Afraid to Go Out at Night (1980) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A fearful man is changed when community panic and a neighbor's misfortune force him to confront reality.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Fear Inside The Household

Paco is introduced as a timid bank employee living with Begoña and his mother. Repeated stories about violence begin to unsettle the household.

Key Events

• Paco's Timid Routine — Paco is introduced as a timid and fearful bank employee. Characters: Paco Location: Bank and neighborhood
• The Couple At Home — Paco and Begoña are presented as a couple living together. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Shared home
• The Shared Household — The household includes Paco, Begoña, and Paco's mother. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Paco's home
• Violence In Conversation — Paco's mother comments on violent events occurring around her or reported by the media. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Shared home
• Disturbing News Repeated — Violent news and unverified stories are repeatedly brought into the household. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Shared home
• Family Anxiety Grows — The mother's psychosis about these reports increasingly worries the family. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Shared home

Panic Among Neighbors

The mother's alarming comments increasingly worry the family and the neighborhood community. Fear spreads and produces a series of incidents.

Key Events

• Family Anxiety Grows — The mother's psychosis about these reports increasingly worries the family. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Shared home
• Neighbors Become Concerned — The growing panic extends beyond the household and concerns the neighboring community. Characters: Paco, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Panic Spreads — Fear generated by the alarming stories affects the surrounding community. Characters: Paco, Begoña, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Incidents Begin — The spreading panic produces a series of incidents. Characters: Paco, Begoña, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Fear Fuels Reactions — The incidents are shaped by the community's escalating fear. Characters: Paco, Begoña, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Tragic Consequences — Some of the fear-driven incidents end tragically. Characters: Paco, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community

The Neighbor's Misfortune

Don Cosme is presented as lively and fearless, but a misfortune happens to him. This event becomes the decisive trigger in Paco's story.

Key Events

• Tragic Consequences — Some of the fear-driven incidents end tragically. Characters: Paco, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Don Cosme Stands Out — Don Cosme is characterized as lively and unafraid of the future. Characters: Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• A Neighbor's Misfortune — A misfortune happens to Don Cosme amid the growing fear. Characters: Paco, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Paco Faces The Shock — Don Cosme's misfortune becomes a decisive shock for Paco. Characters: Paco, Don Cosme Location: Neighborhood community
• Reality Breaks Through — Paco is pushed to confront reality rather than remain ruled by fear. Characters: Paco Location: Neighborhood community
• The Fearful Complex — Paco recognizes the complex that has been tormenting him. Characters: Paco Location: Paco's home

Paco Faces Reality

The consequences of the panic force Paco to confront reality and examine the complex that torments him. His fear begins to lose its control over him.

Key Events

• The Fearful Complex — Paco recognizes the complex that has been tormenting him. Characters: Paco Location: Paco's home
• Paco Confronts Fear — Paco begins actively confronting the fear that defined him. Characters: Paco Location: Neighborhood community
• The Complex Weakens — Paco moves toward freeing himself from his tormenting complex. Characters: Paco Location: Neighborhood community

Freedom From The Complex

Paco completes his movement away from fearful inhibition. The story resolves through his struggle to overcome the complex that shaped his behavior.

Key Events

• A Changed Paco — Paco's response to events marks a change in his relationship with fear and reality. Characters: Paco, Begoña Location: Shared home
• Freedom From Fear — Paco succeeds in freeing himself from the complex that tormented him. Characters: Paco Location: Neighborhood community

Story Breakdown

• Paco's Timid Life — Paco begins as a shy and fearful bank employee whose personal inhibition shapes his daily life.
  • Bank Employee — Paco is introduced through his occupation and fearful personality.
  • Fearful Complex — The plot identifies a complex that torments Paco.
• Household Anxiety — Paco and Begoña share a home where repeated stories about violence create increasing concern.
  • Shared Home — Paco and Begoña live together with Paco's mother.
  • Violent Reports — Paco's mother repeatedly comments on violent events and media reports.
• Community Panic — The mother's psychosis about the news extends beyond the household and affects the neighborhood.
  • Family Concern — The household becomes increasingly worried by the constant alarming commentary.
  • Neighbor Concern — The surrounding community also becomes concerned by the spreading panic.
• Escalating Incidents — The panic provokes a series of incidents, some of which end tragically.
  • Fear Driven Events — Community panic produces incidents around the neighbors.
  • Tragic Outcomes — The synopsis states that some incidents end in tragedy.
• Don Cosme's Turning Point — Don Cosme's character and misfortune become central to Paco's transformation.
  • Fearless Neighbor — Don Cosme is described as lively and unafraid of the future.
  • Personal Misfortune — A misfortune affecting Don Cosme becomes the trigger for Paco's change.
• Paco's Transformation — Paco responds to Don Cosme's misfortune by confronting reality and overcoming his tormenting complex.
  • Facing Reality — The event pushes Paco to confront reality instead of remaining controlled by fear.
  • Overcoming Fear — Paco ultimately moves beyond the complex that has troubled him.

Directed by

Eloy de la Iglesia

Key Cast

• José Sacristán — Paco
• Antonio Ferrandis — Don Cosme
• Claudia Gravy — Begoña
• Tina Sainz — Loli
• Mari Carmen Prendes — Madre de Paco