Set in an absurdist version of our world, Fantasmas brings to life fascinating tales of intriguing characters. Created, directed and starred by former SNL writer Julio Torres, the series features guest stars like Paul Dano, Dylan O'brian and Emma Stone. With its distinctive script and vibrant cinematography Fantasmas pushes the boundaries of traditional television and creates space for bold and distinct queer art.
An Autobiographical Tale
In Fantasmas, Julio Torres takes the lead in a semi-autobiographical role, a single gay man living alone in New York named Julio. We come to understand this character more when, in the first episode, he becomes mesmerized by an oyster-shaped diamond earring that seems almost identical to the mole on his neck. Fascinated by how the mole turns into a shadow next to the jewel, Julio decides to buy it, only to lose it in a nightclub that same evening. In this absurdist version of New York, the loss of his earring is a minor challenge when compared to the rest of his life's struggles. Julio juggles eviction notices, bureaucratic absurdities like needing a ‘Proof of Existence’ ID, and the endless search of a job that doesn’t force him to become part of the industry's sell-out culture. Faced with all this chaos and noise, Julio still puts his energy into solving his original issue: he is certain the mole has grown and must find the mole-sized-earring to prove this theory to his doctor.
While it might seem out of the ordinary for viewers who are not accustomed with Torre's unique storytelling skills, the oyster diamond earring conundrum isn’t a completely random plot. Viewing the strange object as a reflection of Julio's own absurdist mind and the world he has created inside it, the sudden loss of the earring adds significance. In just the first episode, Fantasmas foreshadows a great deal of the show's main theme. It illustrates how easy it is to lose yourself and your true identity in today’s capitalist world.
By his side in this surrealistic adventure, we are introduced to intriguing characters like Vanesja (Martine Gutierrez), a performer who has spent so much time portraying the role of a manager that she ultimately assumes it in real life, Bibo (voiced by Joe Rumrill), Julio's own robot made personal assistant, and many other peculiar background characters of his life, who step in the spotlights during a few minutes through different comedy-sketches. With his signature blend of humor and social critique, Torres crafts a script that is both hilarious and thought-provoking. This thematic depth echoes his previous works, including HBO’s Los Espookys (2019) and his directorial debut, Problemista (2024)
Torres' surreal vision is amplified by Sam Levy’s cinematography and Lia Ouyang Rusli’s evocative score, which transform the show’s absurdist humor into an immersive experience. Levy’s cinematography subtly reinforces the show’s surrealist aesthetic. In one standout moment from the second episode, Valued Customer, Vanesja (Martine) performs a skit that showcases her obsession with sleeping with waiters, all of whom are college students, from different restaurants. Vanessa's romantic encounters unfold across a single set, yet strategic shifts in lighting—white for restaurants, yellow for dorms—create the illusion of changing both locations, seamlessly guiding the viewer through time and space.
Additionally, the dream-like effect Sam Levy is able to depict through the entire series, understands and accentuates beautifully with Julio Torre's ideas for the absurdist world he created.
The fast pacing of the show is both constructed by Torres’ sharp, scripted dialogue and the incredible score composed by Lia Ouyang Rusli (who also collaborated with Torres on his film Problemista). The piano-driven soundtrack masterfully adjusts the emotional tone, amplifying or softening the pace to enhance the characters' emotional journeys.
Whilst Fantasmas is undeniably entertaining and visually striking, it makes a powerful impact by challenging the traditions of contemporary television. The show illustrates comedy as artistic, strange and sometimes even discomforting. Especially in today’s world, it is vital to showcase eccentric protagonists, who consistently defy societal expectations, much like Julio does. How often are gay characters with orange-painted hair, who make it a point to resist capitalist existence, portrayed in mainstream media? In a landscape that frequently favours a formula, Fantasmas stands apart, offering something refreshingly original and unapologetically queer. In doing so, it paves the way for a more creative and bold future for television.
Bold, visually striking, and audaciously original, Fantasmas cements Torres’ place as a visionary in modern television. With its unique blend of surrealistic sets, eccentric characters and a fresh perspective on storytelling, Julio Torres delivers a manifestation of love, identity and feeling displaced in your own life. Through his bizarre lenses we are able to emotionally communicate with the story and the characters, who are a reflection of our own selves through a magnifying and caricatured mirror. For those craving an escape from formulaic TV, Fantasmas is an unmissable fever dream of humor and heart.
xoxo, Aline Ayumi, Film Columnist
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