The buzz around Netflix’s latest hit, Las Muertas, goes beyond its global top ranking. This series isn’t just filmmaker Luis Estrada’s first venture into television. It also stands as a deep tribute to a literary giant, Jorge Ibargüengoitia. He was one of Mexico’s sharpest, most ironic, and critical writers.
Ibargüengoitia loved dark humor. His sarcastic view and fascination with power’s foolishness turned national tragedies into unforgettable jokes. His 1977 novel, also titled Las Muertas, forms the backbone of Netflix’s ambitious show. Nearly fifty years later, his literary genius is back on screen.
A Writer Who Found Irony in Horror
Jorge Ibargüengoitia Antillón was born in Guanajuato in 1928. He grew up in a small-town setting. Later, he would use this background to add humor and a biting edge to books like Estas ruinas que ves and Los relámpagos de agosto. He was a playwright, a storyteller, and a journalist. He never shied away from poking fun at big national myths.
In Las Muertas, Ibargüengoitia drew inspiration from the true, chilling case of Las Poquianchis. He spun a tale of horror and abuse into a harsh look at Mexican hypocrisy. Instead of a simple crime story, he wrote a satire. It questioned morals, corrupt institutions, and the sensational media that turned the real crime into a national show. His writing style was both sharp and elegant. It blended bureaucracy, dark humor, and social critique. This made him a fierce voice chronicling his times.
Luis Estrada: “Ibargüengoitia Had to Be Part of the Series”
Luis Estrada, 62, shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly en Español. He knew from the start that Ibargüengoitia needed to be in the series. Maybe not seen directly, but as an unseen force. "The way the novel is written made me feel his presence was necessary," Estrada explained. "It’s an homage to Ibargüengoitia. He, like us, deeply explored the real case of the González Valenzuela sisters."
He added, "It was important for those who knew the novel to recognize his voice in the series. And for newcomers to the series, we hope it sparks their interest to read the book." Estrada brought the writer in as a quiet character. He breaks the fourth wall, but his identity stays hidden until the final moments of the last episode. Estrada believes this method acts as a "bridge between literature and film." It reminds us that a thinking mind watches, analyzes, and writes behind every image.
From Written Satire to Visual Satire
Ibargüengoitia and Estrada share a biting view of Mexico. They both use irony to mirror a country that sometimes gets used to its own absurdities. "What interests me is for the viewer to laugh, get angry, and reflect all at the same time," Estrada said. "That is exactly what Jorge did with his books."
This shared artistic DNA shines through in every corner of Las Muertas. Take the "balcony shout," for instance. It echoes Mexico’s Cry of Independence. Yet, in the series, it becomes a scene of pure desperation and power. Another powerful image is a vulture eating a snake on a cactus. This flips the national emblem on its head. It serves as a stark message against corruption. Estrada confirms that both symbols sprang from Ibargüengoitia’s spirit. The author truly knew how to use laughter like a surgeon’s knife to cut open the nation’s wounds.
A Writer Still Provoking Half a Century Later
Tragically, Jorge Ibargüengoitia died in 1983 at age 55. He was a passenger on Avianca Flight 11, which crashed in Madrid. Still, his legacy thrives in every reader, and now, in every viewer of Las Muertas.
With the series’ release, his novel has been reissued by Netflix and his original publisher. It features a new cover inspired by Luis Estrada’s visual art. This move does more than just bring his work back. It introduces him to fresh generations who might discover the author for the first time.
Luis Estrada sums it up well: "Ibargüengoitia did not soften brutality. He simply turned it into irony. And that humor, even when it stings, remains the smartest way to talk about Mexico."
Las Muertas premiered on Netflix on September 10, 2025. The new commemorative edition of Jorge Ibargüengoitia’s novel Las Muertas is now available.