La Llorona, also known as the Weeping Woman, is a tragic curse that has haunted Latin American folklore for centuries. This haunting tale revolves around a woman who, in a fit of jealousy and rage, drowned her own children in a river. Overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow, she now roams the earth, forever searching for her lost children and wailing in agony. The legend of La Llorona serves as a cautionary tale, warning of the destructive power of jealousy and unchecked emotions. The story varies across different cultures and regions, but the central theme remains the same: a mother's grave mistake leading to eternal torment. The haunting cries of La Llorona echo through the night, striking fear into the hearts of those who hear them.
If you’re looking for inspiration for a new horror film, turning to folklore isn’t a bad idea, considering parents have been keeping their children in check with scary stories for generations. Producer James Wan thought it was a good idea, anyway, and the end result is this week’s The Curse of La Llorona, based on a well-known Mexican legend about the vengeful spirit of a scorned woman whose cries of anguish are said to bring misfortune to anyone who hears them. The film stars Linda Cardellini as a widowed mother and social worker who, skeptical of La Llorona’s existence, eventually finds herself and her children terrorized by the spirit and must work with a local faith healer (Raymond Cruz) to free herself from the curse. Unfortunately, critics weren’t particularly thrilled — or chilled — by the latest would-be entry in the Conjuring universe, calling into question the unsophisticated storytelling and director Michael Chaves‘ frequent and excessive use of jump scares. The character’s folk-tale origins certainly carry a lot of potential, but very little of it is realized in The Curse of La Llorona.
The latest in that vein is Penguins from Disneynature, which is billed as a coming-of-age story that follows a single male Adélie penguin in Antarctica as he sets out to find a mate and start a family of his own. Things start off poorly from the jump, with a confusing prologue allegedly set in 17th-century Mexico, which looks a hell of a lot like 19th-century Mexico.
The haunting cries of La Llorona echo through the night, striking fear into the hearts of those who hear them. Many believe that encountering her is a sign of impending doom or personal tragedy. Her ghostly figure, shrouded in white, emerges near bodies of water, her pale face twisted in anguish, searching for her beloved children.
The Curse of La Llorona review – supernatural sleepover fodder
There’s something scarily inconsequential about fright flick The Curse of La Llorona, a formulaic slab of supernatural dirge destined to be forgotten by year’s, or perhaps even month’s, end.
Not technically part of the blockbusting Conjuring franchise yet linked via an awkward, silly anecdote about evil doll Annabelle (who also cropped up in last month’s Shazam!), this 70s-set horror starts 300 years earlier with an ineffective introduction to the titular terror. La Llorona is a mother who drowns her two young children after finding her husband with a younger woman, and her story becomes an urban legend for future generations. Struggling widow Anna (Linda Cardellini) finds out the hard way that La Llorona is more than just a myth after the child-killing spirit attaches herself to her family with murder on her mind.
Seemingly designed to appeal to undemanding teens looking for a quick scare, The Curse of La Llorona contains little of interest for anyone else. Director Michael Chaves does a competent enough job of staging the film’s familiarly constructed set pieces but he fails to evoke enough of a creepy atmosphere, his haunting video for punk pop star Billie Eilish’s Bury a Friend proving far scarier. It’s all too easy to see the joins, to predict the machinations, to sigh rather than scream and as the plot ticks all of the expected boxes, it becomes nigh-on impossible to care what happens next.
While it’s nice to see Cardellini nab a rare lead (in the middle of an unusually fruitful time with turns in Green Book, Avengers: Endgame and Netflix comedy Dead to Me), the script fails to provide her with enough meat, despite her predicament, ultimately stranding her with a rather standard shrieking mother role. Everything about her character and the story within which she exists feels hopelessly unoriginal, something that could have been alleviated had the film delivered on any of its scares. But La Llorona is a duff villain and Chaves relies creakily on cheap musical lurches to get a rise out of his audience. Horror fans deserve better than this.
Curse doesn’t have much going for it beyond the ostensible distinctiveness of its Mexican mythos. Not lived-in period detail, certainly, of which there is little beyond Cardellini’s feathered hair and tin-foil TV dinners. Not the grounded specificity of its setting, given how shallowly the film regards its multicultural Southern California milieu. (Also: In what universe is it always raining in LA?) La Llorona herself is a ghost in the tragic gothic mold: Having murdered her own offspring in an appallingly misdirected act of retaliation against her adulterous husband, she wanders in search of “replacement” niños y niñas. Unfortunately, the Conjuring-verse – Curse included – tends to treat its specters, even the ones with vivid backstories, as little more than animatronic haunted-house props. They spring out at regular intervals, shriek horrifically, and toss objects and people around with their telekinetic powers, all without any discernible goal. It’s industrial scare-generation that’s entirely audience-directed, and although ancillary characters may show up to elucidate the motivations of the unquiet dead, as Tony Amendola’s priest does here, it never enriches the story. It’s just a cursory excuse for the same old tired theatrics.
The curse of La Llorona is said to have originated as a way to teach children the consequences of disobedience and the importance of listening to their parents. The story warns against wandering off alone or misbehaving, reminding children of the fear and sorrow that can arise from such actions. Throughout history, many have claimed to have witnessed the ghostly presence of La Llorona, attributing their misfortunes and tragedies to her curse. Her lamentations have become a part of popular culture, inspiring books, movies, and even an annual festival dedicated to her memory. Despite the tragedy that surrounds La Llorona, her story continues to captivate audiences and intrigue scholars. The legend serves as a reflection of the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of our actions. In conclusion, the tragic curse of La Llorona is a haunting tale that serves as a cautionary reminder of the destructive power of unchecked emotions, particularly jealousy and rage. Her story resonates with audiences, instilling fear and fascination in those who hear it, while also serving as a timeless warning about the consequences of our actions..
Reviews for "The Dark Guardian: La Llorona's Role in Mexican Mythology"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I had really high hopes for "The tragic curse of la llorona", but sadly, it turned out to be a huge disappointment. The storyline was weak and the acting felt forced. I found it hard to connect with the characters and the scares were predictable and uninspiring. Overall, it lacked the suspense and intensity that I was expecting from a horror film.
2. Mike - 2/5 stars - "The tragic curse of la llorona" seemed promising at the beginning, but it quickly lost momentum. The plot felt disjointed and the pacing was all over the place. The jump scares were cheap and overused, making them more annoying than scary. The film failed to build any real tension or provide a captivating storyline. It's a shame because the concept had potential, but the execution fell flat.
3. Emily - 1/5 stars - I'm usually a fan of horror movies, but "The tragic curse of la llorona" left me unimpressed. The acting was subpar, with many of the characters coming across as wooden and unconvincing. The scares were predictable and lacked any originality. It felt like I've seen it all before, and done much better. Overall, it was a forgettable film that failed to make any lasting impact or deliver any genuine fright.
4. Alex - 2/5 stars - "The tragic curse of la llorona" had potential, but it ultimately fell short. The storyline felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me confused and unsatisfied. The scares were cheap and relied heavily on jump scares, which became tiresome after a while. The film lacked depth and failed to create a compelling atmosphere. While it had its moments, overall, it was a disappointing watch.