She Walks in Darkness on Netflix: Your Deep Dive into the Spanish Espionage Thriller

Netflix just dropped She Walks in Darkness, a gripping Spanish political thriller that plunges you into the tense world of 1990s espionage. Get ready for a slow-burn tale of an undercover agent risking everything to expose a notorious separatist group.

TL;DR: Quick Bites for the Busy Cinephile

She Walks in Darkness is a new Spanish political thriller streaming on Netflix since October 17, 2025.
The film, directed by Agustín Díaz Yanes, follows an undercover Civil Guard agent infiltrating the Basque separatist group ETA in the mid-1990s.
Starring Susana Abaitua, it explores the intense psychological toll of espionage, blending fictional drama with real historical context.

If you're into spy thrillers that aren't all explosions and car chases but lean more into the psychological chess game, then Netflix's latest offering, She Walks in Darkness (originally titled Un Fantasma en La Batalla), might be right up your alley. This Spanish-language film takes a deeply personal look at a very public, painful chapter of Spain's history, focusing on the human cost of intelligence operations.

Unpacking the Gripping Storyline: What's the Mission?

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Set in the turbulent mid-1990s, She Walks in Darkness centers on Amaia (played by Susana Abaitua), a young and dedicated agent of the Spanish Civil Guard. Her mission is beyond dangerous: go deep undercover, abandon her old life, and infiltrate Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, better known as ETA. This Basque separatist group was notorious for its decades-long campaign of violence, seeking an independent Basque homeland.

Amaia's specific assignment, dubbed "Operation Mayhem," is to locate ETA's clandestine stockpiles of weapons and explosives, often referred to as "zulos," hidden across the south of France. It’s a needle-in-a-haystack task, especially since the Civil Guard has never been able to pinpoint these locations. To succeed, she has to gain the trust of high-ranking, naturally suspicious ETA members who've been in the game for ages.

She adopts the alias Amaia Lopez Elosegui, posing as a schoolteacher and a fervent supporter of the Basque National Liberation Movement. This puts her directly in the orbit of figures like Begoña (Iraia Elias), a seemingly friendly school principal who is actually a dangerous ETA faction leader, and the gruff Arrieta (Raúl Arévalo), who practically monitors her every move from her own apartment.

Meet the Talent Bringing This Intense Narrative to Life

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The film is the brainchild of writer-director Agustín Díaz Yanes, who masterfully weaves a fictional narrative inspired by the very real and devastating history of ETA's terrorist acts and the massive counter-operations by the Spanish Civil Guard. His vision brings a specific atmosphere to the film, characterized by simple production design and almost constant rain, visually emphasizing the pervasive darkness Amaia inhabits.

Key Cast Members and Their Important Roles

Susana Abaitua as Amaia / Amaya Mateos Gines: The heart of the story, an undercover Civil Guard agent whose identity blurs under the weight of her mission.
Andrés Gertrúdix as Teniente Coronel Castro / Colonel Sánchez: Amaia's handler, the crucial link to her real life and mission, communicating through clever signals.
Iraia Elias as Begoña: An intimidating ETA higher-up who has sacrificed her personal life for the cause, a key target for Amaia to befriend.
Raúl Arévalo as Arrieta / Zorion: A gruff ETA member who uses Amaia's apartment as a base, constantly suspicious of newcomers.
Ariadna Gil as Soledad Ipaguirre: Another significant figure in the unfolding drama.
Ander Lacalle as Andoni: Part of the supporting cast caught in the dangerous web.

The Art of Undercover Espionage: Blurring Lines and Hidden Signals

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What makes She Walks in Darkness compelling is the subtle, often clever spy craft Amaia employs to navigate the intense scrutiny of her targets. You'll see smart tricks, like a subtle switcheroo involving garbage bags, that prove unexpectedly fruitful. But perhaps the most captivating aspect of her operation is the unique communication method with her handler, Colonel Sánchez.

They exchange messages by playing '70s Italian pop songs back and forth on the radio. These smooth, romantic melodies create a fascinating, almost haunting contrast with the ever-present danger Amaia faces. One particular song, "Parole Parole," becomes a critical secret signal, a final alert meaning "Run. You've been compromised."

As Amaia delves deeper, the lines between her real identity as Amaya Mateos Gines and her fabricated persona as Amaia Lopez Elosegui begin to blur. Having kept her own fiancé waiting for years, she starts to sympathize with figures like Begoña, who also sacrificed family life for her cause. This psychological toll is a core theme, exploring how undercover work can profoundly impact an agent's sense of self, leading to emotional strain and a fractured identity. The film shows her idealism slowly eroding as plans go awry and she witnesses things she can't unsee.

Is "She Walks in Darkness" Based on a Truly Factual Story?

While Amaia's specific story is a fictional creation by Agustín Díaz Yanes, the film is deeply rooted in actual historical events and the political reality of Spain during the 1980s and 1990s. The Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna) was very real. Founded in 1959, it was designated a terrorist group due to its violent campaign for an independent Basque homeland, responsible for 843 deaths by 2016.

The film accurately depicts the brazenness of ETA attacks, often showing gunmen simply walking up to politicians in broad daylight and assassinating them. Yanes even intercuts real-life news footage of these crimes, lending an undeniable immediacy and historical weight to the narrative. This blend of fictional personal drama with genuine historical context gives the film its unique resonance.

ETA's history is marked by periods of intense violence, ceasefires, and eventual disbandment in 2018. Amaia's journey, though fictional, symbolizes the struggles and sacrifices of many real-life individuals who risked their lives for national security during this turbulent era. The film doesn't necessarily take sides but poignantly captures the harsh reality of political extremism and the human cost it extracts.

Navigating the Critical Reception: What Are Reviewers Saying?

Like many complex thrillers, She Walks in Darkness has received a mixed bag of critical reactions. Some reviewers have praised it as a "tense tale of espionage" that "grips from start to finish," highlighting its "emotional depth" and "haunting" quality. They commend how it "poignantly explores the ideas of political extremism and violence," effectively capturing the difficult reality of the period.

"Everyone believes what they’re doing is right is a notion that’s clear and complicated."

– Christy Lemire, RogerEbert.com

However, other critics have offered more reserved or even outright negative takes. Some found the film "incredibly boring" and its political stance overly simplistic, suggesting a "separatists bad, cops good" narrative. A point of contention among some reviewers has been Susana Abaitua's portrayal of Amaia; while some saw "compelling flickers of humanity" in her nuanced performance, others felt her role was "frustratingly underwritten" or that her performance lacked the necessary emotional intensity for such a demanding character.

Ultimately, these differing opinions highlight the film's slow-burn nature and its deliberate choice to keep Amaia somewhat enigmatic. Whether you find it a compelling, atmospheric dive into a dark chapter of history or a somewhat muted take on the spy genre might depend on your taste for subtlety and psychological drama over overt action.

The Haunting and Reflective Conclusion of the Story

Without giving away too many spoilers, the ending of She Walks in Darkness is designed to be both "haunting and powerful," avoiding a simple triumph or defeat. As ETA leaders grow suspicious, Amaia's cover is severely compromised. Warned by her handler via the secret "Parole Parole" signal, she makes a desperate escape through a dark forest, gunshots echoing behind her.

While her years of sacrifice eventually lead to the dismantling of some ETA operations and the arrest of high-ranking figures, Amaia's personal resolution is deliberately uneasy. She survives, yes, reaching a quiet country road as sunlight breaks through, a powerful image of potential liberation. Yet, the film emphasizes that her identity is fractured beyond repair, leaving her alone with the heavy memories of deceit and betrayal. It’s a somber reflection on the immense psychological cost of loyalty and the shadows that forever follow those who walk in darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions About "She Walks in Darkness"

Where can I watch She Walks in Darkness? The film is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Is She Walks in Darkness based on a true story? The film is a fictional story inspired by the actual historical events and terrorist acts of the Basque separatist group ETA and the Spanish Civil Guard's efforts to counter them in the mid-1990s. The main character, Amaia, is not based on a single real individual but represents the experiences of many undercover agents.
What is the runtime and rating for She Walks in Darkness? The film has a runtime of 105 minutes and is rated R for mature content, likely due to violence and thematic elements.
Who directed She Walks in Darkness? The film was written and directed by Agustín Díaz Yanes.