Set in 1973 Los Angeles, a social worker (played by Linda Cardellini) ignores the warning of a troubled mother and soon finds her own children targeted by the malevolent spirit of La Llorona, who seeks to replace her own drowned children. Genre: Supernatural Horror / Thriller.
In 2019, two distinct films titled La Llorona were released, offering vastly different takes on the famous Latin American legend of the "Weeping Woman." While both center on a mother whose children are in peril from a vengeful spirit, one is a mainstream Hollywood supernatural horror, and the other is a critically acclaimed Guatemalan political drama. La Llorona (2019)
Generally negative to mixed; critics often described it as "popcorn fare" relying heavily on predictable jump scares rather than atmospheric dread. Where to Watch: Available for streaming on Prime Video . Comparison Table La Llorona (Guatemala) The Curse of La Llorona (USA) Director Jayro Bustamante Michael Chaves Primary Focus Genocide & Political Justice Jump Scares & Supernatural Action Language Spanish, Mayan-Ixil English, Spanish Atmosphere Slow-burn, oppressive, elegant High-energy, loud, eerie Main Connection Metaphorical use of folklore Direct adaptation of the legend Set in 1973 Los Angeles, a social worker
Directed by Michael Chaves and produced by James Wan, this film was marketed as part of The Conjuring Universe, though it has occasionally been retconned by producers as a standalone entry. IMDb News Wikipedia Generally negative to mixed; critics often described it
Directed by Jayro Bustamante, this film is widely considered the superior artistic achievement, blending the ghost legend with the real-life horrors of the Guatemalan genocide. Santa Barbara International Film Festival Reddit Review
A major commercial success, grossing $123.1 million worldwide against a modest $9 million budget.