The Curse of the Crying Woman Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Curse of the Crying Woman Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 23, 2023

Rafael Baledon's "The Curse of the Crying Woman" (1963) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with critic Eduardo de la Vega; new audio commentary by critic Morena de Fuego; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In Spanish or English, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

We shall bring her back -- back into our family

Had Hammer produced a Spanish-language film, The Curse of the Crying Woman would have been it. This film enthusiastically copies so much from Hammer’s cinematic magic book it is impossible not to speculate that someone wanted it to be associated with the famous British studio.

The Curse of the Crying Woman tells a story that could have been written by a former very ambitious bartender-turned-screenwriter. This story is like a bold new cocktail that brings together every horror flavor the former bartender had at its disposal. It immediately hits you in the head and halfway through it you begin to feel seriously dizzy. It is hard to describe as brilliant but it is most certainly not disappointing. It is too strong, so it takes some time to get used to it.

Somewhere in the Mexican countryside, a strange creature attacks a carriage with several passengers. The locals describe the creature as a mythical fiend, but the police authorities are not convinced that they are telling the truth.

While an investigation is underway, Amelia (Rosita Arenas) and her husband Jaime (Abel Salazar) arrive in the area to visit her widowed aunt Selma (Rita Macedo) who lives alone in a giant hacienda. Shortly after they are enthusiastically greeted and shown their room, however, Selma reveals that the guests will play crucial roles in her secret plan to revive a legendary relative who died at the stake -- The Wailing Witch. Already well-versed in the art of black magic, Selma then engages the minds of the guests and through a series of bizarre experiences prepares them for the ritual that will bring back The Wailing Witch. But not everything goes according to Selma’s plan and complications force all parties to begin improvising.

Like virtually all Hammer films The Curse of the Crying Woman is allergic to logic, but this is a necessary flaw that allows it to produce all the proper thrills and chills these types of genre films need to be entertaining. However, The Curse of the Crying Woman also reveals an almost euphoric desire to fill the void where logic can usually be found with some absolutely outrageous twists and turns that push it on the verge of being a parody.

Fortunately, director Rafael Baledon and cinematographer Jose Ortiz Ramos do some very interesting things with light and shadow that flood The Curse of the Crying Woman with a spectacular atmosphere, too. This atmosphere, which has a distinct Gothic quality, then begins to overshadow the outrageous twists and turns and eventually becomes the story. (The fate of The Wailing Witch might be at the center of the story but it is just a ruse. The Curse of the Crying Woman is a showoff piece and its atmosphere is its greatest strength).

The limitations of the production are obvious. For example, in a crucial sequence where Selma demonstrates the might of The Wailing Witch, it is very easy to see several wires moving a cheaply made mannequin. In another sequence, Amelia’s mirror reflection does not respond to her movement as it should. But all of these and many other similar errors make the unbridled enthusiasm of The Curse of the Crying Woman even more attractive.

Gustavo César Carrión‘s soundtrack produces simple harmonies and noises that are simply perfect for the Gothic environment.

The Curse of the Crying Woman can be seen with Spanish and English tracks. While the Spanish track is preferable, the English track has a very attractive retro quality.

The Curse of the Crying Woman Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.32:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Curse of the Crying Woman arrives on Blu=ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

On my system, The Curse of the Crying Woman looked very good. It is easy to tell that it has been remastered and, to be honest, I do not think that there is room for any meaningful improvements. For example, grain exposure could be a bit better but this is something that would not make the visuals appear a lot more attractive. In some areas, delineation, clarity, and depth could be improved too, but these would be marginal improvements as well. I do think that the dynamic range of the visuals can be more convincing because the grayscale does have some noticeable limitations but this is something that would be appreciated in 4K, not 1080p. Image stability is very good. The entire film looks very healthy too. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Curse of the Crying Woman Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Spanish LPCM 1.0 and English LPCM 1.0. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I started viewing the film with the Spanish track but also tested the English track. The Spanish track is clearer and sharper. In some areas, it has a superior dynamic range as well. It is healthier, too. However, in some areas is sounds slightly compressed, which may very well be an inherited limitation. The English track features dubbing that has a very attractive retro quality. However, it sounds a lot thinner and in select areas reveals light background hiss. To be honest, I liked it quite a lot, though my advice would be to stay with the Spanish track.

The Curse of the Crying Woman Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Daydreams and Nightmares - in this new program, critic Eduardo de la Vega discusses the life and cinematic legacy of Rafael Baledon. There are some particularly interesting comments about his role as a "champion of horror films" in Mexico. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (18 min).

• The Daughters of La Llorona - in this new program, Julissa de Llano Macedo and Cecilia Fuentes Macedo discuss the life and career of their mother, actress Rita Macedo. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (26 min).

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by Morena de Fuego. In English.

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for The Curse of the Crying Woman. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (5 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for The Curse of the Crying Woman.

• Cards - limited Edition exclusive art cards.

• Book - limited Edition exclusive 100-page book with new essays by José Luis Ortega Torres, David Wilt and Abraham Castillo Flores, archival articles, and full film credits

The Curse of the Crying Woman Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The enthusiasm of The Curse of the Crying Woman is quite simply irresistible. It looks like an ultra-secret experimental Hammer production, shot entirely in Spanish and then dubbed into English, that turned out so unhinged that it was quickly abandoned. Despite its many obvious limitations, I thought that its Gothic atmosphere was outstanding and had a terrific time with it. The Curse of the Crying Woman is one of four films that are included in Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales From the Alameda Films Vault, a four-disc box set, which is Reigon-Free. An identical North American box set is available as well. You can see our listing of it here. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.