User Reviews

Talking about a political event with a horror twist, La Llorona isn't a horror movie per say, but more of a political drama with some horror overtones here and there. The first half can be overly slow, but the second half is quite dramatic and impactful. This serious movie above all else painfully depicts the atrociousness of the event that was the Guatemalan genocide of Maya civilians with some scenes being suitably tragic and angry to boost.

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.

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.

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.

In his third film, Guatemalan maverick director Jayro Bustamante has crafted a modern-day story in the backdrop of the 1982 genocide of indigenous Mayan population under dictator Efraín Ríos Montt's command. The story is of an ageing dictator (based on Montt) and his family of wife, daughter and granddaughter, that finally encounter people's wrath. Told from the viewpoint of the dictator's family members, it could have been a pretty straightforward political story of repercussions, atonement, justice and truth finally catching up. And there was enough scope in the story itself to do both -- firmly ascertain an anti-fascist political stance, and yet portray the dictator and his family with adequate empathy. But Bustamante chose to package this inside the popular mythological horror story of 'the weeping woman', exactly to achieve what - I am not too sure.

The film is beautifully shot, edited and acted. There was adequate suspense and thrill in the film's more horror-ish sequences. The blue-lit nighttime shots, tracking shots in the dark, long dark hair, overflow of water, long creepy stares, jump scares with increasing background sounds, candle-lit invocations of spirits -- all sorts of horror film cliches were used. Rather than adding anything to the story (apart from a bit increased viewership of some horror-film enthusiasts who would ultimately be disappointed), I personally felt that these kind of reduced the film into something less serious and less sincere. The film starts off excellently, but loses its focus after around an hour. To sustain its horror movie potential, the story needed some sort of unpredictability. But this is history, and we all know how histories of this nature finally turn out. There is no suspense in justice. One can only sensationalize it.

6.5/10

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.

A pretty bold vision on one of the most well-known figures in Latin American folklore. Jayro Bustamante's 'La Llorona' smartly reimagines the folk legend as political horror story. Unfortunately, most of its conflicts and characters are underdeveloped with the slow-burn pacing drags and the horror elements are very minimal, making it rather difficult to relate to or become attached to the whole story.

The plot summary on IMDb doesn't do this film justice. It's a slow-burn drama about the family of a retired Guatemalan general on trial for war crimes. His daughter, an intelligent and compassionate medical doctor, is finally reckoning with what her father participated in, and her moral struggle expands to the rest of the family. At the same time, the general's sins are coming home to roost in a very literal way.

There is an element of horror here, but I was much more enthralled by the family drama of the piece. Unfortunately, it does copy one thing from other thought-provoking horror films and fails to fully stick the landing. Still a wonderful film and one that I'll think about for a long time to come. Brilliant cinematography and sound design, see it in a well-equipped theatre if you can.

In Guatemala, former General Enrique Monteverde is being prosecuted in a public trial for his abuses especially against native women. His dementia has him shooting his gun at his servant in the middle of the night and most of them quit. His daughter is relentless in her support and anger at his accusers. Longtime servant Valeriana is the only one remaining. They hire native girl Alma as the new maid.

This movie wants to be a horror. The political aspect is the backdrop. I kept expecting Alma to turn into an avenging spirit. I want her to take down the family one by one. This needs to take the next step, it never quite takes the full step. It takes a half step. The flashback is interesting, but it could have been more.

The legend of La Llorona in Latin America is of a woman who was abandoned and became a wandering ghost weeping for her children. It is given an unearthly and uniquely Guatemalan twist here. A once fearsome general whose troops committed atrocities under his command is now elderly, frail and charged with genocide. He is declared guilty and yet freed without punishment. Protestors surround his home. At about the same time a mysterious young woman arrives in the household to take a job that no one else will take. She says her home is in the deepest part of the mountain. Unearthly weeping is heard in the night and perhaps justice will be done.

The Weeping Woman is a powerful, surreal film that shook me to my core. It combines history, politics and myth in a spectacular way. Through enthralling dream sequences and eerie, jarring music La Llorona sheds light on injustice and genocide in Guatemala. Nearly half of the country's indigenous community, which is two thirds of the entire population, was killed in the relatively recent bloodshed. Most were children. Writer-director Bustamante wisely does not rub our faces in the genocide. The subject is handled obliquely. Through the general's wife, daughter and granddaughter the film reveals how the unresolved injustices haunt individuals and nation alike. Future generations are affected by the wounds the present generation ignores. Bustamante is the director of Ixcanul, another amazing film. The Weeping Woman won the best film prize at the Venice film festival and I saw it at the Toronto international film festival.

A Llorna is more of a political drama rather than a traditional horror film. The problem with establishing a principle character as a convicted genocidal former dictator is the from the begging of the story it's very difficult to care what happens to him.

The plot goes some way to redressing this balance by placing three generations of women as the central characters.

The story is told from the mothers perspective. Trapped in the dictator's company they represent different levels of ignorance, innocence and hope. The wife of the despot comfortable with the political lifestyle, wilfully dismisses any suggestion of her husband's improper behaviour.

The daughter, a professional healer bound by her service and Hippocratic oath puts her in conflict with her parents and protective of her own daughter. The granddaughter, the innocent, unable to understand why people are saying such horrible things about her kindly grandfather.

In these three characters we are offered different levels of ignorance all the while the real victims scream and protest, heard but rarely seen.

Into this scenario arrives Llorona herself and it's through her that the spirits communicate and seek their retribution.

This is a subtle tale and one that some might find slow going. The horror lays not in the actions of the dead, but the injustice of the living.

I gave it a chance given the high reviews (for the average horror movie). This movie was just so dang slow. Watched to the ending hoping for a spectacular end to save it but it never happened.

This isn't a horror - more of a drama/suspense political thing.

The quality of the film is outstanding, but the story lets it down severely.

The story starts out very strong and gradually fades and fizzles to nothingness at the end - which was very disappointing, and a shame because this could have been an excellent movie.

It is still worth a watch if you happen to see it around, but don't have any expectations.

Set against a backdrop of genocide and betrayals La Llorona is a beautiful movie. Visually stunning, eerie, sensitive, and tragic, it tells the tale of a Guatemalan dictator haunted by the folk figure of La Llorona and his family's attempt to escape with something left of their own souls.

Typical generic horror movie with modern camera work. I would actually give this film a much higher rating if not for one thing: the part where the girl was reaching out for her doll right in a middle of a demonic invasion was so incredibly stupid it actually ruined the immersion for me. First of all it's the 21st century out there kids don't play with dolls like these anymore, and secondly - no sane child or adult would EVER EVER consider fetching that doll and jeopardise the only protection they have. Only Hollywood script writers could ever come up with this.

This film starts with a whisper. A small voice, whispering Spanish words. Then, there is an image: the face of a woman, filmed in close-up. It turns out she's praying. Very slowly, the camera zooms out. Walls come into view, and other persons. They're praying in a circle, holding hands. The whispering grows louder and louder.

This is a magnificent start of a film, and it's great moviemaking. I was immediately captured by the scene, and as a consequence by the whole movie. There are many other such great scenes, delictately filmed, with great intensity.

'La llorona', which is based on historical facts, shows the last episode in the life of an aging military dictator in Guatemala. He is convicted of genocide because of his cruelty towards the indigenous Maya population, but later acquitted. We see him in his sprawling mansion, which is permanently surrounded by an angry mob demanding justice for the numerous family members who have 'dissapeared'. Also in the house are his wife, his daughter and his granddaughter. When the family hires a young, beautiful and mysterious Maya girl as a servant, peculiar things start happening.

The film shows an important period in the Guatemalan history, but it is more than just a historical account. It also captures, in a very creative way, the dark forces that surround the general. It shows the dilemmas of the family members: do they remain loyal to their husband, father and grandfather, even when they slowly become convinced of his wrongdoing? It also highlights the social and cultural differences between the indigenous Maya and the Guatemalans of European descent. And, of course, it is a modern version of the legend of La llorona. Let's face it: that's quite a lot for one film.

The good thing is that all these different themes are not conflicting. They merge together, and the result is a very organic, beautifully filmed movie. For western audiences, a film about events from long ago in a tiny Latin American country may sound a bit off-putting. But seeing it is pure cinematographic joy.

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.

Very slow and boring, it wasnt scary at all wouldnt recommend.

Guatemalan folk horror film. It is based on the Latin American tale / legend of the spirit la Llorona (the woman who cries). It is about the judicial and spiritual trial of General Enrique Monteverde accused of genocide. Very well done, it explores the still open political wounds of Guatemala, where horror elements are meticulously used to reinforce their effectiveness. Strong and blunt argument. I loved it and strongly recommend it.

Don't go into "La Llorona" for the horror of it, because you'll be disappointed -- horror is a by-product of any war atrocity, real or staged, and even though there are supernatural elements here that the title suggests, thus (also) rendering it a genre movie, these elements, they serve a different purpose. Frankly, I think it also being somewhat of a horror hurt its IMDb rating, because the wrong audience targets it and leaves it feeling misled. It's a good film on an important subject and you should see it.

This is not a horror movie at all, this is a drama and a boring one. If you're looking for a drama I guess it's ok, but if you're looking for a horror movie then disappointment waits for you and you should avoid this one.

As everyone is saying, this ghost story is not a horror film. The eerie atmosphere kept me interested for the whole 97 minutes, however, nothing unexpected really happened. If I had known the dark history of Guatemala, my impression would have been different. But as a layman of South American history, overall impression was a little weak.