Abhiroop Das
Directed by Luis Estrada, Netflix’s ‘The Dead Girls,’ originally titled ‘Las Muertas,’ is a crime drama that follows two sisters, Serafina and Arcangela Baladro, who go from being madams of a brothel empire to cold-blooded murder. However, this journey into the macabre is not without pitfalls, and eventually the sisters find themselves looking into the mirror and questioning the true meaning of their actions. The story is based on the novel by Jorge Ibargüengoitia, and while much of it is about the rise and fall of their business, the characters’ personal tragedies also play a significant role. Serafina’s relationship with Simon Corona is a markedly bumpy one, but that does not stop either of them from going the extra distance to assert their feelings. The town of Tuxpana Falls becomes more than a witness to their emotional conflicts; it also shapes them.
Tuxpana Falls Bears a Striking Resemblance to a Real Port City in Mexico
While Tuxpana Falls prominently appears as a key location in ‘The Dead Girls,’ it is a semi-fictional town in Mexico concocted by the show’s writing team, comprising of Luis Estrada, Jaime Sampietro, and Rodrigo Santos. The name of the town bears a close resemblance to Tuxpan, which is a city located in the state of Veracruz, in Mexico. Given that Veracruz is mentioned in the show as well, particularly in relation to its coastal landscapes, it can be inferred that Tuxpana Falls strongly draws from its real-life counterpart. However, in the process, the town also maintains a sense of realism through minor details, such as the presence of the word “Falls” in its title. Although no details are given about this invented location, there is a possibility that its identity is informed by the El Salto del Moro waterfall, located near Tuxpana.
While much of Tuxpana Falls is covered during the nighttime sequences, we nonetheless get plenty of insight into the inner workings of the town. In particular, the local cathedral stands out as an awe-inspiring fixture, which in turn makes it a stopping point for our protagonist, Serafina Baladro. There is a possibility that the cathedral in the show was modelled after Tuxpan’s Cathedral of the Assumption, located on Avenue Benito Juárez, in Garizurieta Centro; however, the differing designs of the two buildings suggest that a different church was used as the filming location. Nonetheless, the structure serves as the gateway to the town, embodying its importance to the narrative as both a place of peace and a vessel for the harrowing things one is capable of.
Tuxpana Falls’ Bakeries Add to its Overarching Worldbuilding
In addition to capturing the atmosphere and aesthetic of Tuxpana Falls, ‘The Dead Girls’ also layers its setting with the inclusion of small establishments and outlets, primarily bakeries. Three bakeries, named Panaderia la Gloria, La Rivera Bakery, and La Flor De La Tuxpana Bakery, caught Serafina’s interest and, in turn, became the chief locations featured within the town. While the latter two are likely fictional constructs that have been created purely to serve the narrative, Panderia La Goria is a real bakery situated in General Prim 11, Esquire, Jose Luis Garizurieta Zona Centro, in Tuxpan. As such, a blend of fiction and reality was used to give Tuxpana Falls an air of authencity and a sense of depth. These backdrops serve to amplify the dramatic beats of the story and let the characters shine in a grounded setting.
Although Tuxpana Falls is introduced into ‘The Dead Girls’ as a quaint town that is oozing with culture, the turn of events that transpires paints a vastly different story. Sefarina’s descent into cruelty leads to a major conflict, which in turn triggers a chain reaction that brings several skeletons out of their respective closets. As such, the location’s importance is magnified to include the various bends in the story and set the tone for the rest of the series. While the town hasn’t been featured for an extended period, the creative team makes the best of their scope to flesh out the town’s visual identity as much as possible.
Read More: The Dead Girls Ending Explained: Why are Serafina and Arcangela Baladro Arrested?
