What The Similars is About
The Similars is a 2015 Mexican supernatural thriller that traps eight ordinary people in an extraordinary nightmare. It's October 1968, and a hurricane forces a group of strangers to shelter at a remote bus station while waiting for a bus that never seems to arrive. What starts as an inconvenient delay becomes a descent into body-horror territory when the passengers notice something impossible happening: their faces are slowly, grotesquely transforming into one another's. The film's premise is deceptively simple, but its execution—and what it's really asking about human identity—cuts much deeper than a standard genre exercise.
Behind the Making of The Similars
Written and directed by Isaac Ezban, The Similars premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2015 before receiving its Mexican theatrical release in October 2016. The ensemble cast includes Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Fernando Becerril, Humberto Busto, Carmen Beato, Santiago Torres, and María Elena Olivares, each bringing texture to characters who'd normally be forgettable background players in a more conventional thriller. What's striking is how Ezban grounds the film's sci-fi premise in a specific historical moment—the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre—which gives the story an unsettling political undertone beneath its body-horror surface. The 89-minute runtime keeps the pressure relentless; there's no fat here, no subplot padding. The film's IMDb score of 6.0 reflects its divisive reception among general audiences, though it's found a devoted cult following among horror fans who appreciate its willingness to prioritize mood and concept over jump scares. Movie OTT tracks where you can stream it across multiple platforms, making it easier to discover films like this that don't always get mainstream theatrical pushes.
Why The Similars Stands Out in Horror-Sci-Fi Territory
What makes The Similars memorable isn't just the grotesque visual of faces morphing and blending together—it's what Ezban seems to be saying about conformity, individuality, and whether those distinctions even matter in the first place. The tagline asks it plainly: "7 billion people in the world or just one?" That's not a throwaway marketing hook; it's the entire thematic spine. As the transformation progresses, the passengers begin to lose not just their physical distinctiveness but their sense of self. You'll notice how the film shifts from claustrophobic paranoia (who's changing? am I changing?) to something more existential—a creeping realization that maybe identity is more fragile than we'd like to admit. The performances anchor this unsettling philosophy. Rather than playing it for camp or melodrama, the cast treats the impossible with a kind of weary resignation that makes it feel real, which is far more effective than screaming or panic would be. Cinematically, Ezban uses the confined setting—that bus station becomes a pressure cooker—to trap both the characters and the viewer. There's no escape, no external cavalry coming to explain things away. What's striking is that the film doesn't offer easy answers, and honestly, that's refreshing in a genre that often feels obligated to wrap everything up neatly.
How to Stream The Similars Online
The Similars is currently available on major OTT services, making it accessible whether you're a seasoned horror fan or someone stumbling across it for the first time. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page shows you exactly which platforms are carrying it right now—availability shifts, so checking there saves you from the frustration of searching blindly. Since it's not a mainstream Hollywood production, it doesn't always show up in algorithm recommendations, which is where resources like movieott.com become genuinely useful. You can discover films that deserve attention but don't have massive marketing budgets behind them.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed The Similars?
Isaac Ezban wrote and directed the film. It was his feature directorial debut and premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2015 before its Mexican theatrical release in October 2016.
Q: Is The Similars based on a true story?
No, it's an original screenplay. However, Ezban sets the story during the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico, which was a real historical event, lending the film an eerie historical backdrop.
Q: How long is The Similars?
The film runs 89 minutes, maintaining a tight, pressurized pace throughout without unnecessary subplot detours.
Q: What's the main premise of The Similars?
Eight strangers are trapped at a remote bus station during a hurricane when they discover their faces are slowly transforming into one another's, raising disturbing questions about identity and individuality.
Q: Where can I watch The Similars?
It's available on major OTT streaming services. Use the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page to see which platforms are currently carrying it in your region.
Final Thoughts on The Similars
If you're tired of horror films that rely on jump scares and CGI spectacle, The Similars offers something different—a slow-burn premise that gets under your skin precisely because it refuses to explain itself. It won't be for everyone; some viewers will find it too abstract or slow-paced. But for those who appreciate science fiction that uses genre conventions to explore bigger ideas about what makes us human, it's absolutely worth seeking out. The film's willingness to end on ambiguity, to leave you unsettled rather than satisfied, is a feature, not a bug. That's the mark of a filmmaker confident in his vision.
