Huesera: The Bone Woman
Plot
In the heart of Mexico, where ancient traditions and superstitions still linger, Valeria embarks on a journey to become a new mother. Her joy is palpable as she welcomes her first child into the world, but this fleeting happiness is swiftly disrupted by an eerie presence that seems to be watching her every move. As the curse takes hold, Valeria's world begins to unravel, and she finds herself trapped in a desperate struggle for survival. As the darkness closes in, Valeria turns to the wisdom of her ancestors, seeking guidance from the mysterious Bone Woman, a revered healer with ties to the land and its secrets. The Bone Woman's cryptic warnings and ancient rituals offer glimpses of hope, but they also plunge Valeria deeper into a world where the veil between reality and the spirit realm is thin. In this treacherous landscape, Valeria must confront the malevolent force head-on, using her wits, courage, and determination to protect herself and her child from the clutches of evil. As she delves deeper into the mysteries of the Bone Woman's world, Valeria discovers hidden strengths within herself, forged in the fire of adversity. Throughout this harrowing odyssey, Valeria must navigate treacherous paths, avoiding the snares of dark magic that threaten to consume her. With each step forward, she uncovers pieces of a puzzle that reveals the true nature of the curse and the sinister forces arrayed against her. Will Valeria be able to break free from the grip of malevolence, or will she succumb to the darkness that has consumed so many before her?
Reviews
Audrey
20220729, Fantasia. The film is inspired by a story of a "wicked grandma" in the director's family, interspersed with religion, Mexican indigenous mythology and rituals. Motherhood, such a heavy and far-reaching undertaking, sometimes the sacrifices and compromises behind it aren't necessarily worth it just because "the child is cute." The audience burst into mocking laughter upon hearing the doctor and nurse repeatedly saying "You're just pregnant" and "It's just a stitch." (Midway through the film, I actually seriously considered my age and whether or not to have children...)
Mateo
Even Guo Jingming couldn't make a horror film as superficially chilling as this.
Maci
A mediocre low-budget horror film in all aspects, revealing the overreaching ambition of a novice director. It incorporates various elements in its expression, yet only scratches the surface of each. Juggling themes of homosexuality, family, identity and folklore, the nearly 100-minute runtime feels like prolonged and redundant torture. The entire film is filled with deliberate mystification, and the thematic sequencing is fragmented, leading to a verbose narrative with poor kineticism. The hackneyed family conflicts and the perfunctory horror elements evoke an awkward sense of stagnation. Even the climactic sensory visuals feel like derivative tricks. It’s a tired rehash of genre tropes, with a fundamentally banal core...
Alice
"Terrifying children... I don't quite understand why the protagonist insisted on volunteering to have a baby; was she trying to overcome her inner demons? While I can understand her awkward situation, does Lala have to be married, have kids, *and* hate them? There are too many burdens on the protagonist. Should we sympathize with and understand the immense social pressure faced by minority groups? Or should we criticize her for exploiting this identity to fulfill her 'bad girl' essence? Or should we lament her prenatal and postpartum depression? Or criticize her irresponsible attitude towards the child?..."
Everly
It feels very close to the lives of ordinary Mexican people. Next Tuesday, March 8th, marks the Mexican Women's Day march. Considering the high rates of violence and femicide in the country, coupled with Mexico City's female mayor likely running in next year's presidential election, feminist topics will only become more serious and weighty.
