"What the Waters Left Behind" is a 2017 Argentine horror film directed by Luciano and Nicolás Onetti. The story follows a group of young filmmakers who travel to the abandoned town of Epecuén to document the catastrophic flood that submerged the town in 1985. The flood was caused when heavy rains caused the water level to rise, breaching the town's levees and forcing its evacuation. After more than 30 years, the waters have receded, revealing the ruins of the town, which had once been a popular tourist destination known for its hot springs. As the film crew explores the ruins, they discover that the town is not as deserted as they expected. They encounter a mysterious and violent group of inhabitants, leading to a tense and deadly situation. The film is noted for its grim and gritty aesthetic, drawing heavily on horror genre influences such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "The Hills Have Eyes," with a focus on backwoods horror clichés and a bleak atmosphere. Despite its stylish visuals, the film has been criticized for its predictable plot and lack of originality, offering a familiar horror experience with some suspense and gore but little innovation
. A sequel titled "What the Waters Left Behind: Scars" was released in 2023, continuing the story with a similar setting and themes, but replacing the film crew with a punk/heavy metal band. This follow-up also received mixed reviews, praised for its atmosphere but criticized for a lack of narrative depth and originality
