Tenerife's Dark History Explored in "Witnesses of Horror" Event
"Witnesses of Horror - Crimes that Left Their Mark on Tenerife," a film screening and discussion exploring infamous Canary Islands crimes, including the Dámaso Rodríguez case and the Alexander Family murder, will be held at Cine Price in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on October 24th.
Next Friday, October 24th, at 8:30 p.m., the old Cine Price in Santa Cruz de Tenerife will host a special event called "Witnesses of Horror - Crimes that Left Their Mark on Tenerife." It's an evening of films and discussion exploring some of the most disturbing and impactful crimes in the Canary Islands' history.
Tickets are limited and cost 5 euros. You can buy them online at https://entrada.tiickets.es/events/testigos-del-horror. The event is sponsored by the ICDC of the Canary Islands Government and organized by Flashback Canarias as part of the 'All Saints' festival celebrations in Tegueste on November 1st.
This year, you'll see documentaries about two shocking Tenerife cases: Dámaso Rodríguez, known as "El Brujo" (The Wizard), and the Alexander Family murder. Both films are by Javier Caldas and Aarón Melián.
The first film tells the story of Dámaso Rodríguez, who terrorized the island in the 90s. His capture was one of the most publicized police chases in the Canary Islands, with a tragic end. The second film examines the murder of a German family in a remote part of Tenerife, a case full of mystery and rumors of rituals and cults.
After the films, there will be a discussion led by Cristo Gil, an art historian. The panel will explore the facts of the cases and their psychological and cultural impact on the local community.
The panelists include Carlos Simancas, a tourist guide and expert in local culture; Javier Caldas and Aarón Melián, the documentary filmmakers; Jorge Fonte, a writer and criminology researcher; Miguel Ángel Autero, a journalist who covered the Dámaso case; and Alfonso Ferrer, director of the crime news outlet El Laberinto.
"Witnesses of Horror" aims to examine these events that shaped Tenerife in a thoughtful and critical way. It looks beyond the police investigation to understand the fears, myths, and realities that these crimes represent in the island's collective memory.
Also, FlashBack Canarias will be offering two guided tours in November: the Santa Cruz Black Chronicle Route with Carlos Simancas, and a tour of the Barranco de Badajoz with Carlos Simanca and José Gregorio from Radio San Borondón.