There’s something to be said about both of them so I’m including them in this episode. One is an attempt to cash in on a timeless Mexican legend. The other is a crime horror thriller that chronicles the abduction for ransom of a female character played by the always beautiful Gemma Arterton. Show notes The Curse of La Llorona (2019) and The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009) are two films I saw last week. These films are not related in any way other than the fact that I recently watched them. I’m presenting these as previews so there won’t be spoilers. The Curse of La Llorona seemed to appear as a movie out of nothing. There were a few trailers in the past few months but for me, a person who knows the legend very well, it seemed as if it would take a year or more of trailers to introduce such a earthquake of culture. I recall the year of trailers we got for Disney’s “Coco.” That film brought the world the “Day of the Dead” tradition from Mexico and South America. I got riled up with excitement watching Coco trailers with the bone mariachis and merch I’ve seen down in Los Angeles sold on the streets next to the churros and taco stands. Fun stuff. Eerie stuff. Hispanic culture is focused on family and often spritual and frightening tales. (expand) I had heard through the years of the ceremony where the living relatives place the cooked dishes on the graves of their deceased loved ones. I was told many times of the aroma, so delicious at midnight. After all the advertising and teasers, Coco pulled it off! We now have a cinematic time capsule that will always display this tradition, this folklore, this legend “The Day of the Dead.” El Dia de los Muertos. I can’t accuse Disney of seeking a cash grab from all the hispanic Americans across the landscape because the product is beautiful. It is something inspired, it’s not a racket or a marketing scam. I’ll say it again, Coco is beautiful. But as you might expect by my intro, I’m not as impressed with “The Curse of La Llorona.” In my 18 years of teaching, I’ve taught any English Learners. Specifically, I’ve taught students who speak Spanish as their first language. I’ve seen many kids write at Halloween about this legend and it’s come up in class on various topics but mostly in culture and folklore aspects of social studies. Students have revealed a genuine respect and fear of this legend. Ghost story I heard once closing up a Pizza Hut. Before I ever taught and as a Pizza Hut shift manager, the night cook shared with me the legend. He told me with frightened eyes about how he had seen a bright light speed past his family in the cemetery at midnight. He was sure it was the ghost of La Llorona. As it turns out, that one story I recall from my early 20’s would have made a better movie than this new film. Every show is currently sold out at my local theater. That’s how it was when I went as well. But at the end, no one clapped. Let’s have a quick look at why, in my humble opinion. Here’s a nonspoiler summary this film: “Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm.” The director is Michael Chaves who has only up to now directed shorts. He also is the director of the Conjuring 3 which will come out in 2020. Whatever happened to waiting to see how a director does on a new concept before granting him a modern classic sequel like the Conjuring 3? I have to wonder what James Wan is thinking there. As you may know, James Wan did Saw, Insidious, and the Conjuring series. He’s become a giant in the horror world. Insidious is still one of my favorite horror films: Expand why Insidious works, But for me, this film doesn’t work. The only two holding this wobbly table up are Linda Cardellini (known as Velma on Scooby Doo) Raymond Cruz (Tuco on Breaking Bad). Cardellini gives a flat performance,