Sundance Film Festival 2025 – Writer/director Gala del Sol’s  Rains Over Babel is one heck of a stylish film. It’s like a queer take on Dante’s Divine Comedy. The problem, however, is that the film contains one too many narratives that don’t quite gel. There are too many separate storylines, and most of them aren’t fully developed.

Babel is the hottest night club in town. It’s also home to La Flaca (Saray Rebolledo), the Grim Reaper personified. Souls trapped in purgatory can gamble with her to cheat death. Most of them, though, end up with years tacked onto their contract, prolonging their stay in purgatory. The film follows a group of misfits who interact with La Flaca. Most of them want to save their loved ones or handle other unfinished business.

There’s Monet (Johan Zapata). He overdosed and longs to return to his body before it decomposes. Dante (Felipe Aguilar Rodríguez) is a broken-hearted soldier who remembers little about his life. However, as the runtime inches forward, we learn more about him. He has some of the most screentime because he interacts with most of the characters. Jacob (William Hurtado) is a budding drag artist ashamed of himself because his father is a strict preacher. Other than Dante, Jacob’s narrative is one of the strongest, especially the moments leading up to his grand debut as a drag performer at Babel. Hurtado turns in a memorable performance, adding nuance and depth to his character. Other characters include Uma (Celina Biurrun) and Timbi (Jose Mojica).

Out of all the storylines, Uma and Timbi’s feel the most undercooked. They even go on a strange side quest to another club that has a BDSM meets Steampunk aesthetic. Yet, their journey largely distracts from everything else occurring. This is the film’s main flaw. The narratives collapse. There’s simply way too much going on. Maybe this film would have functioned better with half the characters or even an anthology format.

Still, the feature contains some positives. The production and costume designs are excellent. This film has a gritty, yet colorful aesthetic. it also celebrates queer culture. Some of the characters, Dante and Jacob especially, are well-developed. Meanwhile, Rebolledo is a scene-stealer. Somehow, she makes the Grim Reaper all kinds of sexy. It’s a clever and creative take on such a familiar character. Despite some of the underdeveloped storylines, all performances are compelling. It’s just a shame some of the characters weren’t given more to do.

Rains Over Babel looks great. However, the film elevates style over substance. There are too many narratives at play here, and the storylines crash and collide. This needed a tighter script.