The Curse of La Llorona (3 Stars)

This is the fourth film in the Stuttgart Nights Festival.

This film is about a vengeful ghost, a woman who lost her children 400 years ago and is trying to steal children as replacements in the present day. She only attacks the families of single mothers with two children.

In1973 a social worker in Los Angeles is called to examine suspected child abuse by a single mother with two children. The children show signs of being burnt, so they're separated from their mother. Later that evening they're killed under mysterious circumstances in a foster home. The social worker is a widow with two children, so the ghost attaches itself to her next.

Although this isn't a story of demon possession, it has the style of films about possession. The ghost is referred to as a demon in the film, and she has supernatural powers that allow her to do almost anything. I felt frustrated when I watched this film. The atmosphere and the horror are well crafted, but the story is disappointing. It doesn't really make sense, unless you suspend disbelief and accept the rules of the genre.

The distributor was very strict about the screening of this film. We had to show the staff that our mobile phones were turned off as we entered, and we were warned that if anyone was seen using a phone during the film he would be asked to leave. They should do this at every film.