Fantasmas, a new project, takes a surreal and satirical approach to poking fun at reality TV, particularly the Real Housewives franchise. Creator and star Julio Torres stars as a version of himself, journeying through a magical and eerie New York City environment, searching for his lost golden oyster earring. Along the way, he encounters a range of bizarre characters, including daily CourtTV coverage of an elf disgruntled with Santa Claus and a sitcom inspired by ALF, called MELF.
In one episode, “True Women of New York,” Torres parodies the Real Housewives franchise, featuring four glamorous ladies, including Genevieve, Bianca, Rellany, and Dina. The show is full of familiar antics, including arguments, glamour, and dramatic revelations, but takes a darker turn as the characters become trapped in a reality TV show, forced to rely on a young crew member to escape the clutches of the show’s head producer, Jared.
Julio Torres in ‘Fantasmas’ (Image via Getty)
As the show descends into chaos, the cameras stop rolling, and the lights go down, creating a nerve-wracking atmosphere. The effect is akin to being trapped in a reality TV show, where the characters are prisoners to their producer’s twisted motivations. Jared has hooked up his mother’s brain to the wire, giving her personality traits to the four women, and they can’t exit the set because they signed a contract to avoid prison time for tax fraud.
The conclusion of the Fantasmas segment transforms petty divas into a commentary on the power of producers to manipulate reality TV shows and the blurring of lines between reality and fiction. Fans of The Real Housewives of New Jersey have no idea what the future holds for the franchise, and Fantasmas offers an even darker version of what the show could be.
Fantasmas is more than just a parody of reality TV; it’s an exploration of the darker side of reality TV, going into the power struggles between producers and participants. The show is a wild, funny, and disturbing ride that delves into the blurred lines between reality and fiction, making it a must-watch for fans of surreal and satirical programming.
