INTERVIEW: JOÃO LONDRES (KLAUSTROPHOBIA, 2025)

João Londres discusses “Klaustrophobia” (2025), a psychological horror that premiered at the Rio Film Festival. In an old mansion in Alto da Boa Vista, Livia, an inexperienced babysitter, is tasked with caring for Klaus, a 9-year-old boy, over the course of one night. What begins as a simple task transforms into a gothic tale of secrets and suspense.

In the interview, João recounts how the project was born during the pandemic lockdown and transformed completely in the editing process. The director details the construction of the opening scene, a sequence shot that establishes the film’s claustrophobic tone, revealing how the apartment functions as a character and the door’s transition as a portal between worlds.

João also shares his Brazilian film recommendations: “Fight of the Century,” a documentary by Sérgio Machado about the rivalry between fighters that he initially mistook for a mockumentary, and “Amor Bandido,” a noir by Bruno Barreto set in 1970s Copacabana featuring Paulo Gracindo.

Credits – Klaustrophobia

Leandro Reis