The Haunting Cry of La Llorona: Unveiling a Sinister Curse

The sinister curse of La Llorona is a legendary tale that has haunted the minds of many throughout the generations. Originating from Latin American folklore, La Llorona, which translates to "The Weeping Woman," tells the story of a ghostly figure who, driven by sorrow and regret, roams the streets at night, searching for her lost children. According to the legend, La Llorona was a beautiful woman who fell in love with a wealthy man. They had two children together, but her lover ultimately abandoned her for another woman. Consumed by jealousy and anger, La Llorona drowned her children in a fit of rage. As soon as she realized the gravity of her actions, she was overcome with despair and took her own life.

Monica Castillo is a freelance writer and University of Southern California Annenberg graduate film critic fellow. Although she originally went to Boston University for biochemistry and molecular biology before landing in the sociology department, she went on to review films for The Boston Phoenix, WBUR, Dig Boston, The Boston Globe, and co-hosted the podcast “Cinema Fix.”

After she was done, I asked the woman what she was practicing and she told me it was Santeria, a religion that started in my parents country of Cuba, not Mexico, the home of La Llorona. The Spanish in La Llorona offers nothing like the feeling of home and safety like the Spanglish lines in Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse when Miles Morales is packing up to leave for school and his mom talks to him in Spanish while his dad speaks in English.

As soon as she realized the gravity of her actions, she was overcome with despair and took her own life. However, her soul was not at rest, and she was condemned to wander eternally, weeping and searching for her lost children. The curse of La Llorona serves as a cautionary tale, warning parents and children of the consequences of their actions.

The Curse Of La Llorona Review: The Blandest Of The The Conjuring Movies

The Curse of La Llorona is out in theaters now, so if you crave a new horror fix, go out and see it for yourself. We may not have been crazy about it, but it's still interesting to piece together the movie's connections to the Conjuring universe. Then check out our scoop on the deleted scene that would have provided a direct connection between the Curse of La Llorona and the Warren family.

There were enough red flags going into The Curse of La Llorona to make me worry. Setting a story that relies so heavily on a latino folklore in 1970s Los Angeles was one thing, and having a Caucasian protagonist was even worse. But this movie's most serious flaw is that it simply feels lazy. There are enough good intentions to make you appreciate the effort, but every choice made feels like they wanted it to be done as quickly as possible with no regard for the original folktale or the people who care about it. Add a shoehorned-in last-minute Conjuring connection and you get this horror franchise’s version of The Cloverfield Paradox.

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The legend of La Llorona, or The Weeping Woman, is arguably the most famous horror folktale in Latin America. Every country has their own version, but they mostly agree that La Llorona is the ghost of a woman whose children drowned (either by her hand, or someone else’s) and in her grief, she killed herself. She now spends her afterlife stuck in purgatory, weeping for her lost children and looking for new children to make her own. It’s a simple story, but there is no denying the huge impact it’s had on Latin American culture for generations, so it’s refreshing and exciting for La Llorona to finally make her debut in an American studio film. But this was the wrong film to do it.

We start with a prologue set in 1673 Mexico that shows the film’s version of the folktale, where our titular villainess murders her children, before jumping forward in time to Los Angeles. Here we meet social worker Anna (Linda Cardellini), a widower to a latino police officer who is called to the home of Patricia Alvarez (Patricia Velásquez). What appears to be a normal case of terrible parenting actually has something even more sinister behind it, and before long, two kids are dead, and the evil spirit has set her sights on Anna’s children.

Director Michael Chaves makes an impressive directorial debut with The Curse of La Llorona, and within a few minutes you will realize why he was given the keys to the next Conjuring movie (he's set to direct Conjuring 3). He knows where to place the camera so that you're always wary of what’s lurking at the corner of the screen, as well as maintaining an ominous atmosphere through the use of darkness and shadow. He also knows how to pull a good jump scare, even though the film relies too much on the same sound effect and jump scare repeatedly. After the 30th time the camera pans to reveal La Llorona standing where five seconds before there was nothing, you will beg for something new to happen on screen.

During a Q&A after the film’s world premiere at SXSW, producers Gary Dauberman and James Wan talked about being inspired by '70s police procedurals and wanting to include that feeling in The Curse of La Llorona. There is definitely a touch of that in the movie, as the first half is more of an investigation into what is haunting these kids, and an exploration of the dynamics of the Tate-Garcia family to make us feel invested in their well-being.

The performances are mostly good. Linda Cardellini is convincing as the widow Anna, a woman struggling to raise her two kids alone, who now must also battle an angry spirit. She goes from sweet and loving to badass protective mama bear in a flash, and it’s thrilling to see her in fighting mode once her children are threatened. Raymond Cruz is a highlight as the wisecracking, ass-kicking curandero that acts as this film’s version of Father Merrin from The Exorcist, while also bringing some much needed humor. Rounding out the cast is Patricia Velásquez in an overdue return to horror (or horror-adjacent) movies after her role in The Mummy. Velásquez instantly sells you her pain and grief after the loss of her children with lines like, “I feel nothing, because I have felt the worst.” Unfortunately, she doesn’t get to do much, and is in the film for less than 10 minutes.

It also needs to be said that the acting is pretty good! Often, kids in horror films are a cause for concern. The wrong actor in the wrong role can entirely run a film but both Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen and Roman Christou were brilliant. Linda Cardellini was also great and the surrounding cast put in good work too. This really is a credit as you begin to realise the film’s main problem; the script.

It highlights the destructive power of jealousy and the devastating effects it can have on individuals and their loved ones. The legend also reveals the importance of empathy and understanding, as it is a tragic tale of a woman driven to madness by her own emotions. Over the years, the story of La Llorona has been passed down through generations, embedding itself in the collective consciousness of many Latin American communities. It is often used as a tool to keep children in line, warning them of the consequences of disobedience or wandering out alone at night. The sinister curse of La Llorona continues to captivate and terrify individuals, as her weeping cries echo through the night, instilling fear in those who hear them. This haunting legend serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling and the enduring nature of folklore. In conclusion, the curse of La Llorona stands as a chilling reminder of the dark forces that can be unleashed by intense emotions such as jealousy and anger. It reminds us of the importance of empathy and the devastating consequences that can arise from acts of violence driven by these emotions. The legend continues to be passed down from generation to generation, reiterating its cautionary message to all who hear it. The tale of La Llorona serves as a testament to the enduring power of folklore and the chilling tales that it weaves..

Reviews for "The Sinister Curse of La Llorona: A Nightmarish Legend Comes to Life"

1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Sinister Curse of La Llorona". The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The scares were cheap and the acting was subpar. I expected to be terrified, but instead, I found myself bored and uninterested. It felt like a poorly executed attempt to cash in on the success of other horror movies. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this film.

2. Matthew - 1/5 - "The Sinister Curse of La Llorona" was one of the worst horror movies I have ever seen. The storyline was incredibly weak and the jump scares were poorly executed. The characters were underdeveloped, making it difficult to care about what happened to them. The film relied too heavily on typical horror movie cliches and failed to bring anything new to the genre. Save your money and skip this one.

3. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to "The Sinister Curse of La Llorona" based on the trailer, but unfortunately, the movie fell flat for me. The scares were more annoying than terrifying, and the acting was mediocre at best. The pacing was off, with slow build-ups to underwhelming climaxes. I found myself bored halfway through the film, and it failed to hold my attention until the end. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this movie to others.

4. Chris - 1/5 - "The Sinister Curse of La Llorona" was a complete waste of time and money. The storyline was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots. The scares were predictable and lacked originality, making the film feel like a generic horror flick. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, making it difficult to invest in the characters or care about their fate. I regret watching this movie and would advise others to save themselves the disappointment.

Unmasking the Terrifying Curse of La Llorona: A Sinister Mystery