What you need to know about 'Nowhere'—Netflix's trending survival thriller film

A gripping story about being trapped

You can always put your trust in movies where characters are stuck in one place to give you all the tension and thrills.

In Nowhere, audiences are put in the shoes of married couple Nico (Tamar Novas) and Mia (Anna Castillo) as they try with all their might to escape from a devastated country after it was taken over by a totalitarian regime. European countries are joining Spain in harsh policies blocking migrants seeking refuge. 

 

Adding to their already difficult situation is Mia being pregnant with their child. However, after they are herded inside a shipping container with the word "Nowhere" painted outside, Nico and Mia are separated by a group of armed men. 

Their future becomes even more uncertain when Mia's first contractions begin. As waters rise inside the bullet–hole–riddled container, the couple is subjected to a brutal journey in an effort to reunite and find a safe harbor. 

A 'raw and emotional' Spanish film

After the phenomenal heist crime drama series that is Money Heist, Nowhere just further cements how Spain is a master at giving the world some high-quality entertainment.

While the film is completely fictional, its director, who is also involved in an upcoming Money Heist spin-off series titled Berlin, shared that he wanted Mia’s story to feel "tangible" to viewers.

"[I wanted Mia's story to be] raw and emotional, where you could immerse yourself in the drama of our protagonist and not detach yourself from her at any time. To feel her pain and joy as close as possible, to live the survival in our own skin," Pintó told Netflix.

A strong female lead

Anna Castillo, who plays the role of Mia, highlighted in an interview with ES Euro that her character looks to serve as an example of how people can be courageous in times of bleakness. 

"Mia is in a very fragile moment because she carries a very great guilt. If it were up to her, she would quit in more than a moment. But her baby depends on her and that means she can’t give up and draws strength from where she doesn’t have it to fight all the time," she said.

Castillo, who is known for her breakthrough role in the 2016 drama film The Olive Tree, worked to bridge the gap and connect the audience with the struggles that her character faces in the story.

"It was exhausting to always be in such an extreme emotional state and maintain that continuity of 'connection,'" Castillo said.

She also experienced multiple mishaps during production. "I was wearing protection and a giant belly that weighed eight kilos, but when in the film the container falls into the sea, the hits are real because everything was moving a lot. Plus there was smoke and with that and the screams my throat became irritated. I got tonsillitis, I got a fever and we had to readjust the filming so that I could be on antibiotics at home," she recounted.

"And another day when we were filming in the sea I got heatstroke. They came to take my blood pressure and it was very low, so we had to postpone the scene to the next day," she continued.

Castllo said viewers can draw strength and courage from her character in the film. "I think I would die being there," the Spanish star admitted. "Mia is in a very fragile moment because she carries a very great guilt. If it were up to her, she would quit in more than a moment. But her baby depends on her and that means she can’t give up and draws strength from where she doesn’t have it to fight all the time."

Nowhere premiered on Netflix on Sept. 29. Watch the trailer below.