| by Winter Lawrence |
Description: R | Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Starring: Linda Cardellini | Raymond Cruz | Patricia Velasquez | Tony Amendola |
Winter’s Forecast: 1 Flurry!
The Story: Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm.
Winter’s Review: I was finally able to sneak off to the movies to watch “The Curse of La Llorona.” I was super excited to see the newest addition to the Conjuring-Annabelle universe, so after a good day of hiking, I headed to the theater. Here’s what I loved about it…
The Cast
I loved that Patricia Velasquez is one of the first people we meet! I adored her as Anck Su Namun in “The Mummy,” and she did a great job in La Llorona. There were also some other very notable faces, like Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Tony Amendola.
The Atmosphere
The movie takes place in the 1970s and they did an amazing job of capturing the wardrobe and the essence of the decade. I loved the older cars and the lack of technology. It felt really authentic.
The Lore
The writers did an excellent job of keeping true to the legend of La Llorona. The details they included were specific and accurate, and the ritual of everything embraced the Mexican culture.
The Easter Egg
If you didn’t already know, the lead actor in this film, Linda Cardellini, also starred in the live-action version of Scooby-Doo in 2002, so every time I see her in a movie now, I reflexively have to say “jinkies!” It seems as though I’m not the only one who does that, because in “The Curse of La Llorona,” they pay homage to her role as Velma.
The Tie-In
As a fan of the Conjuring-Annabelle universes, I liked the way the writers tied these stories together. It’s a very subtle connection, and one that leaves us with a cliffhanger ending for more to come.
So overall, did I enjoy the movie? Yes! There are plenty of good things to say about it, and for the most part, it was entertaining. Here’s the thing though, I watch a lot of scary movies, so I must admit that in terms of “horror,” this one was a bit disappointing. I didn’t have to close my eyes once. It was also a little predictable, and there were some slow parts, so if you happen to guzzle down your favorite frosty beverage beforehand, have no fear! You’ll have plenty of time to run to the restroom without missing a beat.
* * * * *
Winter’s Forecast runs on a Five-Flurry Rating System, with five being a perfect storm of fantastic acting, astounding storylines and film components, and an all-around amazing movie-going experience. Here’s the rest of the breakdown:
One Flurry — Near White-Out Conditions: Don’t brave the cold, rent it instead!
Two Flurries — Hail Storm: A few good bits, but mostly worth dodging!
Three Flurries — A Blizzard: Worth the hype, but proceed with caution!
Four Flurries — A Nor’easter: It packs a punch but misses it by that much!
Five Flurries — The Perfect Storm: Stop reading and go watch it already!