Antigua and Barbuda are known worldwide for sun-drenched beaches and vibrant culture, but a new short film is shining a very different light on the islands. Soucouyant, directed by award-winning filmmaker Michael Garcia, reimagines the Caribbean as a stage for gothic horror. Premiering September 19 at Loft at Congress in Boca Raton, the six-minute film merges folklore, music, and striking landscapes in ways audiences have never seen before.
At the center of this project is a collaboration between Garcia, goth-metal band Creepscience, and Elite Island Resorts, who helped showcase Antigua’s versatility as a filming destination. For Garcia, who has Cuban roots and grew up immersed in Caribbean mythologies, the story immediately stood out.
“When Larry told me about a Caribbean vampire, I was like, that’s new,” Garcia explained. “I had been to Antigua before and always loved the location, but I wondered why it wasn’t tapped into more as a film location. When you think of shooting in the Caribbean, most people imagine pretty sunset beaches. But we wanted to dive into the ancient ruins, the graveyards, the hidden corners. That’s what made me so attracted to this project.”
Creepscience and the Power of Music
The film’s haunting atmosphere is driven by Creepscience’s music, which Garcia describes as the visual compass for his direction. “Their song is about the dead rising, about Caribbean lords. When I heard it, I immediately saw the images in my head,” Garcia said. “Music speaks to me in pictures. The breakdowns, the shifts in tone — all of it told me how to frame the story.”
That story, rooted in Caribbean legend, follows shipwrecked travelers who encounter the Soucouyant, a vampiric figure from folklore said to shed her skin and transform into a fiery ball of light.
Horror as a Showcase for Antigua
For Garcia, the biggest thrill was transforming the natural beauty of Antigua into something terrifying and unforgettable. “Nighttime is a wonderful thing. You can make anything scary,” he noted. “Beauty is actually the most scary thing. It’s what you don’t see that frightens you. Once you see the monster, it’s not that scary.”
This philosophy gave the film its signature tone, blending the serenity of beaches and ruins with an undercurrent of dread. For audiences, Garcia hopes Soucouyant will change the way they view the Caribbean. “I think people will feel they’ve seen a Caribbean they never imagined. Horror is like a roller coaster, and the thrill comes from seeing something familiar turned on its head. Antigua offers that in spades.”
Antigua as a Film Destination
The film also highlights Antigua’s potential as a hub for international productions. Elite Island Resorts played a key role in supporting the project, helping to position Antigua not only as a place for vacationers but also as a canvas for filmmakers.
The island has hosted major projects before, from Allied to Wendy to television series like Below Deck. But Soucouyant represents something new — a fusion of folklore, horror, and music that showcases the island’s cultural depth as well as its natural beauty.
Garcia emphasized that it’s a perspective long overdue. “Antigua has so many ancient ruins, so many locations that haven’t been shown in this way before. Shooting there at night, it feels like the stories are alive.”
A Fresh Vision of Caribbean Storytelling
By blending Creepscience’s music, Caribbean mythology, and the eerie backdrop of Antigua, Soucouyant opens the door for a different kind of cinematic storytelling in the Caribbean. For Elite Island Resorts and for Antigua, the project proves that paradise can be more than postcard-perfect — it can also inspire new artistic visions.
“Soucouyant isn’t just about horror,” Garcia concluded. “It’s about showing the Caribbean in a new light. That’s what makes this film special.”
