Scene from La Llarona, about a retired military commander facing charges of genocide and wide-scale violations of human rights. (Courtesy of Brigade Publicity)
Where lies the horror? This is the question followers of the genre might ask as they view La Llorona, the latest work of Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante. After all, the legend of La Llorona, the wandering spirit of a weeping mother who, out of desperation, drowned her children, is an enduring horror figure in Central American folklore. Her modern incarnation also haunted the recent flick The Curse of La Llorona (directed by Michael Chaves), a spinoff from the hugely popular The Conjuring horror franchise.