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5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. La llorona remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch this? Only if you like your horror with a thick layer of dust and a side of historical curiosity. If you need jump scares every five minutes or modern CGI polish, you're going to be bored out of your skull. It’s for the folks who want to see how the myth started before it became a big killing machine at the multiplex.
Honestly, the pacing is a bit of a mess. It takes forever to get to the point, then rushes the stuff you actually want to see. There’s a scene involving a nursery that just goes on and on. It’s supposed to be tense, I think, but I mostly found myself staring at the curtains wondering if they were velvet or just heavy wool.
The spirit herself? She’s not exactly Freddy Krueger. She’s more like a bad mood that refuses to leave the living room. There’s something genuinely unsettling about that, though. It doesn't rely on gore. It relies on the idea that the past is just waiting for you to trip up.
I couldn't help but think about A Blind Bargain while watching this. Both movies have that weird, heavy atmosphere where everyone looks like they’re hiding a secret under their coats. It’s that 1930s vibe where people walk into rooms and stand perfectly still for ten seconds before saying anything. Why did they do that? It’s so strange.
The acting is... well, it’s very theatrical. They aren't whispering their lines; they’re projecting them to the back of the theater. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it feels like watching a high school play with a bigger budget. But you can tell they were trying.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s a weird, moody relic. If you’re a fan of old horror, you’ll find something to latch onto. If you aren't, it might just feel like a long, dark nap. 👻