How to Make Crying Frightening in ‘The Curse of La Llorona’

April 19, 2019

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Don’t be deceived by that woman’s tears. You may end up drowning in them in “The Curse of La Llorona.”

This entry in the “Conjuring” horror series brings to the big screen the legend of a grieving mother who, many centuries ago, committed a despicable act and whose spirit is now forced to roam the earth for eternity. In this scene, she makes her presence known to a boy, Chris (Roman Christou), and her instincts aren’t completely maternal ones.

In his narration, the director Michael Chaves offers some thoughts about how to create the perfect jump scare, and how to build a sense of dread without relying heavily on visual effects.

Read a review of “The Curse of La Llorona.”

Mekado Murphy is a senior staff editor with a focus on movies coverage. He joined The Times in 2006. @mekadomurphy

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