La Llorona

Despite premiering on 'Shudder', 'La Llorona (2019)' isn't really a horror film at all; it's a drama with some horror elements sprinkled throughout. I really do mean that, too, because it's seriously almost not even worth approaching as an entry in the spooky genre or even as a hybrid comprised partly of it. Doing so would set yourself up for disappointment, really. Though it has supernatural elements, the most horrific parts of the piece are purely human. It deals with the repercussions of the 'Guatemalan genocide' (which claimed the lives of literally tens of thousands of Mayan people), focusing on an ageing war-criminal who maintains he did nothing wrong even as he is found guilty of genocide in court. Most of the movie takes place after this decision, as the general and his family find themselves under a sort of house arrest enforced by a ceaseless crowd of impassioned protestors. Though the general remains cold-hearted to his actions, each member of his family finds themselves coming to terms with the situation - and who their husband/ dad/ grandad really is - in subtle but distinct ways. It's an interesting concept and its very restrained presentation is intriguing. It trusts you to know who is morally 'right' and who is morally 'wrong', never talking down to you or even presenting you with an 'easy' protagonist. At the same time, it is incredibly slow. Though it does come to a genuinely impactful conclusion, it's actually often a little dull. Its pacing feels deliberate but that doesn't mean it isn't a tad detrimental, especially since the affair has a really strong atmosphere overall. It isn't boring, per se, but it isn't as compelling as it perhaps could have been. Its themes are resonant and it seems to do exactly what it wants to, but it does have issues that make it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend to someone who doesn't know what they're getting into. Still, it's definitely worth a watch if you're willing to meet it on its own terms. It's evocative of the kind of horror that only a being of flesh and blood can inflict. 6/10.

A slow-burn political drama that merges the real-life horrors of the Guatemalan genocide with one of Latin America's most famous folklores, La Llorona (also called The Weeping Woman) is a story about the ghosts of the past bleeding into the present to right the wrongs, and is crafted in the same vein as Issa López's Tigers Are Not Afraid & Mati Diop's Atlantics.

Co-written, co-edited & directed by Jayro Bustamante, the film is more interested in exploring the collective tragedy, trauma & terror of a nation reeling from loss & unaccountability, and applies the mythic elements to bring justice on doorsteps of those responsible for the mass slaughter. Although it is far from a straightforward genre film, its atmosphere still reeks of spectres & phantasmagoria.

The story concerns the family of a retired general on trial for war crimes, and the unraveling they undergo after the arrival of a mysterious domestic help. There is a haunting quality to the way it is filmed, plus the horror aspects are finely utilised too yet it fails to immerse us completely into its world and never goes all-in with the retribution that was always coming which is a shame, for more could've been done here.

Overall, La Llorona makes for a gripping story about the voids that never fill and scars that never heal, and also serves as a chilling metaphor of the blood-soaked history of Guatemala that's still crying for closure. Not a film for all and certainly not for those expecting something alone the lines of the terrible Hollywood take on the Latin American fable, this Guatemalan feature is a political drama pierced with thin lines of horror & fantasy.

This movie needs a certain appreciation of history to really understand the depths of. It talks of a deep suffering that has scared latin-america for decades. A Subtle ghost story that deserves a chance.

This isn't a horror film but a haunting of revenge. It takes the story of La Llorona and beautifully combines this with a sociopolitical context. Exploring the horrors of war and genocide, La Llorona captures the innocents on boths sides of war and the evil of men.

La Llorona is far from the film I expected it to be. Going in to what I thought was a horror, I soon realized was more of a drama, and a political drama at that. That isn't to say that is a problem with the film, but a very different take on the infamous story of La Llorona which has been done quite a few times before. The biggest problem with this film is the pacing. Its slow for the majority of its runtime, and although it's only about 90 min long, it feels a lot longer. The film also feels like it doesn't get to the point fast enough, dragging out its story as best as it can to make the film a decent length. The actors are fine, nothing truly stand out about them, but they make a decent cast. The cinematography is often unique, interesting, and even mesmerizing at times- which is refreshing to see throughout the film, as it takes such a new angle to a classic tale. Parts of the film can feel played out, or simply obvious, but there are decent moments of suspense towards the beginning and end of the film, and altogether, it wasn't too bad. In the end, La Llorona may not be deserving of the International film Oscar, but it does prove to be a unique and brutal political drama with some good moments.

My Rating: 6/10.