Dripping With Disappointment - The Curse of La Llarona
The horror landscape is ever-changing and James Wan and The Conjuring Universe are no small part of the reason why. We have seen inventive villains, complex family dynamics and some of the most effective scares in horror history from this franchise. Where then, is any of that in The Curse of La Llarona? It isn’t that this is a bad movie, per se—it just lacks the compelling elements that make this universe one worth returning to. It is content to do only that which we’ve seen before and the end result is a film that feels stunted by laziness.
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
The basic premise of the film is that La Llarona (“The Weeping Woman”) is said to have drowned her own children in a fit of rage. Ever since, she haunts families—looking for children she can take to replace her own.
We meet Anna Tate-Garcia (played by Linda Cardellini), who works in Child Protective Services. She is investigating a woman who it turns out to has locked her children in a closet to protect them from La Llarona. When Anna helps the state take the woman’s kids from her, the woman prays that La Llorona will attack Anna’s family and madness ensues. Anna turns to everything she can think of to rid her family of the curse of La Llarona.
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
One wrinkle here that is worth appreciating is that the story is situated in authentic Mexican folklore. It is refreshing that audiences are being treated to stories and cultures they are likely unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, that is the end of the novelty. Every scare is telegraphed and every storyline is as pedestrian as can be. The film relies almost entirely on jump scares, which are perhaps the least inventive means of getting the audience’s attention.
This universe is generally noted for the unique family dynamics and worthwhile social commentary. Whether it is public health, the welfare state or marital issues, there is usually a latent theme to chew on. Not so here. Though Cardellini’s Anna is working in Child Protective Services, the single mother angle is too heavily relied upon for them to do nothing with it. All of the characters feel as though they only exists to offer explanations in service of the plot.
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s as if everyone started with their own particular playbook and just kept going until there was a 93-minute film. Nothing about it seems particularly well-crafted. Nothing about it seems particularly well-considered. And given the promise of the film’s inspiration, it is a shame there wasn’t a more high-minded approach. If you must, see The Curse of La Llarona with the lowest of expectations. Otherwise, you will find yourself drowning in disappointment.
______________
If you like our content, please SHARE using the buttons below and SIGN UP for our monthly newsletter to stay up to date on the latest!
