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.
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.