Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Accused of the genocide of Mayan people, retired general Enrique is trapped in his mansion by massive protests. Abandoned by his staff, the indignant old man and his family must face the devastating truth of his actions and the growing sense that a wrathful supernatural force is targeting them for his crimes.
Jayro Bustamante's La Llorona is a remarkably singular film that grafts Guatemalan folklore onto a politically charged indictment of real-world atrocity, using the legend of the weeping woman as an instrument of historical reckoning rather than cheap horror. The plot is genuinely inventive — the supernatural siege is largely psychological, operating through dread and moral weight rather than jump scares, and the parallel to Ríos Montt's genocide trial gives it unusual gravitas. Cinematography is exceptional, with Bustamante and his DP building suffocating, beautifully composed interiors that feel increasingly claustrophobic and haunted. Novelty is high: this is a one-of-a-kind fusion of political horror and indigenous mythology that has no real precedent. Acting is solid, particularly Julio Diaz as the imperious, deteriorating general, though some supporting performances are merely functional. The ending is deliberately ambiguous and atmospheric but may feel unresolved or withholding to some viewers, preventing a top mark there.