The Desert Within (2008)

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Mexico's Cristero War (1926-1929), a time when Catholicism was outlawed and its followers ruthlessly persecuted, The Desert Within unravels the tragic tale of Elias. Amidst an era of forbidden worship, Elias, driven by his wife's fears of losing their unborn child due to a fall, embarks on a perilous journey to find a priest who can administer the last rites. Despite the danger, Elias convinces the priest to accompany him back to the village, unknowingly leading the Federales to their doorstep. In the ensuing violence, the entire village is decimated, with Elias's family barely managing to escape. His wife succumbs during childbirth, leaving Elias wracked with guilt and the heavy burden of their newborn son. Captured, Elias seeks absolution from the priest, who, instead of granting forgiveness, curses his lineage. Miraculously, Elias escapes, consumed by a relentless obsession to atone for his sins. He relocates his surviving seven children to the desolate desert, and under the harsh sun and shifting sands, they begin the monumental task of erecting a shrine to God. As the desert claims his children, one by one, to illness and accidents, Elias's faith falters, then festers, mutating from reverence to a dangerous obsession. His belief that God has abandoned him starts to corrode his sanity and dictates the course of his surviving offspring's lives. The Desert Within paints a vivid portrait of desperation, faith, and the devastating consequences of fanaticism.

The Desert Within is a drama movie featuring Dolores Heredia and directed by Rodrigo Plá.

The Desert Within is currently streaming on fuboTV.