A Tough Look at the Responsibilities of Tabloid Journalism. The power of the sensational media is examined in this film by Ecuadorian director Sebastian Cordero. He has created a very disturbing piece of film making, that examines how unscrupulous journalists manipulate the news. “Cronicas” is intensely disturbing and a bit nauseating to watch due to its graphic scenes – Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Manolo Bonilla, a TV journalist seeking stardom traveled to Ecuador with his assistant Marisa and cameraman to cover the story of the ‘Monster of Babahoyo’, a serial rapist and murderer of small children. As they are filming a strange man Vinicio Cepeda has wandered into town and during the paparazzi effect of Bonilla’s crew filming the mass funeral of the latest victims of the ‘Monster’. Vinicio inadvertently runs over the twin of one of the victims resulting in an outrage by the father of the twins and a beating of Vinicio. Both are jailed and Manolo learns from the incarcerated Vinicio that he has secrets about the Monster. Seeing the chance for a ‘Big Story’ that will assure his stardom Manolo pursues the fragments of evidence about the Monster until little by little he ‘uncovers’ the truth. And the truth is terrifying.