Some stories leave the audience disturbed to their last neuron, not just because they are terrifying, but because they blur the line between madness and memory. Netflix presents one such Colombian psychological thriller that has sparked global curiosity for its unsettling nature: Delirium. Painted with political undertones, this limited series has entrapped audiences into a tale so bizarre that they cannot possibly imagine that it is not true. 

Delirium craftily dabbles into the darkness of societal horrors. But, what happens when the story blurs the line between fiction and chilling true Colombian crimes? 

Directed by Julio Jorquera Arriagada and Rafael Martínez Moreno, and adapted from Laura Restrepo's bestselling 2004 novel Delirio, the show smoothly glides between the protagonist, Agustina's present and past, mingling reality and fantasy. Set in the 1980s, it weaves together a fever dream of a narrative layered with bricks of psychotic breakdowns, personal betrayals, and real-world political subjugation. The surge of trafficking and the misogyny tied to women's se---- liberation and mental health form the plot's cornerstones. All eight episodes of the series are seamlessly imbued with hues of deadly family dysfunction, generational traumas, and criminal secrets, leading viewers to question whether it mimics real-life incidents. However, it does not claim to be based on a true story.

In Delirium, the question is not just what caused Agustina's spiral; it is also about uncovering various facets of societal malice, which are hauntingly close to the 1980s Colombian political climate. Restrepo’s story about the collapse of a wealthy Colombian family allegorizes national instability and an atmosphere of violence and corruption. Though fictionalized, socio-political and psychological facts inform the gripping storyline.

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Delirium makes for a perfect one-shot binge session; however, it leaves viewers wanting more. Worry no more as Netflix serves a plethora of unsettling stories to keep audiences hooked. 

Netflix offers a wealth of Colombian shows and movies, often depicting scintillating narratives of psychological and political dramas. If Delirium has hit home, the next watch must be something equally unsettling and terrifying at its core. Blending perception, sanity, and deceit, God's Crooked Lines (2022) tops the list of Spanish psychological thrillers on the platform. Several other thrillers one could add to the watchlist include The Chalk Line, La Reina del Sur, The Mess You Leave Behind, Offering to the Storm, The Invisible Guest, Illusion, Under Her Control, and more.  

For viewers who might still not be satiated after the intense dose of socio-political and psychological thriller that Delirium has to offer, consider reading Laura Restrepo's novel. While a limited series has its time constraints, Restrepo's pages know no bounds. The book dives deeper into the catastrophic intrigue that Netflix's Spanish-language show gives a wild taste of.

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Did you enjoy watching Delirium? What are your favorite psychological thrillers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.