The Dead Girls (2025)
The Dead Girls (literal translation: The Dead Girls; orig. title: The dead) is a 2025 Mexican biographical crime drama film created by Luis Estrada. The film premiered on Netflix on September 10, 2025.
The Dead Girls is a Mexican crime drama series inspired by real events and a novel that becomes one of the most shocking stories in the history of crime in Mexico. The project is directed by Luis Estrada, whose work usually combines social criticism, a sharp look at human nature and deep moral themes. The series transforms the true case of „Las Poquianchis“ – the murderous sisters who operated a network of brothels and were involved in numerous crimes in the 1960s – into a tense and terrifying drama that is both moving and thought-provoking.
The Dead Girls tells the story of sisters Serafina and Arcángela Baladro, who become so influential in an urban environment that they create their own criminal empire, running brothels and exploiting the young women who fall into their network. As the plot progresses, we see how the ambition and greed of these women become instruments of violence and control, while the instinct for survival and power eat away at the moral fabric of the society around them. The series not only follows the sisters' cruel actions, but also the way in which these actions have a shattering impact on everyone around them - victims, loved ones, authority figures and society itself.
Director Luis Estrada uses the story not simply as a crime chronicle, but as a mirror to broader social issues – corruption, poverty, exploitation and the destructive power of reckless ambition. The director’s approach combines dramatic scenes with heavy psychological pressure on the viewer, often building tension through confrontation between characters rather than through action. The atmosphere is dark, tense and reflects the historical context of Mexico in the 1960s.
The cast in The Dead Girls builds multi-layered personalities that make the story much more human and impactful.
Paulina Gaitan – influential and ambitious Serafina Baladro, who pulls the strings of her dark empire.
Arcelia Ramirez – Arcángela Baladro, the sister whose dynamic with the main character adds conflict and complexity.
Eduarda Gurola – Lupe, who expresses the emotional and social aspects of the story.
Joaquin Cosio – Captain Bedoya, a police figure who embodies the criminal side of the law.
Mauricio Isaac – La Calavera, adding color and danger to the web of conflicts.
The supporting cast, including Sonia Kuo, Sofia Espinosa, and Christian Ferrer, adds depth to the story through important supporting roles.
The Dead Girls is a serious, dark and emotionally charged series that transports the viewer to a world where crimes go far beyond ordinary crime stories. It does not simply tell a series of murders and exploitation, but analyzes human nature, social structures and how the flaws of society can give birth to monsters. The series manages to combine historical basis, strong female characters and psychological depth, making it one of the most significant dramatic works on Netflix in 2025.
