THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA
Redemptive horror with a deeply mixed spiritual worldview.
Should You Watch It?
This is a very scary, well-made horror movie with excellent suspense, effective jump scares, strong music and lighting, and occasional laughs that offer relief. It also presents a clear conflict between good and evil, emphasizes prayer, and ultimately shows God’s power prevailing.
The spiritual picture is mixed. Christian symbols, prayer, a priest, and faith in God appear alongside New Age practices, pagan elements, and a character who says she prayed to a demon. The story’s Christian elements have real value, but the occult material is not incidental.
If you are an adult who can thoughtfully engage disturbing supernatural horror, this may be worth your time; it is not appropriate for children or young teens. The practical answer: watch it only as an adults-only horror film, with careful discernment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAnna, a widowed social worker, investigates a mother whose children are living in horrible conditions. After Anna separates the children from their mother, an evil spirit begins appearing to Anna’s own children.
As the haunting grows worse, Anna questions whether the same demon had been tormenting the other family. She seeks help from a Catholic priest, but church red tape delays assistance. Eventually, she turns to Rafael, a shaman who has left the church but not his belief in God.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a very scary, well-made horror movie that succeeds at what it attempts. The director handles suspense and jump scares effectively, while the music and lighting contribute strongly to the frightening atmosphere.
The movie also includes some laughs, providing welcome relief from the scary scenes. Its presentation of good versus evil gives the horror a moral shape, and the film’s craft makes the supernatural threat feel intense.
The Worldview
The film draws on La Llorona, a Mexican folktale well known in Latin American culture. Its moral worldview is mixed. It presents light versus darkness, evil versus good, the benefits of prayer, and the ultimate victory of God. Crosses, a crucifix, prayer, a priest, and confidence in God all carry positive weight in the story.
At the same time, the shaman uses New Age practices while also using a Christian cross and prayer. The movie gives these elements supernatural significance, alongside pagan symbols and other occult material. A character even says she prayed to a demon. The film therefore points toward spiritual realities but blurs the distinction between Christian faith and non-Christian practices.
The source review notes that, in reality, it is solely the power of Jesus Christ that can destroy the Devil and his demons. That distinction matters. Scripture says, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Christian, moral worldview ultimately in a story about a demon haunting children includes crosses, crucifix, prayer, one character comes to faith, rosery, sign of the cross, a positive priest character, and a man mentions he has confidence in God, but mixed with New Age pagan elements including a dream catcher, incense and some pagan symbols, plus a character says she prayed to a demon, and there’s some moral relativism
Foul Language
One light profanity, one obscenity
Violence
Images of blood, child burned and two children died but not seen, two children drowned by mother
Sex
No sex scenes or crude dialogue, but some mentions of adultery
Nudity
Child in bathtub
Alcohol Use
Light drinking
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The movie presents prayer as powerful but also mixes Christian prayer with other spiritual practices. Why does Scripture warn us to test spiritual claims carefully?
1 John 4:1 · Deuteronomy 18:10–12The story places good and evil in direct conflict. What does the Bible say about where true spiritual victory comes from?
Ephesians 6:10–18 · 1 John 4:4Anna tries to protect children who are in danger. What responsibilities do adults have toward vulnerable children?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · James 1:27The film includes a priest and a shaman as possible sources of help. How should Christians respond when human institutions or leaders fail to act quickly?
Psalm 46:1 · James 1:5The Final Word
This is a polished, frightening horror movie with strong suspense, a clear good-versus-evil framework, and meaningful Christian elements. But its New Age and occult material complicates that message. For adults who can exercise careful discernment, WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For everyone else, choose something safer.
