El Regreso de La Llorona

I recently checked out Liana Hassim's folk horror film "El Regreso de La Llorona" via Amazon Prime, and I've gotta say, it went above and beyond my expectations for an independent horror film!

As someone who has studied folklore across the globe, I remember stumbling across the legend of "La Llorona", which tells the tale of a woman who is said to roam near bodies of water, mourning her children whom she drowned in a jealous rage after discovering her husband was unfaithful to her.

According to IMDb, there have been several entries and attempts to adapt this legend into a film format, and I plan on seeking out the others after viewing this particular one; however, everything about El Regreso de La Llorona is perfect, from the cinematography, the soundtrack, the acting, and not to mention the harsh and sometimes overly graphic scenery.

If you are looking for something different and are a folk horror fan, I highly suggest you check this film out!

*I watched El Regreso de La Llorona via Tubi.

This isn't a horror film but a haunting of revenge stemming from the folklore legend of La Llorona, aka The Weeping Woman.

There is an element of horror in El Regreso de La Llorona, however, I feel that a lot of the "negative" reviews were expecting a straightforward horror movie, which, I think this film offers so much more than that (a remarkable plot for starters).

This is a subtle folk tale and one that some might find to be a slow-burn. The horror lies not in the actions of the dead, but in the injustice of the living.

Seek this out if you are looking for a solid entry to the folklore of La Llorona!

Yes, I know that the original quote is "you reap what you sow"; however, Liana Hassim's film El Regreso de La Llorona is loosely based on the folklore legend of La Llorona, otherwise known as "The Weeping Woman."

El Regreso de La Llorona starts off with a bang (literally), and I must warn those sensitive viewers that the first five-seven minutes are quite intense, but don't worry, it all pays off!

The best way for me to summarize El Regreso de La Llorona without giving anything away is an enjoyable thriller/horror that invokes a tale of revenge intertwined with a modern spin on Mexican folklore.

It's one of those films where you might despise some of the characters (the actors are great, btw); however, vengeance has a great way of showing its face in this film, and sometimes it even pops up in a "Final Destination" type of way.

Check this indie horror out if you're looking for something new, and honestly, something outside of your norm.

La Llorona (the Crying Woman, the Weeping Woman, the Wailer) is a vengeful ghost in Mexican folklore who is said to roam near bodies of water, mourning her children whom she drowned in a jealous rage after discovering her husband was unfaithful to her.

Whoever hears her crying either suffers misfortune or death, and their life becomes unsuccessful in every field.

So, now that you know the backstory of the La Llorona legend, let's dive into this fresh take!

As someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy Horror, I gotta say, this film is more of a revenge film than anything else, and boy, does it go there (you'll see!).

One thing that I always appreciate with these newer takes on legends is that the Directors stray from the path a bit and allow their take, but still stick to the origin in some way or another.

Lastly, the cast is destined to appear in more features, as they are all young and seem hungry to continue their acting careers.

8/10.

El Regreso de La Llorona is a subtle tale and one that some might find slow going; however, I promise you that once the redemption aspect kicks in, you are in for one hell of a thrill ride!

La Llorona makes for a gripping story about the voids that never fill and scars that never heal, and also serves as a chilling reference to the folklore history of "The Weeping Woman".

The harsh realities in this film might shock some audience members, but to me, that's what makes this film so powerful, and in the long run, makes it a stand-alone feature.

I normally suggest viewers go into a film blind, however, I recommend that you do a brief history lesson on La Llorona first, and then sit back and enjoy!