The Curse of La Llorona
Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive La Llorona's deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide.
Despite its modest budget of $9.0M, The Curse of La Llorona became a box office phenomenon, earning $123.2M worldwide—a remarkable 1269% return. The film's unconventional structure attracted moviegoers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
1 win & 7 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Curse of La Llorona (2019) exemplifies meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Michael Chaves's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Anna responds to a welfare call about Patricia Alvarez, finding her two sons locked in a closet covered in burns. Patricia claims she was protecting them from La Llorona. When Anna removes the children, Patricia warns that Anna has made a terrible mistake.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to After La Llorona attacks Sam at the pool, leaving burn marks on his arm, Anna can no longer deny the supernatural threat. She actively chooses to seek help beyond conventional means, accepting that something paranormal is targeting her family., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat La Llorona breaks through Rafael's protections and nearly drowns Chris in the bathtub. The false security of Rafael's methods is shattered. Anna realizes the spirit is far more powerful than they anticipated, and simple protections won't be enough. The stakes dramatically intensify., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, La Llorona abducts both children, dragging them toward water to drown them. Anna is separated from them and helpless. Rafael is incapacitated. This is the darkest moment—Anna faces losing her children the same way Patricia lost hers, representing the death of her ability to protect them., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Anna confronts La Llorona directly, using both courage and faith. She retrieves her children and faces the spirit with her husband's cross. In a final battle, Anna must wound La Llorona with the cross and complete Rafael's ritual to banish the spirit and save her family., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Curse of La Llorona's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Curse of La Llorona against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Chaves utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Curse of La Llorona within the horror genre.
Michael Chaves's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Michael Chaves films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Curse of La Llorona exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michael Chaves filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Michael Chaves analyses, see The Nun II, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupTheme
Anna's colleague mentions that "you can't save everyone" when discussing difficult cases, foreshadowing the central conflict between protecting one's own children versus trying to help others, and the limits of control over supernatural evil.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Anna's world: her late husband was a police detective, she struggles with grief while maintaining normalcy for her kids, and she handles challenging child welfare cases. We see her professional competence and maternal devotion, along with the 1970s LA setting.
Disruption
Anna responds to a welfare call about Patricia Alvarez, finding her two sons locked in a closet covered in burns. Patricia claims she was protecting them from La Llorona. When Anna removes the children, Patricia warns that Anna has made a terrible mistake.
Resistance
Patricia's children are found drowned, apparently killed by their mother. Anna struggles with guilt and confusion. Strange occurrences begin around Anna's own children—wet footprints, crying sounds, marks on Sam's arm. Anna dismisses these as coincidence or imagination, resisting the supernatural explanation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After La Llorona attacks Sam at the pool, leaving burn marks on his arm, Anna can no longer deny the supernatural threat. She actively chooses to seek help beyond conventional means, accepting that something paranormal is targeting her family.
Mirror World
Anna encounters Rafael Olvera, a former priest turned curandero (folk healer), who offers to help. Rafael represents faith and cultural wisdom that Anna initially doubts but must learn to embrace. He embodies the film's theme about belief and protecting loved ones through spiritual means.
Premise
Rafael works to protect Anna's home using spiritual tools—seeds, fire, and religious artifacts. La Llorona escalates her attacks, appearing more frequently and violently. Anna learns the legend: a woman who drowned her children and now seeks to take others. The family fights to survive each night.
Midpoint
La Llorona breaks through Rafael's protections and nearly drowns Chris in the bathtub. The false security of Rafael's methods is shattered. Anna realizes the spirit is far more powerful than they anticipated, and simple protections won't be enough. The stakes dramatically intensify.
Opposition
La Llorona's attacks become relentless and more personal. Rafael strengthens his defenses but the spirit adapts. Anna's children are in constant danger. Patricia confronts Anna, revealing she summoned La Llorona to punish Anna for taking her children. The family is isolated and terrified as conventional help proves useless.
Collapse
La Llorona abducts both children, dragging them toward water to drown them. Anna is separated from them and helpless. Rafael is incapacitated. This is the darkest moment—Anna faces losing her children the same way Patricia lost hers, representing the death of her ability to protect them.
Crisis
Anna experiences utter desperation and grief, believing she has failed as a mother. She confronts her deepest fear—that she cannot protect her children from this supernatural evil. She must find strength and faith she didn't know she possessed to continue fighting.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Anna confronts La Llorona directly, using both courage and faith. She retrieves her children and faces the spirit with her husband's cross. In a final battle, Anna must wound La Llorona with the cross and complete Rafael's ritual to banish the spirit and save her family.