By Justina Bonilla
Bingo, a new film to be featured in the second half of the popular Blumhouse Television and Amazon Studios series Welcome to the Blumhouse, has revealed its entire cast, including Oscar-nominated actress Adriana Barraza as its star.
The Welcome to the Blumhouse film series follows the Blumhouse signature horror-thriller films, with up-and-coming directors who are female and/or of color. The films also feature diverse casts, blending established and emerging acting talents. Part one of Welcome to the Blumhouse included the films Black Box, The Lie, Evil Eye, and Nocturne. Both Black Box and Nocturne featured the talent of Latina cinematographers Hilda Mercado (Black Box) and Carmen Cabana (Nocturne).
Bingo is directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero and co-written by Saul Guerrero, Shane McKenzie, and Perry Blackshear. It’s one of the four films premiering later this year, alongside The Manor, Black as Night, and Madres. Bingo is the latest of Saul Guerrero’s award-winning directorial resume with Blumhouse Television. Her previous Blumhouse collaborations include the television series Hulu’s Into the Dark: Culture Shock and The Purge series episode“Hail Mary”.
Bingo follows a group of elderly women led by Lupita (Barraza), as they fight against gentrification in their beloved Oak Springs barrio. However, as they fight to save their beloved bingo hall, it’s about to be sold to a presence whose influence exceeds money.
Lupita is described as, a strong and stubborn “chingona” (badass) who grew up in the barrio of Oak Springs, a neighborhood formerly full of crime and dangerous characters. Lupita has dedicated her life to lifting up the neighborhood and creating a community the residents could be proud to call home.
Barraza is an established actress with an impressive international career of over 40 years in film, television and theatres. Establishing herself in Mexico, she gained international regard acting in the 1999 critically acclaimed, and Oscar-nominated film Amores Perros, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu. In 2006, Barraza re-teamed with Iñárritu, acting in a supporting role in Babel, gaining an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Most recently, Barraza has appeared in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and We Can Be Heroes.
Another established actress of television, film, and theatres to be featured in a leading role, is Tony award-winning actress L. Scott Caldwell. Caldwell is the “witty, loyal, and though grandmother” Dolores and Lupita’s best friend.
The cast of Bingo will also feature Joshua Caleb Johnson (The Good Lord Bird), Bertila Damas (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), David Jensen (Queen Sugar), Clayton Landey (Sully), Kelly Murtagh (The Purge series), Grover Coulson (Friday Nights Lights), Jonathan Medina (The Purge series), and Richard Brake (Games of Thrones).
Bingo just finished its filming in New Orleans, Louisiana.