Mexico is a country rich in centuries of history and urban legends. So it’s no wonder some of the best horror movies have come from the brilliant minds of some of Mexico’s most talented filmmakers. Often underrated compared to the likes of J Horror, Mexican Horror offers a unique cultural perspective and explores the horrors of being human. From his stories grounded in fantastical realism to a chillingly grim peek into the worst aspects of reality, this list of films aims to showcase the glorious and macabre world of Mexican horror. is. And these are just the tip of the iceberg.
The Curse of the Weeping Woman (La Maldición de la Llorona, 1963)
This classic film directed by Raphael Baredon Inspired by a popular Mexican legend about La Llorona, a woman who is said to have drowned her children in a fit of rage. According to legend, her spirit wanders near bodies of water, and those who hear her cries are in incredible danger. However, the film has very little to do with the specific details of the real-life legend.
Instead, it follows a young woman named Amelia (Rosa Arenas) when she visits her aunt Thelma (Rita Macedo) lives in a sprawling mansion. Due to her cursed lineage, Amelia soon discovers that her aunt intends to use her in an ancient ritual to resurrect La Lorona, allowing the women of the family to gain ultimate power. The crux of the film concerns the question of whether women can be empowered if the men in their lives are still in the picture. The gothic atmosphere of this film is hauntingly beautiful, and the make-up still seeps into the viewer’s skin decades later.
Even the wind is scary (Hasta el Viento Tiene Miedo, 1968)
The originator of Mexican horror, Carlos Enrique TaboadaThe film haunts a former student who commits suicide due to the malicious negligence of the school principal. It’s not as experimental as the movie, but it’s incredibly exciting. Dario Argento Suspiria Despite being nearly 10 years ahead. How Taboada utilizes both lighting and space within the film to effectively elicit feelings of claustrophobic anxiety. But what really sets this film apart is the sound design. That score can be felt down to the roots of your teeth, and what you hear is often more frightening than what you see.
The Book of Stone (El Libro de Piedra, 1969)
Children at the center of horror movies are always making them creepier. This is especially true when her one of the children in question is a stone statue on the family’s vast land lot. Her second Carlos Enriqueta Boada film on this list follows a tutor hired by a wealthy family to watch over their young daughter. It soon becomes apparent that the young girl has an imaginary friend named Hugo. The audience and tutor learn that Hugo is actually a statue of a little boy in the courtyard, grinning at an open book in her hand. Over the course of the film, things get weirder and scarier until it finally comes to a devastating conclusion.
Fairy Poison (Veneno para las Hadas, 1984)
The final Carlos Enrique Taboada movie on this list is another one centered around children. But instead of a creepy imaginary friend, it tells the story of two girls’ friendship going horribly awry. A young and lonely girl named Veronica gets a taste of her spookiness after listening to her nanny. She later meets another girl named Flavia at school and later manages to convince her classmates that she is a witch. Further convincing Flavia that it is powerful. Veronica invites her to use her newfound influence over Flavia to help her gather ingredients to create a poison for the fairies (suspected witches’ natural enemies), but it ends up being The film leaves a whimsical, fairytale-like mood throughout that helps further drive home the fears embedded in childhood fantasies.
Holy Blood (Santa Sangre, 1989)
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The film is a cult classic for very good reason.Axel Jodorowsky) A vengeful life story. Its level of artistic surrealism is both psychologically disturbing and unexpectedly emotional.Features of Jodorowsky’s early films such as El Topo When holy mountain, Santa Sangre It’s truly a movie where experience is valued more than plot coherence. In many ways the best way to describe this masterpiece is John Waters And Dario Argento decided to take acid and make a movie together.
Chronos (1993)
Of course, no list of quintessential Mexican horror movies would be complete without this one. Guillermo del ToroHis first feature film was Jesús (Federico Luppi) He meets a scarab-like mechanical object, which gets caught in him and miraculously begins to restore his youth. is clarified. In the film, Jesús must not only face his own terrible fate, but also how he reveals that the others are desperately desperate to take possession of the device’s powers. must be This unique take on a vampire story marks the beginning of Del He Toro’s stunning horror legacy and continues to set the precedent for his fantastical perspective on the creepy.
Devil’s Spine (2001)
devil’s spine Another Del Toro classic, arguably his scariest film. In a Spanish juvenile orphanage during a civil war, vengeful ghosts lurk in the seemingly endless halls.While it tells the story of ghosts, the film is also concerned with how ghosts are often symbolic manifestations of the consequences of war, murder, greed, and human selfishness in general. in the same way Chronos, The film reimagines by revisiting typical Gothic tropes in the middle of war-torn Spain (a theme he later builds on Pan’s Labyrinth). In many ways, it’s not unreasonable to argue that the current reigning master of Mexican horror production is heavily influenced by the legacy of his predecessor, Carlos Enrique Taboada. devil spine, In particular, it highlights the same recurring themes of child-centered fairytale horror that captivated Taboada decades ago.
Under the Salt (Bajo la Sal, 2008)
This slow-burn procedural film follows a detective who goes to a small town near a salt mine to investigate a series of murders. After the townspeople point dozens of fingers, he soon meets the town’s outcasts.In true ‘whodunit’ fashion, the rest of the film is concerned with unraveling the mystery behind a gruesome murder. Mario Muñoz, the film boasts a fantastic stop-motion sequence that features a reenactment of a murder using Barbie and Ken dolls. It’s cinematography to remember. These salt mines have a presence in the film and become an unforgettable and enchanting part.
We Are What We Are (Somos Lo Que Hay, 2010)
Guillermo del Toro Sequel Chronos, Jorge Michel Grau The film follows the events that occur after the sudden death of the patriarch of the family. After his death, the family must make peace with continuing their cannibalistic ways without the guiding hand of his oppressive presence. .But it’s a refreshingly unique take on the cannibal tradition in horror. Chronos The only explicit connection between the two films is Daniel Jimenez Cacho reprising his role as Coroner Tito. Either way, the sheer brutality of this film haunts me long after the credits roll.
Similarities (Los Parecidos, 2015)
This movie directed by Isaac Esvan, feels like something out of your worst nightmare. It’s a period horror movie about a 1960s bus stop where a group of people slowly discover that their faces are all changing to the same man’s face.The premise sounds like a very silly lost draft twilight zone Although episodic, it manifests itself in a very eerie and fantastically acted film.fan of David Lynch Enjoy the surreal, dreamlike quality of the film.
The Untamed (La Legion Salvaje), 2016)
Yet another doogie in the movie, Amat Escalante untamed It can be described as a psychosexual arthouse horror similar to Andrzej Zławski 1981 movie possessionA couple whose relationship is not working out encounters a creature in the woods that turns their world upside down. This movie is an emotional roller coaster with great acting and incredible imagery. It’s best to go into this movie with an open mind and little in-depth knowledge of the plot. you are on a wild ride.
A tiger is not afraid (Vuelven, 2017)
Issa Lopez The film tells the story of a group of children whose families are torn apart by the collateral damage caused by the violence of Mexican drug cartels. The rest of the film follows the crew as they dream of revenge on those who greedily destroyed the city. In keeping with the fantastical Mexican fairytale horror tradition that exists in the other films on this list, I’m not afraid of tigers An unflinching look at the impact of cartel violence through the perspective of children left behind to suffer the consequences. Despite the film’s dark subject matter, the effective use of magical realism and childish optimism offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise hopeless world. , you will probably cry… a lot.
