The bloody murder of a family narrated by Damián Alcázar

The world of true crime podcasts is huge and incredibly varied. The genre is one of the most listened to by lovers of the format (and probably the most popular), and enthusiasts can find many subgenres that include series, investigations of all kinds, talk shows with guests, specials on criminal justice, wrongful convictions and crimes that occurred in different countries or that are related to the world of entertainment. In short, there is something for everyone.

Now, Mexico joins Spotify's Real Crimes library with 'Fausto', the first original podcast in Mexico (and Latin America) that recounts the first multiple homicide committed in Ecatepec, State of Mexico. The narrator will be Damián Alcázar, who believes that stories can promote public reflection and help heal the nation.

The story of a Mexican crime

'Fausto' was the name that the police gave to the case file in which, in December 1991, a family was mysteriously murdered in Ecatepec, in the State of Mexico. The horrific multiple homicide is believed to be the first of its kind in the municipality, which has been known as one of the most violent in the country for years.

Based on the case and backed by years of investigation, the podcast will have eight episodes through which they will recreate the events with the help of testimonies from people who were involved in some way in the year-long investigation. Among them is agent Fabián Roldán, who remembers this multiple homicide as the most important case in his 40-year career.

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Tell stories to heal the country

Alcázar considers himself a storyteller by nature, since he grew up surrounded by stories, legends, radio productions and books, since he has always liked to read. With a career in film, theater and television, he has been responsible for creating programs to rescue popular legends in San Miguel de Allende and Michoacán.

The actor assures that narrating stories is part of the culture of human beings and is excited by the challenge that an auditory format represents in such an “audiovisual” age, in which we are constantly bombarded with visual stimuli. “In the auditory area, more is required of the imagination, it is a natural result that your imagination flourishes,” says Alcázar.

But he also hopes that recreating stories like this will make us more aware of the complexity of human nature, promoting a reflection that can make us less violent and more supportive and tolerant of each other. “This is the only way we are going to heal this country.”

reality as entertainment

The 'Narcos' actor used fictional classics in preparation for this project, including Goethe's 'Faust' and Christopher Marlowe's 'Faust'. Alcázar explained that a violent crime invites us to ask ourselves “how people can gravitate towards the dark, but also towards the light”.

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But the ultimate goal for the project goes beyond creating an audio documentary, as it also seeks to bring its craft to not only recount the events, but tell a story that audiences can react to. "That listeners not only understand the events, but feel the emotion, as they do when they watch mystery and horror movies."

Alcázar believes in the potential of the format to tell stories of all kinds, both real and fictional. For now, 'Faust' joins a long list of popular true crime podcasts like 'Serial', 'In the Dark', 'My Favorite Murder' and 'Undisclosed'.

New episodes of 'Faust' premiere on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Spotify. Hear the first four here.