THE SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE • FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 B3

FILM REVIEW

La Llorona isn’t the only one weeping

First-time director Michael Chaves
keeps the jump-scares coming
By KIRK MICHAEL
INDEX-TRIBUNE FILM CRITIC THE CURSE OF

F
or those who have never
heard the eerie sound of riv-
erside weeping, get familiar
with the Latin American legend
of La Llorona, a Medea-like
figure who drowned her chil-
dren to punish her philandering
husband. La Llorona was a little
more regretful than her Grecian
counterpart and still wanders
waterways looking for her lost
kids… and trying to find new vic-
tims so she can exchange them
for her boys. The preamble to the
film “The Curse of La Llorona”
is a cheeseball reenactment of
her origin story in 17th century
Mexico.
We then spring forward to
Los Angeles in the 1970s, where
single mother Anna (Linda Car-
dellini) wears sharp bell bottoms
and does social work. She pays
a social-work visit to Patricia
Alvarez (Patricia Velasquez),
who is keeping her two young
sons locked in a closet because
she believes that’s the only way
to keep La Llorona from killing
them. With regrets, Anna must
take away Patricia’s kids… and
she feels like a real jerk when
they wind up dead. La Llorona
drowns them in the L.A. River,
no less — who can say how long
it took her to find any water
there.
After she catches them
gawking at the crime scene,
La Llorona makes Anna’s kids
LA LLORONA
‘The Curse of La Llorona’ is at Sono-
ma 9 Cinemas. Rated R. Runs 1:33.
While the film keeps
a few traces of Latin
American history, it
caters non-Spanish
speaking audiences.
Chris (Roman Christou) and Sa-
mantha (Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen)
her next targets. Despite her
clammy, decayed appearance
she leaves red hot wounds on
the kids’ arms when she grabs
them. They escape back home
and the film becomes increas-
ingly housebound. And it’s a
pretty big spread for a social
worker whose deceased husband
was a cop — it features creaky
floorboards, a disused attic and a
swimming pool.
They are visited on occasion
by their dad’s old partner,
Detective Cooper (Sean Patrick
Thomas). He seems to have
caught a bit of a fever for Anna,
but there’s no time for romance
when you’re only ever a few
moments away from a slam cut
La Llorona: Recommendations as a child-minder are few.
to a decomposing ghoul.
While the film keeps a few
traces of Latin American history,
it caters to non-Spanish speak-
ing audiences. One of its most
amusing elements is the way
characters reflexively translate
statements they’ve just made.
For example: “Es mi culpa! … It’s
my fault!”
At wits end, Anna consults
with Father Perez (Tony Amen-
dola), who cannot assist her
against witchcraft under the
aegis of the church. But he does
refer her to a priest-turned-cu-
randero named Rafael (Raymond
Cruz, Tuco from “Breaking
Bad”). Rafael runs a surefire test
to proves the place is stalked by
dark magic — the inside of an
egg turns to squid ink when he
rubs it against a doorframe. He
has to find a fresh one to make
a scramble to fortify the family
for a La Llorona attack: “This
comida is for comfort.”
He gets busy setting “Home
Alone” style traps for the wraith
— activities include spreading
mulch from “the fire tree,”
hanging a wind chime/dream-
catcher and aggressively shaking
a maraca. Anna has to dash to a
bodega and buy a couple hun-
dred dollars’ worth of candles.
“The Curse of La Llorona” is
part of “The Conjuring” series of
assembly line screamers — di-
rector Michael Chaves must have
bored even himself with his reli-
ance on jump cuts to startle the
audience. The film runs only 93
minutes but its exhausting reli-
ance on limited POV shots makes
you hope La Llorona finishes off
the kids quicker.
Other than Rafael, no one is
even a little bit funny, which adds
to the drudgery of waiting on the
next jolt. And La Llorona, despite
her manic attacks and black
tears, isn’t scary — her appear-
ances are merely jarring. It’s a
problem that the Wikipedia entry
about the myth is spookier than
the content in the film.

‘Chorus Line’ documentary at the Sebastiani

April 29 screening
of ‘Every Little Step’
in advance of TTC
production
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Transcendence Theater
Company has partnered
with the Sebastiani The-
atre to bring the documen-
tary “Every Little Step” to
Sonoma.
The film gives an insid-
ers look at the casting for
the 2006 Broadway revival
RoyAnn Florence, August Rinehart and Ken Bacon in
of “A Chorus Line” while
‘Born Yesterday.’
detailing the historical
concept and creation of
‘Every Little Step’ traces the revival of ‘A Chorus Line.’
Yesterday
Continued from A1
8 p.m. The show will run
until May 12, with 11 total
performances on Thurs-
the original 1975 musical
itself.
The film screens at 7:30
nations to Transcendence atre.org/.
will be accepted. Transcendence Thre-
Chorus Line,” is on stage
at Jack London State His-
day, Friday and Saturday p.m. on Monday, April 29. Register for a spot at atre Company’s first toric Park June 14 to 30.
people can take away. evenings at 7:30 p.m. and The movie is free but do- https://transcendencethe- full-length production, “A
“Women are allowing Sunday matinees at 2

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Sebastiani Theatre
THE MUSTANG
Rated R
Fri, Apr 26, 6:00 & 8:15 pm
Sat, Apr 27, 6:00 & 8:15 pm
Sun, Apr 28, 3:30 & 6:00 pm
Tues, Apr 30, 7:00 pm
Wed, May 1, 7:00 pm
Fri., Apr. 26 @ 8:00 pm
Thurs, May 2, 1:00 & 7:00 pm
Peace of G
AMAZING GRACE
Rated G Coming Fri, May 3!
Fri, May 3, 6:00 & 8:45 pm
Sat., Apr. 27 @ 8:00 pm
Sat, May 4, 6:00 & 8:45 pm
Sun, May 5, 3:00 & 6:00 pm Kevin Russell
Tues, May 7, 7:00 pm
Wed, May 8, 7:0pm
Thurs, May 9, 1:00 & 7:00 pm
Mon., Apr. 29 @ 7:00 pm
DOWN IN FRONT! COMEDIANS TALKING OVER
ANACONDA Monday’s with Murr
Mon, May 6, 7:00 pm $10
Aka “Jammin with the King”
CALL OF THE VALLEY: THE ENDURING LURE OF
SONOMA
Back by popular demand for a third screening!
Sun, May 12, 4:00 pm $11 Wed., May 1 @ 7:30 pm
AMELIE (2001) Trivia Night
Presented by The Sebastiani Theatre Foun-
dation
May 20, 7:00 pm Doors open 6:30 pm
$10 Fri., May 3 @ 8:00 pm
TIM FLANNERY & THE LUNATIC FRINGE Solid Air
- FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA
Sat, June 15, 7:00 pm $40
464 1st Street East, Sonoma, CA
www.sonomapub.com/calendars
Movies call 707.996.2020 Tickets call 707.996.9756
sebastianitheatre.com 476 1st St. E. Sonoma 707.935.0660