Review by RCR entertainment reporter, Eric Szymanski, follow him on Twitter at @ecmanski

I consider myself a horror aficionado. I’ll sit through pretty much anything that offers a glimpse into the supernatural world. The Curse of La Llorona is a fun movie with plenty of jump scares and a few laughs along the way. Part of the fun seeing a horror movie is watching it in a packed theater and hearing others around you murmur in fear with the anticipation of something dreadful lurking in the dark on screen. Unlike a more casual movie goer, I can spot a jump scare a mile away. It takes a lot to surprise me. This film is paint by numbers in that regard where you see it coming but they do offer creative ways of showing the menacing spirit terrorize a single mom and her two children in Los Angeles circa 1973. I love period piece horror film set in the 70’s and 80’s. Besides being a golden age of the genre, characters on screen aren’t given the luxury of today’s technology to combat the evil lurking at their doorstep. Nobody is texting “mom, I just heard saw a ghost in the attic.”

Some of the stronger parts of the film are the main characters and La Llorona herself. Her backstory is briefly glossed over but unlike many horror protagonists, she actually is on screen a considerable amount of time. You don’t get the standard nighttime sequence and then 45 minutes of boring dialogue. Oh no, when she makes her presence known at the beginning, the audience feels her lurking for the entire 1 hour and 33 minute runtime. We’ve seen a ton of decrepit looking spirits wearing white dresses in films over the past two decades and I’d put Ms L at the top when it comes to creepiness. A word to the wise kids, when La Llorona is on the loose, don’t be near a pool and make sure you know who’s washing your hair while you’re in the bathtub.

As I stated earlier, this film offers little new. For anyone who’s seen any other movies in the Conjuring universe, you’re not gonna be blown away here. It does, however, give us some creative ways of seeing the spirit stalk her prey. There’s an umbrella sequence in particular that comes to mind. The acting is strong in this one as well. You really get a sense of what this terrorized family of three is going through. There are some clever winks and nods harkening back to previous Conjuring events. I may be the only person to pick up on the Scooby Doo reference (Linda Cardellini played Velma in the live action movie). Raymond Cruz, best known as Tuco for all you Breaking Bad fans, plays a spiritual advisor recruited to rid the presence of La Llorona. He had the funniest lines in the movies with his one-word answers and facial expressions accompanying them. Things like this made the film a fun ride from start to finish. The third act was a little weak with an ending that felt rushed but it’s nothing that ruined the experience for me.

If you’re looking for a curse to check out at the theater, I’d say this is one to summon. Horror films are no longer solely delegated to the month of October. The Curse of La Llorona proves that’s a good thing.

Grade: B

“The Curse of La Llorona” is only in Theaters April 19, 2019

About The Curse of La Llorona

La Llorona. The Weeping Woman. A horrifying apparition, caught between Heaven and Hell, trapped in a terrible fate sealed by her own hand. The mere mention of her name has struck terror around the world for generations.

In life, she drowned her children in a jealous rage, throwing herself in the churning river after them as she wept in pain.

Now her tears are eternal. They are lethal, and those who hear her death call in the night are doomed. La Llorona creeps in the shadows and preys on the children, desperate to replace her own. As the centuries have passed, her desire has grown more voracious … and her methods more terrifying.

In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night—and the children.

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. Their only hope to survive La Llorona’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide.

Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. 

Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. 

And there is no escape from the curse of La Llorona.

On April 19, 2019, this timeless Mexican legend comes to terrifying life in New Line Cinema’s “The Curse of La Llorona.”

The film is produced by Emile Gladstone, Gary Dauberman (“IT” and “Annabelle” franchises) and James Wan (“The Conjuring” universe). Michael Chaves, who won Shriekfest’s Best Super Short Film in 2016 for “The Maiden,” makes his feature directorial debut.

The film stars Linda Cardellini (Netflix’s “Bloodline,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,”); Raymond Cruz (TV’s “Major Crimes”); Patricia Velasquez (TV’s “The L Word,” “The Mummy” films); and Marisol Ramirez (TV’s “NCIS: Los Angeles”). The cast also includes Sean Patrick Thomas (the “Barbershop” films, “Halloween: Resurrection”), Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen (“Selfless”) and newcomer Roman Christou.

Chaves directs from a screenplay by Mikki Daughtry & Tobias Iaconis. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Michael Burgess, production designer Melanie Jones, editor Peter Gvozdas and costume designer Megan Spatz. The music is by Joseph Bishara (the “Annabelle” and “Conjuring” films).

New Line Cinema presents An Atomic Monster/Emile Gladstone Production, “The Curse of La Llorona.”

“The Curse of La Llorona” is only in Theaters April 19, 2019

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