« Neither The Sea Nor The Sand (1972) | Home | Cat O’ Nine Tails (1971) »
The Curse of the Crying Woman (1961)
By lngway2go | December 14, 2007
(aka La Maldicion de la Llorona)
Director: Rafael Baledon
Screenplay: Rafael Beladon, Fernando Galiana
Starring: Rosa Arenas (as Rosita Arenas), Abel Salazar, Rita Macedo, Carlos Lopez Moctezuma, Enrique Lucero, Mario Sevilla, Julissa, Roy Fletcher, Arturo Corona, Armando Acosta, Victorio Blanco, Beatriz Bustamante
Amelia (Rosa Arenas) has been summoned back home by her Aunt Selma (Rita Macedo), whom she has not seen for many years. Following the death of her parents Amelia stayed with her Aunt and Uncle in their old remote mansion, until they sent her away to stay at school and never allowed her to return.
Amelia’s Uncle recently passed away in mysterious circumstances, and now Amelia’s Aunt has requested her presence, but Amelia unknown to her Aunt he is accompanied by her husband, Jaime (Abel Salazar).
A number of deaths have been taking place in town, and the most recent occurred near the old mansion occupied by Amelia’s Aunt. The police question Aunt Selma in connection with the murders, but are unable to uncover anything to help them track down the murderer who is at large. There is a large amount of superstition that surrounds the mansion and its occupants, most of the townsfolk will not travel close to the mansion.
Amelia is lucky enough to get a coach driver who is willing to take her to the mansion, but he refuses to enter the building when they ask for help with their luggage. The coachman leaves them at the door where they are greeted by a hideously disfigured servant, Juan (Carlos Lopez Moctezuma), who states that Amelia’s Aunt will not see them until the coming evening.
When evening arrives the Aunt is quick to get Amelia away from her husband in order to reveal the mystery behind the mansion. They are direct descendants of the Crying Woman, a woman of great power who was murdered by the townsfolk. Amelia’s Aunt has found the power of Crying Woman, revealing that she has no reflection. She confesses to Amelia that she has been taking revenge on the townsfolk by killing the ancestors of those who killed the Crying Woman.
Amelia has what is known as the Curse of the Crying Woman, and as the last descendant of the Crying Woman is it her duty to bring back to life the Crying Woman, who’s corpse Aunt Selma has in the basement. At the stroke of midnight Amelia is to withdraw a spear from the chest of the Crying Woman and become a part of the new world, a world of witchcraft.
The curse quickly takes its hold on Amelia, compelling her to attack a man who refuses to help her remove her sick husband from the castle. She also find that she is abnormally draw to blood. Will Amelia be able to resist the curse and escape its evil control?
This early Mexican horror is an atmospheric and visually arousing piece of cinema, unfortunately the storytelling leaves a lot to be desired; Aunt Selma reveals everything far too quickly, and Amelia still hangs out at the creepy old mansion for the rest of the madness that ensues! It is in the films visuals that its strengths lie; Aunt Selma’s eyes take on a strange and chilling appearance when things get supernatural, and the mansion is adorned in gothic delights! There are bats and things on strings, cheesy Munsters like stereotypical creepy music, a disfigured servant and a boat load of cobwebs. What more could you want? Seriously!
Topics: Gothic Horror, Spanish Horror |