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Final episode airs in Buenos Aires
The late-night show 60 Minutos Antes de la Medianoche begins its 11 p.m. broadcast in a Buenos Aires studio. Host Alfredo is set to interview Senator Matías Linares, sociologist Daniel Aguilar, and Adrián Marcato, while the journalists watch from a safe house, anticipating a revelation that could expose Belasco’s alleged crimes and occult ties.
When:23:00 Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
- 2
Back‑up team monitors from the safe house
The show's producers and journalists monitor the live broadcast from a secure safe house. Natalia is out in the city searching for a secret base that supposedly houses the critical evidence the investigation needs. The mounting tension centers on whether Marcato will confirm Belasco’s involvement on air.
When:During broadcast Where:Safe house, Buenos Aires
- 3
Marcato questions Linares about his daughters
On air, Marcato presses Linares about how many daughters he has. Linares answers two, but Marcato insists there is a third, one he doesn’t remember, hinting that she has been 'given up' and suggesting realities beyond the current one. The exchange deepens the sense that manipulation and hidden truths steer the political landscape.
When:During broadcast Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
- 4
Tannis root prepared to aid the investigation
Von Merkens Labs supplies four doses of hallucinogenic tannis root to the journalists, intended to fuel a ritual that will help Natalia locate the elusive evidence. The root’s power is presented as a necessary tool to pierce the conspirators’ veil. Natalia’s mission hinges on obtaining this evidence before midnight.
When:During broadcast Where:Safe house, Buenos Aires
- 5
Marcato reveals his warlock identity
Marcato calmly admits that he is a warlock, having been initiated into the dark arts as a child by his grandmother. The confession reframes the conspiracy as a personal pact with occult forces rather than a simple political scandal. The revelation raises the stakes for everyone involved in the broadcast.
When:During broadcast Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
- 6
Ritual visions gnaw at the journalists
Under Abel’s guidance, Maria, Jorge, and Lucio participate in a séance-like ritual. They experience disturbing visions — a flashing red light, a burned figure, and a tentacled being — which blur the line between reality and occult influence. The visions foreshadow a larger cosmological conspiracy behind Belasco’s rule.
When:During ritual Where:Safe house, Buenos Aires
- 7
Flashback: coven bargains with the journalists
A flashback reveals Marcato was cast out of his coven and struck a deal with the journalists: they would help unmask Belasco on national television if they obtained one of the coven’s artifacts hidden in secret bases across Buenos Aires. The memory reframes the journalists’ alliance as a centuries-old bargain with occult powers.
When:Earlier (flashback) Where:Buenos Aires (flashback)
- 8
Lucio disappears and Abel is killed
Back in the present, Lucio goes missing and Abel is found dead. Maria asserts Abel was a warlock infiltrated by the coven, and she killed him after he killed Lucio and attacked her. The internal conflict within the team escalates, and trust fractures under the pressure of the investigation.
When:During broadcast Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
- 9
Natalia retrieves the artifact, faces pursuit
Natalia has already retrieved the coven’s artifact but is being stalked by a coven member. She shoots the pursuer, securing the artifact for the final moments of the broadcast. The pursuit underscores the immediacy of the threat closing in on the journalists.
When:Late evening Where:City streets, Buenos Aires
- 10
Natalia arrives at the studio with the artifact
Natalia makes it back to the studio with the artifact — a modern smartphone that serves as the centerpiece of the evidence. She hands it to Alfredo as the tension peaks, marking a turning point in the live investigation. The studio becomes the focal point for the revelation.
When:Final minutes Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
- 11
Marcato calls his daughter with a grim confession
Marcato phones his daughter and reveals that Kingdom Corporate is a coven of warlocks who engineered Belasco’s rise to power. He explains their plan to seize control and urges his daughter to read a word from a book aloud. The confession reframes the political crisis as a metaphysical conspiracy.
When:Final minutes Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
- 12
The word is uttered; color shifts and disappearances follow
As Marcato addresses the viewers, he utters the word from the book, and the broadcast ends in a jarring moment of transition to color. Marcato has seemingly vanished, leaving Alfredo and the audience stunned. Maria and Jorge, still in black-and-white, stare at the TV in silent disbelief.
When:End of broadcast Where:Television studio, Buenos Aires
Who Are the Main Characters in History of the Occult?
10 characters, among them Adrián Marcato (Germán Baudino), Daniel Aguilar (Luciano Guglielmino) and María (Nadia Lozano): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- AM
Adrián Marcato (Germán Baudino)
Played by Germán Baudino
Vice president and co-founder of Kingdom Corporate, Adrián is a composed and calculating figure with rumored occult powers. A past coven cast-out member, his history includes a pact with journalists to unmask Belasco in exchange for access to hidden artifacts. His leadership drives the conspiracy's mechanics, blending corporate leverage with occult influence.
- 🕯️ Warlock
- 💼 Corporate power
- 🎭 Manipulator
- DA
Daniel Aguilar (Luciano Guglielmino)
Played by Luciano Guglielmino
A sociologist writer and on-air commentator who probes the conspiracy while challenging authority. He becomes a focal point in the live confrontation, and his presence on the show intensifies the clash between truth-tellers and powerful interests. His interactions with Marcato reveal the deeper ideological stakes of the investigation.
- 📚 Intellectual
- 🗣️ On-air commentator
- M(
María (Nadia Lozano)
Played by Nadia Lozano
Producer coordinating the safe-house operation, María is methodical and resourceful, working to assemble and safeguard evidence. She remains focused on exposing Belasco while navigating personal risk and moral complexities. Her role provides a steady, human anchor amid surreal events.
- 🎙️ Journalist
- 🕵️♀️ Investigator
- L(
Lucio (Iván Esquerre)
Played by Iván Esquerre
A member of the investigative team who experiences disturbing visions as the ritual elements unfold. His disappearance during the crisis heightens the tension and underscores the danger posed by the coven. His arc centers on the cost of uncovering hidden truths.
- 🧭 Visionary
- 🕵️♂️ Investigator
- N(
Natalia (Lucía Arreche)
Played by Lucía Arreche
The backup operative who travels through Buenos Aires to locate a crucial artifact. Targeted by coven members, she embodies the urgency of the mission and the personal risk involved in seeking evidence. Her actions drive the discovery that links Belasco to the occult plot.
- 🧭 Field agent
- 🪄 Artifact hunter
- JF
Jorge Federicci (Agustín Recondo)
Played by Agustín Recondo
Sociologist writer who questions the status quo on-air, providing a critical perspective on the conspiracy. His presence sharpens the political and sociological implications of the events, and he pushes for clarity amid shifting narratives.
- 📚 Intellectual
- 🗣️ On-air commentator
- SM
Senator Matías Linares (Hernán Altamirano)
Played by Hernán Altamirano
A politician whose answers about his family unravel under Marcato's interrogation about alternate realities. He embodies political power that may be compromised or manipulated by hidden forces within the occult-tinged conspiracy.
- 🏛️ Politician
- 🗝️ Hidden past
- A(
Alfredo (Héctor Ostrovsky)
Played by Héctor Ostrovsky
Host of the live show who anchors the broadcast as revelations unfold. He becomes a barometer of public reaction and a potential pivot point for how the truth will be received by the audience.
- 🎤 Host
- 🗳️ Public face
- A(
Abel (Casper Uncal)
Played by Casper Uncal
A member of the coven whose demise marks a turning point in the investigation. His death signals the depth of the conspiracy and the danger faced by those who connect the dots.
- 🔪 Victim
- 🕯️ Coven member
- MM
María's Mother (Gabriela Lage)
Played by Gabriela Lage
A voice from home who anchors emotional stakes and moral memory within the narrative. Her presence adds a human dimension to the political and supernatural intrigues unfolding on screen.
- 👵 Family
- 🧭 Moral compass
Where and When Is History of the Occult Set?
History of the Occult is set in Buenos Aires and Argentina (1987). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1987
Set in the late 1980s Argentina, the film centers on a countdown to midnight during a controversial broadcast. The era is marked by political transition, media scrutiny, and rumors of corruption at the highest levels. The narrative uses the midnight deadline to heighten suspense and reveal a web of alliances between corporate power and occult forces.
Where
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires in 1987 serves as the urban backdrop for a late-night broadcast that pulls the city into a suspenseful political- occult thriller. The action moves between the TV studio, the journalists' safe houses, and hidden coven bases scattered around the city. The setting highlights a tense post-dictatorship atmosphere where media, power, and secret societies collide.
- 🏙️ Buenos Aires
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- 🗳️ Political setting
What Are the Themes of History of the Occult?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Occult Power, Media and Truth and Political Corruption.
-
01
Occult Power
Occult Power explores how hidden covens and artifacts influence national leadership and corporate deals. The characters confront powers that blur the line between superstition and strategy, suggesting a shadow country operating behind the scenes. The story shows that supernatural means can be used to manipulate public policy and secure wealth.
-
02
Media and Truth
Media and Truth examines journalism under pressure, where a live broadcast becomes a battlefield for competing narratives. Reporters, producers, and anchors wrestle with censorship, leaks, and the lure of sensational revelations. The plot questions whether truth can survive when powerful interests control the narrative.
-
03
Political Corruption
Political Corruption intertwines government power with secret bases and covert deals, implying a rot at the core of leadership. The investigation threads through corporate leaders, politicians, and occult forces, challenging characters to choose between loyalty and truth. The story implies that elections and public policy are entangled with clandestine interests and ancestral power.
What Kind of Film Is History of the Occult?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A dread-filled, claustrophobic occult thriller set during a tense live television broadcast, where a journalist's attempt to expose a government conspiracy descends into supernatural horror and psychological unraveling.
- claustrophobic
- anxious
- occult
- paranoid
- dread-filled
- unsettling
- occult conspiracy
- political corruption
- cosmic horror
- live television
Content notes: murder, ritualistic violence, psychological torture, hallucinogenic drugs, supernatural horror.
Quiz
How well do you remember History of the Occult? Test yourself on the story.
