He wrote his first feature film, "La Llorona," based on a widely known Mexican legend. The Mexican mini-studio Lemon Films immediately picked it up. Based on his script, he directed the horror film Kilómetro 31 in 2007. The result was the highest-grossing film of 2007 in Mexico and the top-grossing Mexican horror film of all time. His debut film also swept the Mexican Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences awards, earning 6 nominations and winning 5 statuettes.