The Curse of the Crying Woman (1963) User Reviews

THE CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN (Rafael Baledon, 1961) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 13 October 2006]

While not quite in the same league as THE BLACK PIT OF DR. M (1958) or THE WITCH'S MIRROR (1960), this is yet another fine addition to the great - and largely unheralded - series of classic Mexican horror films. This was actually the fourth of at least five vintage films about the titular creature (in the last of these, she was even pitted against another Mexican legend - Santo the wrestler!): it would be great if the others were revived - no pun intended - as well somewhere along the line by Casanegra or whomever.

Again, the film positively drips with atmosphere and style (belying the miniscule budget on hand) - generally coming off as unmistakably Mexican but also borrowing freely from other horror titles, most notably Mario Bava's seminal BLACK Sunday (1960). As in THE WITCH'S MIRROR - which, incidentally, shared with this film its star Rosita Arenas, producer Abel Salazar (here he essayed the role of the male lead as well) and composer (the ubiquitous Gustavo Cesar Carrion) - weird mirror imagery plays an essential part in the narrative, as does witchcraft, for that matter. The scarred 'monster' of that film as well as THE BLACK PIT OF DR. M, then, is incarnated here not by one but three different figures - The Crying Woman herself, decomposed and awaiting re-animation; her disciple Rita Macedo's hulking and club-footed henchman; and Macedo's once-distinguished husband, whom she has kept locked up for years and who has consequently regressed to a subhuman, animal-like level. Also on hand is a trio of rather skinny-looking Great Danes, which are unleashed from time to time to attack unsuspecting villagers or intruding police officials.

Two of its most compelling sequences are those in which Macedo recounts to Arenas and Salazar (individually) the tale of the "Llorona"; the latter has little real purpose, but its depiction of the events is done through brief snippets of scenes (shown in negative) from other Salazar-produced horror films - I immediately noticed the only shot I'm familiar with up to this point, from THE WITCH'S MIRROR, but shots from THE BRAINIAC (1961; which is next in my Halloween horror marathon!) are included as well, as per the Commentary; besides, here we get an unexpected but effective display of sensuality - which is felt again when Arenas (already in the process of replacing the "Llorona") notices Salazar's bloodied hand. Among the film's indelible images are all the scenes in which the eyes of The Crying Woman's disciples turn completely black - an effect seen in the very first shot and which was later lifted by INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS (1973); Macedo's bat-like swoop towards the camera and Arenas' hallucination (which is as expressionistic as they come, with the night sky being crammed with staring accusing eyes) are also worth mentioning and striking, too, is the distinctive make-up design for each of the 'monsters'.

The busy climax - in which Salazar and Carlos Lopez Moctezuma (the henchman) engage in a lengthy and energetic fist-fight, and the long-suffering husband Domingo Soler finally gets even with Macedo, as the hacienda collapses around them - is quite splendid. Also notable here is the lighting when the 'possessed' Arenas attempts to liberate the "Llorona" by removing a stake from her body (a scene which, unfortunately, is absurdly over-extended so as to allow the huge bell in the impressive bell-tower set at the top of the mansion - as important to this film as it was to Hitchcock's VERTIGO [1958] - to chime 12 times!). The film features a generous number of effective shock moments and some rather graphic violence for the time: the scene where a girl - played by Macedo's real-life daughter, billed as Julissa del Llano - is trampled by a carriage; one where the pitiful and half-crazed Soler is brutally whipped by the sadistic Moctezuma, until he retaliates (a scene which is heavily reminiscent of Dwight Frye's tormenting of Boris Karloff in James Whale's FRANKENSTEIN [1931]); and especially the dogs' vicious attack on the two constables (sections of which were reportedly trimmed for export versions).

Regrettably, the Audio Commentary for this release turned out to be a major disappointment: not only is there a great deal of dead air on this track, with Michael Liuzza (Casanegra's Vice President, no less!) allowing several of the best scenes to go without comment but, when he does speak, he mainly resorts to biographical details of the various personnel involved!!

Not bad but not a classic either

[evilskip · 6/10 · 24 September 2000]

I know of a lot of people who swear that this is their favorite Mexican horror movie.While I agree that it is far from a stinker it isn't the best of the bunch either.Check out El Vampiro or the Witch's Mirror.But this one does have its moments.

The Crying Woman herself is pretty creepy looking as well as her murderous henchman who won't be winning any beauty contests.The opening scene set in a spooky misty forest is great.We're slapped with a couple of gruesome murders (especially when a young woman is run over by a coach).

It all boils down to a young woman coming "home" to her rightful inheritance.Too bad it is steeped in evil and involves bringing back to life a murderous witch.Pre dates Black Sunday by a few years.

You have to take the acting with a grain of salt as it is one of K Gordon Murray's bad dubbing jobs.The climactic fight scene is well done but seems to drag on endlessly.

Don't pass it up as it is better than average.

The Damned House

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 25 April 2023]

On the eve of the twentieth-fifth birthday of the orphan Amelia (Rosita Arenas), she travels to the house of her aunt Selma (Rita Macedo) in the countryside of Mexico with her husband Jaime (Abel Salazar). Amelia was raised by her aunt but for fifteen they have not seen each other. However, now Selma has just summoned Amelia to visit her, who is newly-wed with Jaime. When they arrive, the coachman tells them that the house is damned. The weird servant Juan (Carlos López Moctezuma) receives Amelia and Jaime since Selma is not at home. Soon Amelia overhears a crying woman but Juan forbids Selma to go to the tower of the house. When Selma arrives, Amelia learns that her uncle Dr. Daniel Jaramillo (Enrique Lucero) died. Further, there is a powerful witch in the basement that was murdered with a stake. Amelia shall remove this stake at midnight of her birthday since she is the last relative of the witch bloodline in order that the witch revives and grant power to Selma.

"La maldición de la Llorona", a.k.a. "The Curse of the Crying Woman" is a 1963 Mexican film based on an ancient Mexican legend. The black and white cinematography is impressive, with the use of shadows and a few effective special effects. The annoying part are the screams of Rosita Arenas, common for women in the 60's. The story is too short, so there is the need of long shootings to complete a minimum running time. IMDb summary ("A young woman inherits a mansion, only to discover that it is haunted by witches and evil spirits") is ridiculous and completely wrong. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Maldição da Chorona" ("The Curse of the Crying Woman")

Haunted house flick from Mexico.

[youroldpaljim · 16 June 2001]

This Mexican made horror flick is said to be based on an old Mexican legend called "The Crying Woman." However, this film has little to do with the legend and is essentially an original story about a women who comes to a haunted mansion to claim an inheritance and is plagued by the ghost of a dead woman and a rotting corpse that comes to life. Some descriptions claim the woman is a descendant of the original crying woman, but I saw no mention of this in video copy I saw. Perhaps this was removed when the film was prepared for English language release by K. Gorden Murray. I understand that there is a more faithful version of the original legend filmed in Mexico in 1930's.

The Curse of the Crying Woman

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 21 May 2007]

Amelia(Rosa Arenas)returns to her Aunt Selma's urgent request, bringing along her new husband Jaime(Abel Salazar). She has been away from her Aunt Selma(Rita Macedo)for quite some time and informs Jaime that the childhood she remembers wasn't a happy one. Amelia has no idea, not one single clue what horrors awaits her and Jaime. Selma is a practicing witch holding on to the moment Amelia turns 25 because this specific point and time will supposedly draw a dead(..but dormant)spirit of the "Crying Woman" back from the dead. You'll hear throughout the film about what Selma longs(..and is assured)to receive, her omnipotence at the sacrifice of her niece of course. Obviously, this isn't great news to Amelia, but finding out that the "Crying Woman" witch is a blood descendant sure doesn't help matters. Selma lets Amelia know right away that her blood will force her will to remove a certain spear from the rotted corpse of the witch..when this moment happens, she'll die. If grappling with this terrifying ordeal isn't enough, Amelia and Jaime have a monstrously scarred evil brute named Juan(Carlos López Moctezuma)to worry with as well. Another surprise for the couple is a caged monster up the stairs just waiting to get out! Could this monster be Daniel(Enrique Lucero)Selma's supposedly dead husband, horribly mutated by witchcraft?

Despite hokey make-up effects and lame dog-attack sequences, director Rafael Baledón is able to build a tense situation amongst the cob-webs, dust and madness within this creepy mansion. It has that pure Gothic effect one craves when searching for atmospheric horror. The story itself is quite gripping as it follows the seemingly inescapable situation regarding our heroine who must somehow defeat powerful forces she hasn't prepared for. The film has a terrific setting with a marvelous climactic battle between Juan and Jaime as a bell in the tower of the mansion rings so loudly, the walls begin to cave! The real star is Rita Acedo as the demented Selma who has this cold, crazed look that never leaves her eyes. The flick has an unusual make-up effect where we often see Selma's real face where her eyes are missing with this black void filling her sockets. All hell breaks at the end in the old style of the 30's Universal horror pictures where chaos sends the setting(..often a castle, in this film a massive, creaky, rat-infested mansion)into rubble, while certain characters die.

Modest chiller

[adriangr · 6/10 · 18 August 2019]

The Curse of the Crying Woman kicks off with a couple of elements that are the movie's hallmarks. One is the striking image of the eyeless woman crying, and the other is the unfortunate overacting of the supporting cast and the threadbare budget. The plot begins shortly after this curtain raiser by showing us the arrival of a married couple at a sinister mansion. It is owned by the aunt of the young bride, who has summoned her niece to visit her, with the plan of introducing her to the family curse/revenge plan. The best actress in the movie is definitely the aunt, whose handsome appearance and expressive eyes are put to good use as she plays the fiendish bearer of the curse. The rest of the movie is a bit shoddy, showing how the young couple are terrorised by visions, bats, dogs, a hunchbacked servant and a mysterious relative who is locked in the attic. All the stock cliches are here!

Although it's possible to do a lot with a small budget, a lot of the time the movie is let down by this. What is done right is the photography, with scenes well composed and crisply shot in rich black and white. On the other hand the effects are not good at all, especially in all of the dog scenes where the attacks are really badly portrayed, with shots of the dogs licking jam off glass held in front of the camera. It's an imaginative attempt, but short sharp editing would have been much more effective than drawing out the scene so much, which really showcases the lack of any convincing action. Nearly every scene goes on too long, in particular the climactic fight scene in which the couple try to escape as the house collapses. This is ridiculously padded out and produces no tension at all. It's a shame because there are moments that hint at the unrealised potential here. The film is carried by the dynamics between the two female leads ( the husband is a total washout), and this could have worked a lot better if the supporting framework had been better handled as well.

Curse of the Crying Woman

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 22 June 2022]

An older Mexican horror film that actually played in the U. S. - American-International Pictures offered it for syndication in 1965 - The Curse of the Crying Woman is another film that attempts to translate the legend of La Llorona, the crying woman, and does the best job of any I've seen.

The film starts with full realization of the weirdness and wildness within, as a carriage ride is interrupted and all three passengers are hunted down by a mysterious woman in a long black dress served by her three monstrous dogs and an even more frightening henchman. In case you wondered, "Did Black Sunday play in Mexico?" this scene will definitely answer affirmatively.

That's when the film introduces us to Amelia, our heroine, who has come to stay at the home of her Aunt Selma, a place covered with cobwebs, where the cries of a woman can be heard at night and bodies of generations of relations decompose in the basement. One particularly relative was a powerful witch who will come back to power and take Selma to an afterlife filled with black masses and blood drinking, a fact that she excitedly relates to a shocked Amelia.

From there, the film descends into wild scenes of Selma transforming into the Crying Woman, an eyeless creature surrounded by thousands of eyes, as well as a black mass filmed in negative and dead bodies coming back to life. It's a movie that transcends its inspiration and delivers its own artful - and scary - take on a legendary story.

Nature has not been kind to Juan.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 31 July 2023]

It's not that surprising to me that this film has been described as 'the Mexican Black Sunday': like Bava's (over-rated, IMO) classic, The Curse of the Crying Woman opens in terrific style, but soon devolves into a mess of tried and tested gothic horror cliches, with hidden rooms, a cobweb-strewn dungeon, lots of rats, rubber bats on strings, and a demented relative driven mad by the villain, with not much of a plot to tie them all together.

The excellent pre-credits sequence sees a coach travelling through a foggy forest before being waylaid by hunchback Juan (Carlos López Moctezuma), who also has a hideously scarred face and a club foot. The coach driver is knifed, one of the passengers is throttled, and another is set upon by a pack of vicious dogs. The pretty female passenger faints to the ground and the henchman runs the coach over her, which I didn't expect! It's a cracking start, but also the best part of the movie.

The remainder of the film involves married couple Amelia and Jaime (Rosita Arenas and Abel Salazar), who arrive at the spooky hacienda of Amelia's Aunt Selma (Rita Macedo), who has invited them to her home so that she can complete a ritual that will grant her great power and revive the body of La Llorona, the wailing witch. Amelia gradually begins to fall under the spell of her aunt, while Jaime is attacked by Daniel, the crazy man in the bell tower, and is almost killed by Juan.

Director Rafael Baledón delivers some atmospheric visuals but with a routine gothic horror scenario that does little out of the ordinary, his film plods along predictably until the ridiculous finale, when Amelia's love for Jaime ruins Selma's plans, and Jaime and Raul have a prolonged fist fight as the hacienda collapses around their ears.

5.5/10, generously rounded up to 6 for the unintentionally hilarious moment when two policeman, both brandishing revolvers, allow themselves to be mauled to death by dogs (were the weapons unloaded or did they just forget to pull the trigger?), and for Amelia's equally amusing attack on an old man, who puts up no resistance as she chokes him and gouges his face with her nails.

Delicious Gothic beauty in a tale of witchcraft and curses!

[The_Void · 8/10 · 19 September 2006]

As ever when finally getting a viewing of a film I've been looking forward to, I was worried that The Curse of the Crying Woman may not live up to expectations; but this exquisite slice of Mexican Gothic horror lived up to them all, and then some! Comparisons with the great Mario Bava's masterpiece "Black Sunday" are obviously going to come about, and this story of ancient curses and witchcraft is similar to the earlier sixties film in many ways. The most striking aspect of the film is undoubtedly the atmosphere, and director Rafael Baledón succeeds in creating a foreboding tone throughout the movie, which blends extremely well with the folklore origins of the story. The film is based on the Mexican legend 'La Llorona', and centres on a supposedly cursed mansion in the middle of the woods. We follow Amelia; a young woman who travels to see her Aunt Selma's with her husband. However, it soon becomes apparent that Selma has become obsessed with an ancient witch, whose power she believes can be unlocked by Amelia. People say that the woods are haunted by the crying woman, and Amelia is about to find out a truth to that legend!

It's quite unbelievable that a film of this quality could remain incognito for so long, and full credit must go to Casa Negra for their excellent DVD release. I'm coming to realise that Mexico produced a lot of cheap horror films throughout the sixties and seventies; many of which can't stand tall with the best that the more accomplished nations have to offer, but this is surely one of the very best films to come out of the South American nation. Rafael Baledón's direction is superb, and the outdoor scenes that see the woods and central house surrounded in fog could be framed and hung on the wall, such is their beauty. The film is packed with obscure and fascinating support characters, including the decayed corpse of the witch, which somehow takes on a life of its own, the maniacal servant and deformed family member that is kept in the attic! The conclusion to the film is superb, and the director's use of a huge bell is excellently handled and helps to deliver the scintillatingly Gothic finale that the film deserves. Overall, we horror fans should count ourselves lucky that there are DVD release companies willing to take a chance on unknown films like this one, and every horror fan must see The Curse of the Crying Woman!

The mystery is immediately killed of

[Johan_Wondering_on_Waves · 5/10 · 24 January 2015]

Now this was rather a disappointment. It eventually starts of greatly with a scene of the legendary dark eyed crying woman helped by some bloodthirsty dogs and an ugly cripple man attacking and killing the passengers of a chariot in the dark woods. Who thinks (like me) was going to get a mystery of who is that crying woman will be disappointed as within minutes you will already know who it is. Later on we get a mature lady named Selma living in a big mansion letting her niece Amelia and her husband Jaime come over. They haven't seen each other in 15 years. Very fast Selma lets her niece know what she expects from her. They are both descendants of a witch which was killed decades ago and now should be brought back to life by Amelia at midnight to avenge her death. Amelia doesn't want to but Selma starts to play all kind of tricks on her and even more on her husband. None of them were really as good as "The Witch's Mirror" and rather stupid in my opinion. Yeah there was even some Frankenstein like monster. Sequences and some fights it all continued way too long and took away the tension and creepiness of the whole. Thin plot, one dimensional characters and very disappointing end. This director clearly tried to go for a more spectacular and action packed movie rather than more subtle, mysterious and atmospheric horror which was more common those days (or at least that's what I think).

Mexican horror at its best!

[N. Eades-2 · 10/10 · 22 October 1998]

Great atmospheric Mexican horror film! Some special effects are sloppy, but the music and sets are true to the genre. The appearances of the crying woman (la llorana) herself are truly some of the most extremely unnerving moments in a horror film. Worth seeing just for that. The film is best seen in its original Spanish version.

Classic

[rkolesza · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

I just watched CasaNegra Entertainment's version of this film on DVD, fully restored and all I can is Wow, they did a great job with it. It's such a treat to see these old Mexican classic finally get the attention they deserve. Curse of the Crying Woman is often considered the the Mexican Black Sunday and it lives up to it in every way. Beautifully filmed entirely at night, creepy mist, candle lit dungeons and dead trees are everywhere. These type visual elements were one of the trademarks in many of great horror films from Meixco and definitely what helps make them unique.

The story involves a young woman who upon visiting her Aunt who lives in a creepy Hacienda mansion in the countryside, learns she is next in line to join a family of evil witches. The Mexican title suggests the film is based on the legend of Llorona which it is only loosely. Baledon takes the real legend and morphs it into his own screen play and the outcome is pure classic horror enjoyment. A must for any true lover of Gothic, Black and White horror movies.

A Great Mexi-Horror Film

[gravelbreath · 9/10 · 17 February 2006]

Enter Gothic Mexico! Easily one of the best Horror films of the classic Mexi-Horror era. This film is oozing with the lush atmosphere, bizarre imagery and beautiful, shadowy photography which many of the Mexican horror classics of this era are known for. Like several other classic Mexican horror films, this one also plays off the the old Mexican folklore tale of Llorona, the weeping ghost/witch of the Mexican countryside. Real horror buffs will see (during the opening scene) a striking similarity between this film and Mario Bava's masterpiece, Black Sunday. The setting, where the Witch lives is actually a old Mexican Hacienda Mansion. I think the scenes where this "Haunted" mansion is depicted rivals that of the old Gothic castles which were typically used as settings in the European classics, mainly the Christopher Lee Dracula films. It just looks different but is creepy as can be. There is also some dreamy, almost psychedelic like sequences also not unusual during this period. Combine all this is the mutated, malformed man kept prisoner in the mansion, the boney flesh-eating hounds, Abel Salazar (Brainiac) playing the heroine and Rita Macedo playing the Witch you have a film any horror fan is not likely to forget.

Don't Cry for me, ...Mexicana!

[Coventry · 9/10 · 15 September 2006]

I almost feel the urge to spontaneously start a Mexican Wave in honor of this SUBLIME Gothic horror movie! When listing the most important classic horror titles and their countries of origin, people automatically think about Italy (with Mario Bava and his "Black Sunday"), Spain (with about a million Paul Naschy films) and naturally Britain (with the legendary Hammer and Amicus production studios). Mexico understandably always gets left out, but it truly deserves to be mentioned too, if it were only for THIS movie alone! "The Curse of the Crying Woman" is nearly flawless Goth-horror and features all the aspects that make the genre fans' mouths water. Filmed in beautiful black & white and bathing in an uncanny atmosphere, this movie is compelling from start to finish and several eerie images will haunt your thoughts even long afterwards. The story is simplistic, yet effectively creepy, the decors & set pieces are overwhelmingly sinister and the make-up effects are surprisingly convincing. No wonder this film often gets compared to Mario Bava's aforementioned milestone "Black Sunday". If you take the wise decision of purchasing "The Curse of the Crying Woman", you may expect to see endless dark forests, old mansions, ominous thunderstorms and – of course – a sardonic mythical storyline that tightly connects all these elements together. On the night of her 25th birthday, beautiful Amelia and her husband arrive at her aunts' Selma reputedly "cursed" house. Amelia has been looking forward to be reunited with her aunt since years, but she doesn't know that the sole reason of her invite is to serve as the final sacrifice to resurrect an ancient witch. Throughout the years, Selma became obsessed with the powers of Marina; an evil bitch that lures woods-travelers with her cries and kills them. Even if the young couple manages to avoid the curse, they still need to defeat Selma's horribly scarred servant and the mutated monster in the attic. The tension & atmosphere are masterfully built up, especially during the first 45 minutes. Director Raphael Baledón then seems to lose his tight grip on the story a bit around the hour, but he immediately rectifies himself again with an unforgettable climax. The sequence with the chiming bell alone is worth a standing ovation! Mesmerizing horror experience, recommended to fans of the genre all over the world.

* Special word of thanks to loyal IMDb-user G.B, for helping me to obtain this new personal favorite.

thank God that Mexico caught the horror bug that bit the US

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 29 July 2006]

Rafael Baledon's "La maldicion de la Llorona" (called "The Curse of the Crying Woman" in English) has the look of a Vincent Price movie, despite everyone speaking Spanish. Portraying a young bride Amelia (Rosita Arenas) and her husband Jaime (Abel Salazar) stopping at the home of her aunt Selma (Rita Macedo), where an evil spirit known as the Crying Woman has taken over, the movie really makes you long for the era. True, the movie's totally corny, but it's as fun as can be. The scenes where Selma's eyes change are actually quite creepy.

So, this is a cool example of the movies from that most unique age of cinema (in every place on earth). All that I can say is: muchas gracias, Mexico!

An effective, creepy tale

[bensonmum2 · 9/10 · 19 July 2006]

Just when you get all smug and begin thinking there are no really good Gothic horrors left to be seen, someone comes along and releases a film on DVD that challenges your mistaken notions of having seen it all. That's the case with Casa Negra's recent release of The Curse of the Crying Woman. It's got everything a fan of Gothic horror could ask for – a slow-burn story that allows for atmosphere, women in black flowing dresses, a crazed madman caged in the attic, a dead witch in the cellar, a deformed and brutish henchman, a creepy old castle, and wonderfully beautiful black & white photography. As a fan of films like Mario Bava's Black Sunday, I'm overjoyed to have discovered The Curse of the Crying Woman. The films share more than their central plot points of bringing a long dead witch back to life, director Rafael Baledon seems to have used parts of The Curse of the Crying Woman to pay homage to Bava. The similarities between the first image of the black-haired Selma standing with her Great Danes is so similar to Barbara Steele's introduction in Black Sunday that it cannot be mere coincidence. Although obviously hampered by budget constraints (again, similar to Bava), Baledon nevertheless was able to craft an effective, creepy tale. It's not the jump scare kind of horror – it's much more subtle than that. It's the kind of movie that, if you allow it to, will get under your skin. It's very well done and new favorite of mine.

And I thought all Mexican horror movies featured masked wrestlers battling werewolves and vampires. I can't wait to see what Casa Negra comes out with next.

Mesmerizing Mexican Gothic Gem

[Witchfinder-General-666 · 9/10 · 2 November 2009]

"La Maldición De La Llorana" aka. "The Curse of the Crying Woman" (1963) is a haunting and absolutely ingenious little treasure of Mexican Gothic Horror cinema, that simply has to be seen by anybody interested in Horror. In spite of an obviously low budget, director Rafaél Baldedón accomplished to create a film of incredibly eerie atmosphere and genuine creepiness that represents all the great qualities we love in Gothic Horror film. In some parts clearly inspired by Mario Bava's milestone "La Maschera Del Demonio" ("Black Sunday", 1960, which is probably my choice for THE greatest Horror film ever made), "La Maldicion De La Loorana" is a stroke of genius of its own right that mesmerizes like few other films.

"La Llorana" (the 'Crying Woman') is apparently a classic character of Latin-American folk tales, and has been the theme of several other Mexican Horror films; As far as I know, however, the 'Crying Woman' in this film has very little resemblance to the folk story character. The film begins magnificently creepy when the passengers of a stagecoach passengers fall victims to a gruesome encounter. Shortly thereafter, newlyweds Jaime (Abel Ferrara) and his young wife Amelia (Rosa Arenas) come to the area in order to visit Amelia's aunt Selma (Rita Macedo). Amelia notices that her beautiful but mysterious aunt, who lives in an eerie mansion, has not aged a day since she last saw her as a child... "La Maldición De La Llorana" is an absolutely awesome classic Gothic tale of witchcraft, curses and resurrection that simply has everything my fellow fans of Gothic Horror so love about this kind of cinema. Incredibly eerie settings and macabre set-pieces, such as an eerie mansion, dark tombs and secret passages, a captivating score, ingeniously creepy makeup and, not least, a delightfully macabre and haunting story make this an absolute must for every Horror lover to see. This one's budget wasn't high, but director Baledón made the best out of it, and proves once again that it doesn't need a vast sum of money in order to make a film look and feel magnificently creepy. Beautiful Rita Macedo is great and eerie in her role and Rosa Arenas fits greatly in the role of the innocent beauty. Abel Salazar, who plays the husband may be recognized for playing the title role in the wonderfully trashy gem "El Barón Del Terror" (1962) and prolific Mexican actor Carlos López Moctezuma shines in the role of the sinister servant. The film also includes a small appearance of Julissa, who would later star alongside Boris Karloff in some of the Horror deity's very odd last films.

It seems as if my enthusiasm for Mexican Horror films is growing with each film I see, and though I regrettably cannot (yet) claim to be an expert on the field, I can say that, judging by the films I've seen so far, Mexico of the 1960s was a great country for Gothic tales. Though it my have some minor flaws, "La Maldición De La Llorana" is a downright brilliant film that ranges only slightly below the absolute masterpieces of 60s Gothic cinema, such as Antonio Margheriti's "Danza Macabra", Roger Corman's Poe-films with Vincent Price or anything that Mario Bava made. This little masterpiece, as well as the equally brilliant Mexican Goth-Horror gem "Misterios De Ultratumba" ("Mysteries From Beyond The Grave"), is deliciously creepy beyond belief, and an absolute must-see for all Horror fans to see. Very Highly Recommended!

Delivers more than expected. A lesson in atmosphere.

[insomniac_rod · 10/10 · 3 January 2007]

"La Maldiciòn de la Llorona" is underrated for strange reasons here in Mèxico. As many people know, "the legend of La Llorona" is an urban myth from the XVIII century that to these days is very popular, and if you visit some pueblitos from Mèxico, some people swear that they have had spectral encounters with La Llorona.

Thank you CasaNegra! for giving the respect this movie deserves and commercialize it worldwide. You're doing a favor to the Horror community of the world.

"La Maldiciòn de la Llorona" has little to do with the legend or myth and focuses more on a Gothic story that deals with some sort of witchcraft, a pact with The Death, and the curse of La Llorona.

The production values of this movie are simply great and way ahead their time. The Gothic look of the mansion, of the forest, the backyard, and the rooms from the mansion are visually stunning. The art direction and cinematography add a lot for the movie's creepy atmosphere. The ghoulish sounds add a naive touch to the movie but surprisingly fit with the movie's macabre tone. Also, the make-up and effects are fantastic. The make-up of Fernando, Selma (her eyes), Juan, and La LLorona looks great and creepy. And special mention and recognition for the flashback sequences where Selma explains Amelia all the horror of her past. The wolf-man looking in the mirror, the inquisition scene, the devil's appearance, etc. are nightmares material. Excellent scene that makes me wonder if it inspired somehow movies like "The Ring" or music videos like NIN's "hurt". Anyways, the production values are fantastic.

Oh and there's room for gore. Minimal, almost non-existent but beautiful gore. The scene where the demonic dogs attack the police men is memorable in the aspect of gore.

The ending is probably among the best, even top 10, in Mexican Horror cinema history. The way the bell tolls every time as an indicator that the blade needs to be pulled out from La Llorona is great, creepy but great. The tension, and great f/x in the ending are simply memorable. I wonder if they used a model of the mansion in order to make it look like it was crumbling. Amazing scene for it's time I must say.

The acting is at it's finest although it looks cartoonish at some points but it's fine overall and fit with the movie. Rosita Arenas delivers a good performance as the cute but brave Amelia. She was nice to look at. Abel Salazar is a good actor and delivers a good performance but at some points I felt he was a wimp and a man without strong attitude. Carlos Lòpez Moctezuma is simply great as the deformed Juan. But Rita Macedo steals the show with her memorable performance of aunt Selma. She's wicked, evil, but also intriguing, mysterious, beautiful.

I urge you fellow IMDb user to watch this fantastic Mexican Horror movie in order to experience a visually stunning Gothic experience and also witness how Mexican horror has it's own gems. This is among the best Horror movies from this country along with Macario, Hasta El Viento Tiene Miedo, and Beso de Ultratumba (among many others).

The movie starts with a memorable opening sequence where Aunt Selma (in her ghostly form) and her loyal subdit Juan (a Mexican version of a deformed Quasimodo) attack a large and luxurious carriage. It seems that it was their modus operandi in order to kill people and later offer their blood to La Llorona.

Young Amelia returns from Mèxico after a long period where she lived and studied in Europe. She returns with her husband and stays in her aunt Amelia's mansion. Immediately after the couple settles, they start to experience strange events. For example, Amelia while looking in a mirror, suddenly sees her possessed aunt's reflection and then converts in a rotten corpse. Amelia asks Jaime to leave the house and he agrees when suddenly aunt Selma explains to Amelia why it is extremely important for her to stay. She tells her about the curse of La Llorona and her diabolical intentions of resurrection and eternal power. Meanwhile, Jaime discovers a horrible "secret" in the secret room of the typical Mexican "Hacienda" or mansion. Jaime finds out that aunt Selma's husband, Fernando, didn't die as she said; he is hidden and locked in a cell where he is tortured by Juan anytime he tries to escape or anything. Little does aunt Selma knows that Fernando later manages to escape and beat the hell out of Juan in a memorable scene. After a series of events and explanations, Amelia "agrees" to perform the ritual that will bring back La Llorona to life. Will she do it? What will happen when La Llorona returns from the dead? Join Amelia in this fantastic tale that has to do with death, witchcraft, and ambition. The ending will leave you crying in fear, just La Llorona.

Also, special mention for the spectacular DVD commentary from CasaNegra's vice president. The comments were very fortunate and gives you more details about this great movie.

Crying Woman

[Michael_Elliott · 29 February 2008]

Curse of the Crying Woman, The (1963)

** (out of 4)

Another Mexican horror film but this one here really didn't do much for me. A young woman and her husband are invited to a castle by the girl's aunt but the aunt is wanting her help in bringing back the title character. This film runs just over 75-minutes and I could have sworn it was 75-hours. The movie goes very slowly and it never really captured me and pulled me into the thing. The opening sequence didn't work for me and the mystery behind the title character never got me interested either. The camera-work was nice and the visuals were good but that's about it.

A Horror Masterpiece

[ferbs54 · 10/10 · 19 October 2007]

The DVD outfit known as Casa Negra is now a very solid 3 for 3 with me. The first two releases that I saw from these guys, "The Brainiac" (1961) and "The Witch's Mirror" (1960), are both fine Mexican horror films (particularly the latter), featuring pristine-looking restorations and excellent subtitling. And the third DVD that I just watched, "The Curse of the Crying Woman" (1961), is perhaps the best of the bunch. In this one, Abel Salazar, star of "The Brainiac," is teamed with Rosita Arenas, the female lead of "The Witch's Mirror." They play newlyweds who come to visit Rosita's Aunt Selma, played by the very handsome Rita Macedo. What they don't realize is that Selma is a ghoulish witch of sorts who is hell-bent on using Rosita to resurrect an ancient sorceress known as The Crying Woman.... Anyway, it is just remarkable how many elements of classic horror films are present in this one. The picture features a creepy-looking hacienda, rats, spider webs, monstrous hellhounds, a scarred and hulking butler, eerie organ music, several witches, a magic mirror, a crazed attic prisoner, secret passages, a trapdoor and on and on. Shot in gorgeous B&W, the film also features art and set decoration that very effectively convey a miasma of evil. A trippy flashback scene that comes roughly halfway in is truly startling, and there are at least one or two moments guaranteed to make you jump out of your skin. Director Rafael Baledon's direction is impeccable, and the film builds to a tour de force finale that will probably leave you cheering and clapping in your own living room. Oh heck, why mince words? This is a horror masterpiece, plain and simple. Gracias, Casa Negra!

This is the creme de la creme of Mexican horror movies.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 6 May 2021]

I have seen about a dozen of the Mexican horror films, and for the most part, they are truly bad because the English dubbing ruins whatever impact the original language had. At times, they seem to be parodies of the original story and not at all spooky. But in the case of this one, they got it right even with the English dubbing because you can't cheat what is nearly perfect and the English speaking actors who take on these roles seem to really be respecting with the original artists were doing.

A young woman is returning to her ancestral home and encounters a horrifying secret involving her ancestorage. She has an evil and who can fly like a demon, and is utilizing her to end the suffering along dead ancestor who was a witch. Laying in a skeletal state, all it would take would be the removal of a blade in her to bring the demon back, and as the evil aunt knows, a multitude of witches can create a lot of power for evil.

This is probably the second best foreign language Gothic horror film, the first of course being "Black Sunday". Everything about this film works in giving you chills whether it be the spirit of a witch who appears in front of the heroine in a mirror or an Igor like servant who does all of the witches' biding. Not one moment of this film disappoints. I usually rate versions of these Mexican films very low so to find one that is nearing a 10 out of 10, that makes it a great treat.

A Well-Made Mexican Horror Film From 1963

[FloatingOpera7 · 10/10 · 14 July 2006]

La Maldicion De La Llorona (The Curse Of The Crying Woman) 1963: Starring Rita Macedo, Rosa "Rosita" Arenas, Abel Salazar, Carlo Lopez Moctezuma, Enrique Lucero, Mario Sevilla, Roy Fletcher, Arturo Corona, Armando Acosta, Victoria Blanco, Beatriz Bustamante....Director Rafael Baledon...Screenplay Fernando Galiana....

Of particular interest to both foreign horror film fans and to Hispanics who are familiar with the old folk legend of "Crying Woman", this film released in 1963 by Mexican director Rafael Baledon is a suspenseful and eerie Gothic tale based on the old legend. "Crying Woman" is the Mexican equivalent of the Irish "banshee" - the ghost or spirit of a howling and mournful woman who in her life had lost a husband and children, and had been driven to kill her own children. Spanish actress Rita Macedo plays Selma, the wealthy widow and landowner in a remote Mexican location. She lives in a grand old mansion covered in mist with a grotesque old butler Juan (Carlos Lopez-Moctezuma). After her husband died, she moves into the creepy mansion without any servants except for the creepy hunchback Juan, and strange things begin to occur. Nearby villagers report the eerie sounds of a howling woman in the night and several mysterious and brutal mutilations and murders begin to occur. It's not long before Amelia (Rosa Arenas) a pretty and sensitive heiress, newly married to the handsome and wealthy Jaime (Abel Salazar) visit Selma. To Amelia, her aunt Selma has changed significantly since her husband's death. She's withdrawn and cold toward others. It's not long before Amelia discovers the secret of the curse/possession that has taken over Selma. Will Amelia and Jaime defeat Selma and break free of the curse ? While straying far from the original Mexican horror-folk tale, this is a well-made and genuinely haunting piece of modern horror to come from this period. This said, one must consider that there are some faults which we must chalk up to the old-fashioned cinematography. For example, the somewhat lengthy opening scene in which Selma (in her possessed form) makes her nightly visitation to the basement where she has the cadaver of her dead ancestor whom she attempts to revive through victim's flesh, is used twice in the film! The power of the film is not only in the dramatic story of an old family curse but in the visual effects, costumes, make-up and overall "look". Everything has a surreal Gothic feel to it. Rita Macedo, who was in fact a beautiful actress, is completely transformed through heavy make-up and costume in the film to look vampiric and downright devilish. Her eyes are completely black- black slits. The chemistry between the two lead actresses- Rita Macedo and Rosa Arenas- is quite strong, in fact some have even noted a subtle lesbian undercurrent with their characters. I do not see this in the least but it's open to interpretation. The film is old and very predictable but genuinely entertaining and well-made.

Exceptionally enjoyable and thrilling Mexican offering

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 9/10 · 4 November 2013]

After she arrives at her family's estate in the countryside, a woman begins to suspect something sinister about her newly-arrived cousin who seems to fit the local of a murderous, wailing woman all too well and tries to stop her nefarious plans.

This was a really enjoyable and entertaining effort that gets a lot right. One of the biggest pluses here is the extraordinary Gothic atmosphere at play, where the majority of the film takes place on a multilevel hacienda full of secret passage-ways, cobweb-infested tunnels, staircases into the other levels and so much more here that there's plenty of creepiness to get hooked on before adding in the dungeons full of rotting corpses with mashed-up faces, stringy hair and a loss of general bodily form that look effectively decayed and rotting away with sickly skin and just a look of complete and utter mess, effectively making for a great look here overall when placed into the setting of the house. As well, the look of the swamp where the creature appears is absolutely chilling and really sets off the opening ambush well with it's fog-laden surroundings, feeling of unease and general design that seems to make escape impossible. When combined with a large amount of action, from an opening ambush in the swamp, the journey through the hidden mirror in the bedroom and the encounter with the reanimated servant all conspire to give this a spectacular feel where it doesn't really slow down the pace at all. The fact that this still features a ton of jump scares is impressive, with images disappearing in front of a mirror and the unaffected still interacting with with real-time person who's not giving a reflection, hands emerging behind unsuspecting victims and even the work in the finale, where three separate brawls break out around the crumbling villa and a mad dash erupts to get out alive. While all this stuff works well, the fact that the rubber snakes in here look quite lame and really unconvincing, part of the whole special effects work that just looks really cheesy and fake and definitely looks really bad at times but not enough to detract from the more important matters.

Today's Rating/PG-13: Violence.