the old ways horror movie review

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The old ways.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 1 Review
Kids Say 1 Review

Common Sense Media Review

Solid exorcism film has blood, demons, drugs, and language.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Lots of horrific and demonic images, blood, and some body horror. Some animals g

Somewhat frequent use of "f--k," "f--king," "s--t," and "goddamn."

A woman shoots up heroin. Some scenes show her heating up a spoon that has heroi

A woman in her underwear is forced to go through an exorcism. Some journals are

Any Positive Content?

Almost entirely set in Veracruz, Mexico (although mainly shot in Los Angeles and

Luz, Miranda, and Javi are all good people trying to do the right thing. They be

Returning to your roots can help reconnect you to family and cultural heritage.

Violence & Scariness

Lots of horrific and demonic images, blood, and some body horror. Some animals get pulverized into bloody messes (a rat, a chicken). Exorcisms are conducted and some feature grotesque phenomena, like pulling a bloody sack or bloody snake out of a woman's stomach, punching through demons' flesh to grab and yank out demon hearts, or a woman vomiting endlessly long bloody strands of hair. A woman's face gets slashed by a demon claw and her eye goes white because of it. Hands and feet are magically nailed to the floor when a witch hammers nails into a wooden triangle on the floor. Scary demonic faces, body contortions, and gory images, including a young boy's scarred and bloody face. A fair amount of jump scares. Women are held captive and chained. A woman is forced to drink goat's milk.

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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A woman shoots up heroin. Some scenes show her heating up a spoon that has heroin in it and then injecting it into her veins. Reaction shots also follow, and they show the woman feeling high, good, and hallucinatory.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A woman in her underwear is forced to go through an exorcism. Some journals are looked through that have hand-drawn images of naked women.

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Diverse Representations

Almost entirely set in Veracruz, Mexico (although mainly shot in Los Angeles and Puerto Rico), and with a cast that are all Latin American, this horror movie features strong women in three of the four main roles. Cristina, Miranda, and Luz are all heroes, overcome difficult challenges, and have strong character arcs.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Role Models

Luz, Miranda, and Javi are all good people trying to do the right thing. They believe that Cristina is in grave danger and needs help. Cristina eventually starts believing and manages to learn a lot about demons, brujas, and exorcisms. Luz and Javi make great sacrifices to help Cristina, and in the end, Cristina pays it back completely.

Positive Messages

Returning to your roots can help reconnect you to family and cultural heritage. As a metaphor, demons hold you back and turn you into something you're not. They prey on fear, pain, and sadness.

Parents need to know that The Old Ways is a horror film in the exorcism genre. With a Latin American cast full of strong women characters, this thriller is heavily women-centered. In terms of violence, this is a very bloody film with a fair amount of body horror, but doesn't have much conventional violence. Most of the gore and grotesque stuff comes from the exorcisms, hallucinations, and weird demonic phenomena. Some animals get pulverized into bloody messes (a rat, a chicken). Scary faces, jump scares, and a generally dark and foreboding atmosphere help keep the tension and horror alive. Strong language throughout, but only "f--k," "f--king," "s--t," and "goddamn," are said. There is little sexual content beyond a few journals with drawings of naked women and a woman in her underwear getting an exorcism. Drug use (heroin) is also shown, and a woman shoots up 3-4 times. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents say (1)
Kids say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In THE OLD WAYS, Cristina (Brigitte Kali Canales) has been making a living as a journalist, but yearns to go back to Veracruz, Mexico, to reconnect with her "family, culture, and heritage." After her mother died when she was a child, Cristina left Mexico. But her return suddenly goes wrong, and a local family imprisons her. They tell her she has a demon in her, and they need to get it out.

Is It Any Good?

This fantastical, bloody, and winsome horror movie thrills from start to finish. Except for a love it or hate it double ending, The Old Ways is a refreshingly simple and taut take on the exorcism horror genre. The film wastes no time jumping right into the drama, as Cristina is immediately imprisoned and told of the demon inside her. Over the course of a cool 90 minutes, Cristina's journey from victim to hero is compelling and fun to watch. She overcomes great hardship and even beats addiction. While there could have been more lore, flavor exposition, and context for the demons that so frequently possess people in this particular area of Veracruz, Mexico, the film still plays with the metaphor of demons and/or evil inside you as symbolic of various modern ills in peoples' lives today and the dangers of losing your culture, family, or heritage.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about exorcism films. How does The Old Ways compare to other notable exorcism movies? What makes it stand out? What makes it too similar to others?

Discuss body horror in film and as a genre. Why do you think people gravitate toward movies that feature body horror? Is it about the gore and grotesque? Is it about creativity? What do you think?

Do you believe in spirits, ghosts, demons, or monsters? Why or why not?

Movie Details

On DVD or streaming : August 25, 2021
Cast : Brigitte Kali Canales , Andrea Cortés , Julia Vera , Sal Lopez
Director : Christopher Alender
Inclusion Information : Female actors, Latino actors
Studio : Soapbox Films
Genre : Horror
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
Run time : 90 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : March 12, 2023

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Old Ways Reviews

Brigitte Kali Canales pushes her character in so many unexpected directions on her journey to rediscovering her roots that the hard pivot the film takes in its final act actually works.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 16, 2024

This is an inherently human story, grounded in the perception and heritage of its protagonists.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 10, 2021

It brings a decent enough meaning to its title 'The Old Ways' whilst holding your attention and scaring you enough to make you not want to mess with old traditions.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 21, 2021

The Old Ways is a slow burn supernatural Horror tale that goes from psychological Thriller to full monster showdown. A story about passing the torch, about carrying on ancient traditions and keeping evil at bay at all costs.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Nov 12, 2021

A strong entry in the exorcism genre.

Full Review | Nov 6, 2021

'The Old Ways' in an apt title for this old-fashioned possession-exorcism movie that contains horror elements but is more about retaining your soul than things that go bump in the night.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 5, 2021

The Old Ways is a horror movie for exorcism fans.

Full Review | Nov 5, 2021

....a refreshing change of pace for one of horror cinema's favourite cliches...

Full Review | Original Score: 16/20 | Nov 4, 2021

"The Old Ways,'' is a super creepy Indigenous-themed film that made my skin crawl in the best way.

Full Review | Original Score: 9.0/10 | Nov 4, 2021

It eventually picks up, but not before dragging us through a number of addiction tropes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 3, 2021

The Old Ways boasts a tight cast that impressively manages to convey most of the film's tension and pace through glances.

Full Review | Oct 28, 2021

When so many exorcism horror movies revolve around a crisis of faith, it's a welcome shift to center around the preservation of tradition and culture. It's a slick new coat of paint, complete with animal teeth, bones, and serpents galore.

Full Review | Oct 25, 2021

Irreverent humour helps buoy this somewhat silly thriller about exorcism, ancient rituals, and the journalist determined to expose them.

Full Review | Oct 15, 2021

The movie masterfully takes on the popular (and sometimes overdone) horror theme of exorcisms, de-centers Catholicism, and infuses a chilling story of possession with indigenous Mexican culture and traditions.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Oct 14, 2021

Plays out as a Mexican version of The Exorcist.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Oct 13, 2021

The Old Ways succeeds in drawing us in as it raises the stakes, at the same time making us feel like we're having new experiences in a well-established horror subgenre.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Oct 12, 2021

A horror effort that not only breathes new life into a tested field, but also serves as a commentary on the erasure of cultural traditions.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 12, 2021

This fantastical, bloody, and winsome horror movie thrills from start to finish.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 21, 2021

A well-made spin on the demonic-possession/exorcism tropes, if not a particularly original or scary one.

Full Review | Sep 13, 2021

Just know that things get intense, family bonds get stretched, and ancient magicks are going to ancient magick.

Full Review | Sep 9, 2021

Home » Movies » Movie Reviews

The Old Ways (FrightFest) review – a possession horror with character of its own

Lush and gruesome horror set in the Mexican jungle, about inner demons and cultural identity. Really.

Seen one film about demon possession and you think you’ve seen them all? Not so fast. The Possession of Michael King is as far removed from The Taking of Deborah Logan as it is from The Exorcist , and all three great quality in their own way. Now we have The Old Ways , set in Mexico, but with not a word about Christ compelling anyone: this tale is grounded in ancient witchcraft instead of any tradition that Westerners like me might be familiar with, almost verging on folk horror.

The central character in The Old Ways is Cristina Lopez (Brigitte Kali Canales), Mexican by birth, but raised American since the loss of her mother as a young child. Now an investigative reporter, she visits the place of her family’s past, seeking out a story about “forgotten cultures”. Having wandered into La Boca, a cave that Cristina had been warned was dangerous, she finds herself held captive by the local “bruja” (witch) and her assistant son: did Cristina become host to a demon residing in that cave, or are these local characters too superstitious for everyone’s good?

There you have it: imprisonment, rituals, and enforced exorcism. Oh and “psychic surgery”, snakes, body horror… and heroin withdrawal. For a while, it’s impossible to know whether Cristina is imagining things and being sucked into the indigenous mentality by chemical influence or if she genuinely does start to believe there is something nasty inside her. The special effects (especially when the bruja draws awful-looking things out of Christina’s abdomen) are remarkable, not Night of the Demons -naff in the slightest; but that section of the film is certainly ambiguous enough to make one pay attention.

As well as the effects, what also works really well is the sense of place. I’ve never been to deepest Mexico, but I certainly felt like I was there while watching The Old Ways . The bruja (Julia Vera) and her son (Sal Lopez), who conducted the rituals certainly helped with that: their manner, their make-up, dances, clothing, and absolute sincerity pulled me right along. Perhaps that’s how things worked on their subject, Cristina, too. The other person present, Cristina’s cousin Miranda (Andrea Cortés), bridged the gap between Cristina’s modern world and her cultural background (tight jeans, and books about demons), keeping the whole group grounded together in the present situation.

The Old Ways was written by Marcos Gabriel, from Puerto Rican ancestry himself; and directed by Christopher Alender, who has immigration firmly in his family’s history. When I started watching the film, I had worried that it was going to smell of cultural appropriation, with a clearly South American story told by a USA team: were they going to look down on the traditional customs (as I’d seen in Death of Me ), laugh at them, or make money from them? That worry faded pretty soon, fortunately. Cristina’s story, and that of the people she was confronted by, was very clearly used to express what it can feel like to be separated from one’s own history and heritage, to feel called back to it, and how these feelings may not necessarily be comfortable. It was also very interesting to see a film in which there was a single token white person (AJ Bowen, as Cristina’s editor, Carson), in complete contrast to a more familiar viewing experience.

The Old Ways is a very well-made film, written with understanding and presented with care. It’s creepy, gruesome in parts, has an intriguing story and fascinating basis in lore. The only snag (for me, anyway) is that it is neither exciting nor scary, and I had been led to expect it would be at least one of those. But that’s fine: I appreciated the film in unexpected ways, and enjoyed it for what it was; a strong diversion from a familiar subgenre, with good representation of people and fears from another land.

The Old Ways enjoys its UK premiere at Glasgow FrightFest, 5 March 2021.

Article by Alix Turner

Alix joined Ready Steady Cut back in 2017, bringing their love for horror movies and nasty gory films. Unsurprisingly, they are Rotten Tomatoes Approved, bringing vast experience in film critiquing. You will likely see Alix enjoying a bloody horror movie or attending a genre festival.

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The old ways - movie review.

Sometimes you really shouldn’t go sniffing around for a story to report. Leave well enough alone, you know? Especially if it is witchcraft that you are after. The Old Ways is what happens when warning signs go ignored. Or was it always destined to end this way after all?

Christopher Alender 's spellbinding horror film, The Old Ways , is every bit as haunting as it sounds. Full of great atmosphere, practical effects, and a robust supernatural engine at its core, it definitely provides enough suspense and head-scratching paranoia to make you swear off every damn temptation surrounding you.

If you aren’t startled after one minute into this horror entry, then you aren’t paying close enough attention. A calming moment between a mother and her daughter is irrevocably twisted into a scene of sheer teeth-gnashing horror as Veracruz, Mexico becomes the scene of sorcery and healing. It's the beginning of a lifetime of horror for one small girl.

Welcome to The Old Ways . Your stay here is going to be interesting as one journalist discovers that she just might be the devil reborn!

With a charged atmosphere and a unique setting, this tale of exorcism at the hands of a Nahuatl bruja gets its unique taste for HORROR on and promises to be an intense film that won’t soon be forgotten this October.

In a dark room with a bag over her head, she hears that someone wants to know what she is doing in the La Boca ruins. We are just as puzzled as she is, but when the bag is pulled off, names are confirmed, and Miranda ( Andrea Cortés ), Cristina's cousin, is identified, we are automatically intrigued as the spell is cast.

It is here where she is investigating what happened to her years before, but an unfortunate accident has led her face to face with Luz ( Julia Vera ) who peers deep into her eyes and confirms that, yes, Cristina has something unnatural kicking about within her. While it may not be a devil per-say, it definitely is a devilish addiction. Heroin. And this addiction must be purified from its host.

But is there something more to this addiction?

Co-starring Weston Meredith, AJ Bowen , and Sal Lopez as Javi, The Old Ways is full of startling images as teeth are pulled from her stomach, snakes are seen slithering along the walls of her cell, and a mutilated rooster is discovered. When an ancient spirit keeps her from escaping her cell, she begins to find herself at odds with her position. Perhaps something is amiss here. Enter the black liquid as the purifying begins.

With plenty of twists and turns, The Old Ways works as metaphor and as horror as Cristina finds herself in a role reversal in order to ultimately deliver the death blow to the demon determined to keep advancing.

From Dark Star Pictures, The Old Ways is available October 12 on streaming services and on Blu-ray/DVD.

MPAA Rating: Unrated. Runtime: 90 mins Director : Christopher Alender Writer: Marcos Gabriel Cast: Brigitte Kali Canales; Andrea Cortés; Julia Vera Genre : Horror | Drama Tagline: Memorable Movie Quote: Distributor: Soapbox Films; Darkstar Films Official Site: https://www.thehustle.movie/ Release Date: May 10, 2019 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 12, 2021. Synopsis : Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, travels to her ancestral home in Veracruz to investigate a story of sorcery and healing. There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals who claim she's the devil incarnated. Brigitte Kali Canales,Andrea Cortés,and Julia Vera star.

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The Old Ways (II) (2020)

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The Old Ways

By Michael Talbot-Haynes | October 13, 2021

NEW TO VOD! The Old Ways , directed by Christopher Alender from Marcos Gabriel’s screenplay, opens in Mexico with a little girl watching her mother being healed in an ancient ritual. The mother tells her everything will be alright, then her mouth erupts with shark teeth, and the girl starts screaming. Years later, the little girl, Cristina (Brigitte Kali Canales), all grown up, is tied to a chair with a bag over her head and a strange man (Sal Lopez) in the room.

Cristina yells in English that she is a journalist from Los Angeles who has come back to Mexico to research an article, with no answer from the man, who seems to be making preparations. Finally, he steps out of the room, and out from the shadows comes a bruja (Julia Vera), an old witch with charms, face paint, and a staring dead eye. The witch says she sees something hiding inside Cristina that needs to come out, and the man bursts back into the room to pour gallons of goat’s milk down her throat.

“… the witch and her son will be working to exorcise a demon from Cristina.”

Cristina’s cousin, Miranda (Andrea Cortés), then makes herself known and explains that the witch and her son will be working to exorcise a demon from Cristina. To do this, they’ll be using the old ways that are still followed in that part of the jungle of Mexico. When Cristina asks Miranda to please contact the authorities, she informs her that in this area, the witch and her son are the authorities. So starts a twisted ride through extreme exorcism rituals that go further through Cristina than she had ever feared.

The Old Ways is a masterpiece that shows how great horror will be done in the future: swiftly paced, engrossing and terrifying. The film could have easily worked as a dramatic movie with occult trappings like Serpent and the Rainbow , as it takes its characters and themes seriously and nurtures them throughout the story. Its pacing helps engross audiences, with everything starting when it is the most exciting. The stakes are known from the jump, which helps sell the danger of the situation Cristina faces. It is off to the races immediately, setting up the exorcism in record time and delivering what the genre fans want right away.

The Old Ways (2021)

Directed: Christopher Alender

Written: Marcos Gabriel

Starring: Brigitte Kali Canales, Sal Lopez, Julia Vera, Andrea Cortés, Elizabeth Phoenix Caro, Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez, etc.

Movie score: 9.5/10

"…easily passes the Bechdel Test."

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There have been countless exorcism films in the horror genre, and The Old Ways refreshingly breaks free from the pack to tell an original film that's rooted in connecting to one's ancestors. Written by Marcos Gabriel and directed by Christopher Alender, The Old Ways fuses the best parts of a mystery into a demon-hunting tale while showcasing the badass rituals of a Bruja. The film welcomingly foregoes featuring the worn-out trope of Catholicism saving the day, making way for new spiritual tools and demonic lore to take center stage.

The Old Ways centers on Cristina (Brigitte Kali Canales), a journalist who grew up in Veracruz, Mexico, but moved to America after a tragic family loss. Suddenly, Cristina feels moved to return home for an assignment investigating ancient beliefs in her village that she chalks up to make-believe. However, she is quickly captured by Luz (Julia Vera), a Nahuatl shaman, and her son Javi (Sal Lopez), who believe that she ended up becoming possessed by a demon on her way to La Boca, so they chain her up against her will to expel the evil force.

RELATED: The Old Ways' Demon Addresses Two Key Social Messages

Of course, things get even trickier when it's revealed that Cristina's cousin, Miranda (Andrea Cortés), visits her and believes the duo is right. Gabriel's tight script wastes no time in setting up its premise. Mere minutes into the film, it's clear that evil is definitely real -- even if Cristina brushes off Luz and Javi as being small-minded. That approach, paired with Cristina's nativity to what the film calls "the old ways," only further drives home the film's central message: remembering our cultural ways and ancestry makes us whole.

Alender wisely frames most early shots around watching Canales' sheer terror and confusion, which helps set the tone and make the dire straits feel genuine. From the start of the film, it's clear that Cristina does not fully speak Spanish, which not only distances her from understanding what the heck is happening but from seeing just how much danger she's actually facing. Rituals aren't explained to the viewer or Cristina, a choice that adds to the seriousness that the film's approach to its religious power. Even if it's not always clear say why goat's milk is being used, The Old Ways ensures a ceremonious feeling is pumping beneath each blood splatter. From a horror fan perspective, this fairly exposition-less approach adds to the film's mystery, keeping audiences intrigued about the film's rules.

RELATED: How The Old Ways Sets Up a Sequel

The Old Ways boasts a tight cast that impressively manages to convey most of the film's tension and pace through glances. Notably, Vera's Luz excels at just this kind of communication -- given that her character does not speak any English and has to burden the weight of carrying most of this film's power. The language barrier felt by Cristina only heightens the meaning of what messages she can receive. And, without a doubt, Canales steals the show with just the right amount of bashfulness, grit, and pain. Cortés' Miranda brings the majority of the film's heartfelt core to the screen in a genuine way that also works as a softer but much-needed antagonist to Cristina's stubbornness.

Surprisingly, there's more gore than fans might expect for an exorcism film -- bloody tendrils and fingernails and teeth -- that pushes what could be an intriguing mystery fully into the realm of horror. Additionally, when its demons do show up, The Old Ways finds a clever way to locate them, draw them out and waits until just the right time to let their full form be viewed. Overall, the film is incredibly fun, moving and a welcomed addition to this Halloween's season lineup of must-see scary stories.

The Old Ways is streaming on Netflix and also available on Digital, DVD, and Blu-Ray.

KEEP READING: The Old Ways: Who is Postehki - And Why Is It Haunting Cristina?

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The Old Ways (Review)

by Blacktooth Nov 15, 2021, 7:09 pm 0 Comments

Director – Christopher Alender (Memorial Day, Muppets Now) Starring – Brigitte Kali Canales (Fear the Walking Dead, Baby Driver), Andera Cortes (Sins of a Call Girl, Criminal Minds), and Julia Vera (Mayans M.C., Blow) Release Date – 2020 Rating – 3/5

Several months back I received the press release for the Mexican folk horror film The Old Ways. The artwork to accompany the release did very little to spark my imagination. I shared the news on the site but quickly forgot about it until someone in a movie group I’m in on Facebook shared the poster above for the film. I was fucking mesmerized and couldn’t believe that the distribution company chose to use different artwork for the release. I quickly rushed to my email and requested a review copy. Once it arrived I quickly tossed it in to check out. It wasn’t a groundbreaking film but I did enjoy it.

**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a young journalist who is doing a piece on her hometown. Her trip there does not end well after she awakens in chains with a local witch and her son suspecting her to be possessed. She tries to fight and escape but soon realizes they may be right. She starts working with them to rid the demon that has possessed her body before it is too late. **Spoiler Alert**

The Old Ways will be a film that divides genre fans. Some will bitch and moan about the slow paced story or the lack of blood and gore while others, like myself, will enjoy the story along with the atmosphere the film is able to produce.

The acting in this one is very well done. The characters don’t really stand out but the cast delivers great performances with some of the scenes calling for some intense moments from the cast. It’s the cast that makes the film so enjoyable and the darker scenes only work because of the cast’s dedication to the film.

The story for this one is very simple, somewhat predictable, and very enjoyable. I have a soft spot for modern horror films that have witches and even though The Old Ways delivers a “witch” in a the loosest sense of the word I still very much enjoyed it. I loved the set up, the possession angle, and the overall look of the film. However, the predictability did impact the film’s pay off but not enough to ruin it. Also, I wasn’t much of a fan of how these scenes played out throughout much of the film. It was quickly evident that some of the scenes were left unedited and long so the film would hit the feature length run time. Some editing would have went a long way with this one.

Finally, the film has several instances of some fairly decent visual effects. They do stand out but they don’t look that bad. I appreciate what they were going for and it almost works. However, don’t expect a lot of blood and gore because you will be disappointed. Overall, The Old Ways was a surprisingly well put together possession tale that I think works very well as a late night watch. The characters are fairly generic but the story does enough to help the viewer overlook their shortcomings. I liked and recommend checking it out.

(Staff Writer) Lover of all things horror and metal. Also likes boobs and booze.

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The old ways.

Directed by Christopher Alender

It lives inside you.

Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, travels to her ancestral home in Veracruz to investigate a story of sorcery and healing. There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals who claim she's the devil incarnated.

Brigitte Kali Canales Andrea Cortés Julian Lerma Sal Lopez Julia Vera AJ Bowen

Director Director

Christopher Alender

Producers Producers

Noah Campbell Smith Christa Boarini T. Justin Ross David Grove Churchill Viste

Writer Writer

Marcos Gabriel

Editor Editor

Matt Blundell

Cinematography Cinematography

Executive producers exec. producers.

Christopher Alender Scott G. Carr Marcos Gabriel David A. Smith

Production Design Production Design

Bryce Perrin

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Julia Wainfan Anthony Pearce Joshua Bradeis

Visual Effects Visual Effects

Christopher Alender Marcos Gabriel Dave Jacobson Nick Lively Brian McGuire

Stunts Stunts

Mallory Thompson

Composer Composer

Sound sound.

Juan Campos Matt Davies Jason Chiodo Zach Goheen Rich Bussey Sam Plattner

Costume Design Costume Design

Jessica Torok

Makeup Makeup

Dragan Radic

Soapbox Films

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Spanish

Releases by Date

16 oct 2020, 04 apr 2021, 08 oct 2020, 25 aug 2021, releases by country.

Digital Netflix
Digital Sitges Film Festival
Premiere Sitges Film Festival
Digital 15 Netflix
Theatrical R

90 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★ 2

Coming into this movie, I didn't know what to expect. Due to Repo's good rating and review, I was very intrigued.

To be fair, this film does a really good job of blending the conventional tropes with some fresh twists and turns. For instance, the exocism has less of a religious connotation and adheres more to the culture. It's less about God and more about identity, about people leaving their villages and their customs and embracing them, departing from who they really are (in this case due to trauma) and how this eventually comes to haunt and literally possess you.

Having all of this taking place in one place was for the most part well used, although I felt the…

Review by Héctor ★★½ 4

It started out really good, but I wish it was longer and more detailed. I do not think the main girl was very great at acting. Her acting wasn't believable. Left loose ends.

Review by RepoJack ★★★½ 33

Who can resist a movie poster thumbnail like this one? I'd like to think no horror fan can.

Another Netflix horror flick that is frankly pretty damn good. That's about 4-5 in a row in the last month, which has to be a record for any streaming originals. This also makes me realize that I rated Demonic way too high.

The Old Ways is a solid debut from newly minted horror director Christopher Alender, whose previous claim to fame was a few Muppets shows. He delivers a compelling possession story with some decent body horror, all wrapped in Mexican-Aztec folklore. And a veteran filmmaker like Neil Blomkamp gets a chance to direct again and it's frankly dog shit in comparison…

Review by Sam 🎞🏴‍☠️ ★½ 2

Sadly pretty underwhelming possession/bruja horror; inconsistent, derivative, predictable and illogical, just too damn many distracting flaws 😐

I'd rather recommend to watch The Shrine or Impetigore: similar story, much better execution 🧐

Review by Steph_h ★★★½ 14

This was good I was surprised, felt fresh for a possession story.. It’s genuinely creepy and intriguing with some excellent effects and humorous at times too. I definitely reccomend it 👍🏼☠️😈 my negatives would be it’s a little repetitive at times, parts of the story aren’t fleshed out completely and feels too polished looking .. But I still say check it out if your interested, way more good than bad here .. and what a cool poster eh 👻

Review by cherryz ★★★★ 5

Well good. Little bit of slowness at the start, but once we all believe the show can begin, and when it does it's a beaut.

Get these girls setup with an excorcism series. They've got the book, and they've got the look, the old ways look.

Want this poster a lot.

Review by Paul Thomas ★★

I wonder if this is getting a pass and being mistaken as "elevated horror" because it's about the roots of a culture not often shown in film, and that unique representation may help some ignore that it's the same scratchy, contorting possession bullshit with lame grossout horror that the movie doesn't even have the convications to sticking with, oftentimes pulling back as a vision, that all of these painfully derivative horror movies deliver

Review by Zay ★★★ 17

Current LB poster is so damn cool! The film itself is just decent. Typical exorcism/demonic possession setup only this time its set in a small Mexican village and there's a bruja instead of a priest doing the exorcism. The small cast was solid. The practical effects were decentish. The body horror elements were efficient. The demon looked kinda cool but was barely seen. Once the demon was revealed, it was destroyed way to easily.

2021 Horror Watches(Ranked and Evolving) boxd.it/aXEbC

Review by Mister Cap ★★½

Warum mir "The Old Ways" aufgefallen ist und ich ihn dann schlussendlich auch angesehen habe? Genau, wegen dem tollen Filmposter!

Filme über Besessenheit gibt es ja wie Sand am Meer und die meisten haben nichts Neues oder Interessantes zu bieten. "The Old Ways" versucht zumindest, die Ausnahme davon zu sein und ausgehend von mexikanischer Folklore, ist der Film eine gruselige, kammerspielartige Exorzismusgeschichte, die einige solide Schrecken und gute Effekte bietet.

Der Film spielt in einem abgelegenen mexikanischen Dorf und erzählt die Geschichte von Cristina, einer Journalistin, die nach Hause gekommen ist, um über die geheimnisvollen Traditionen und den Aberglauben in ihrer Heimat zu berichten. Dinge laufen aber schief und sie wacht in einer Hütte, mit an die Wand geketteten Händen…

Review by nadine 🔪 ★★★

that goat’s milk be hitting different huh

Review by joshrowley ★★ 1

Atmospheric; familiar; short; slight; underdeveloped; underwhelming; well-made.

Review by haley ★★★

possession movies have been done to death but i don't really mind this one. it's really unique but also wtf was aj bowen doing here?? him being in this felt so random

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A new Netflix horror movie has an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score

The Old Ways on Netflix is scoring big on Rotten Tomatoes

A new horror movie has arrived on Netflix – and it's definitely one to get watched, as it has an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.

The Old Ways hit the streamer in August following its October 2020 debut at Sitges Film Festival, and has netted an impressive 95% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing (H/T ComicBook.com ).

The film, directed by Christopher Alender and written by Marcos Gabriel, follows a reporter named Cristina (Brigitte Kali Canales) who goes back to her hometown in Veracruz, looking into witchcraft. Things take a turn for the worse when Cristina is kidnapped by a group of people, which includes a bruja (a female witch), who believe she is demonically possessed.

Only one of the 21 aggregated reviews on Rotten Tomatoes has been judged as negative, with the rest positive.

"The Old Ways is the greatest exorcism movie since The Exorcist, do not miss it," writes Michael Talbot-Haynes of Film Threat , which is high praise indeed.

Kat Hughes of THN deems the movie "an absolute must-see," while Ben Robins of HeyUGuys calls the film "a smart, slender little exorcism thriller with plenty of bang for its buck, and a lot to say about cultural and personal identity."

The film's lone rotten review, from Roger Moore of Movie Nation , calls it "a horror movie you watch but don't 'experience'" with a "bland heroine" – though Dread Central 's Michelle Swope is among those who has good things to say about the lead: "Brigitte Kali Canales gives a phenomenal performance as the tortured Cristina."

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You can check out The Old Ways on Netflix now, and if you're in the mood for a fright, see our guide to the best Netflix horror movies to fill out your watchlist.

I'm an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

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Home » Horror News » The Old Ways, Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortes, (Horror Movie Review)

The Old Ways, Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortes, (Horror Movie Review)

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

PLOT: Mexican-American journalist Christina (Brigitte Kali Canales) returns to the remote jungles of her homeland, where she suddenly awakes to find herself held captive in a dank dungeon. With the help of her cousin Miranda (Andrea Cortes), Christina learns she’s being prepped for a demonic exorcism.

REVIEW: Twenty years after turning in the abysmal horror outing MEMORIAL DAY, writer Marcos Gabriel and director Christopher Alender take a long-overdue stab at redemption with Sitges entry THE OLD WAYS, a far superior demonic corporeal-horror venture that relies just as much on spiritual possession as it does visceral body mutilation. But while the film favors comparably to the filmmakers’ prior work, it still registers in the middle of the mildly recommendable pack of its horror contemporaries. That is, for a small movie set in one location with just a handful of characters, there’s a lot to admire, particularly Canales’ (BABY DRIVER, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS) central performance, the claustrophobic tropical dungeon setting, and the gutturally jarring repulsion of the physical violence. But even at a scant 90 minutes, the film sort of paints itself into a corner with little wiggle room to find a forcible exit and tends to grow a bit tedious as it nears the ending. Still, for a low-budget horror import and a sophomore effort made 20 years after the director’s first film, THE OLD WAYS is fresh and ferocious enough to give a look when it drops on VOD October 16, 2020.

Following an ominous opening in which an elderly woman is seen strapped to a bed and purged of an inner-demonic clutch, the film cuts to the present to find a young Mexican-American woman held captive. Christina (Canales), a journalist sent to her homeland to cover the subculture of faith healing, awakes in an eerily festooned dungeon near Boca, Veracruz to discover her limbs bound, completely unaware of where she is or who has done this to her. An old lady named Luz (Julia Vera) adorned in Native face paint and a milky eyeball appears with portentous gravity, preparing for some sort of ritualized ceremony of shamanistic witchcraft. Christina tells Luz’ partner Javi (Sal Lopez) that she is the cousin of local villager Miranda (Cortes), who soon arrives to console Christina the best she can. But when Miranda informs her cousin that she’s been kidnapped because she is thought to be held hostage by a demonic entity, Christina’s incredulous. Not to give away too much, but Christina must reconcile with her past, including a longstanding familial lineage accursed with genetic Demonia.

A series of grueling and torturous body violations ensues, which is one admirable area where the movie differentiates itself from most demonic horror yarns. An almost Cronenbergian level of gruesome corporeal assault takes place as Christina is held captive, tied down, subjected to drug-induced hallucinations, her belly gorily dug into, her hands and feet nailed to the floor, spastic body contortions, her mouth vomiting viscid strands of unidentifiable black glop, etc. The physical toll Christina endures, coupled with her soulful and spiritual possession, is where the movie separates itself from the pack. Another aspect of the film that stands out is the subterranean setting, a dingy and dusty dungeon adorned with demonic symbols, pentagrams, chalked-out skulls, and the like. The interior lighting casts a distinct amber hue that plays well off the verdant exteriors and lush tropical tableau. But even the strength of the setting, which underscores the inescapable claustrophobia Christina increasingly feels, does tend to conjure a restless sense of cabin fever by the final reel. I realize part of the intention is to make the viewer squirm with unease, but the spatial enclosure becomes a bit too burdensome and overstayed.

While the single-setting somewhat shifts from a strong suit to a tiresome downturn, Alender atones by finally offering a glimpse of the demon’s physical manifestation. The ruddy demon-design and concomitant makeup and FX work is downright arresting, with the deformity of a large oblong head and rows of jagged teeth unloading one last horrific salvo on your eyeballs as the film draws to a close. All of the physical body horror and intense violence in the film plays credibly enough, unfortunately, its Christina’s heritage that is not only less convincing, but too clichéd and contrived at times to match the unnerving visual array of sinister imagery. What smoothly paves the middle-ground between the two is Canales’ leading turn, as she demands enough genuine sympathy despite her dubious back-story to really cheer for her safety and survival. Especially during one stint where she’s summoned to the ethereal realm and faces the rapacious Demon Boy (Julian Lerma) out to violently subsume her soul. No matter how silly the story becomes, the sheer barbarity that Christina is physically subjected to keeps us engaged in her ultimate outcome.

For a sophomore feature made 20 years after the filmmaker’s first, THE OLD WAYS proves Christopher Alender has a promising future in horror cinema. Despite a limp story and an eerie location that tends to wears out its welcome by the end, the film works best as an alarming blend of demonic possession and visceral body horror and made even more compelling by Brigitte Kali Canales’ principal performance. All told, if you like small, under-the-radar international horror joints, THE OLD WAYS should offer you something slightly new.

About the Author

Jake Dee is one of JoBlo’s most valued script writers, having written extensive, deep dives as a writer on WTF Happened to this Movie and it’s spin-off, WTF Really Happened to This Movie. In addition to video scripts, Jake has written news articles, movie reviews, book reviews, script reviews, set visits, Top 10 Lists (The Horror Ten Spot), Feature Articles The Test of Time and The Black Sheep, and more.

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THE OLD WAYS: The Horror In Addiction And Recovery

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Premiering this weekend at the 2020 Sitges Film Festival, The Old Ways , from director Christopher Alender , is a horror film that takes you below the equator and into the jungle of forgotten traditions. Cleverly balancing the elements of horror with its deeply relevant and urgent themes, The Old Ways is sure to satisfy both viewer and horror fanatic alike.

The Old Ways

The Old Ways dives right into the action, opening with a young girl witnessing what appears to be a ritual performed on her mother. There is a terror in what is to come and what could happen to the young girl and the inhabitants of the room, and the film does not delay in delivering both jump scares and securing your intrigue. From this introduction, you will understand this is not your typical horror film.

The Old Ways wastes no time either in moving the story along. Immediately, viewers are introduced to Cristina ( Brigitte Kali Canales ), bound and hooded, terrified as a man slowly and pensively lights the candles in the room. There is no introduction of who she is or why she is held captive, bypassing the standard introduction and capturing of a horror genre’s main character. It bridges the tension of our opening scene to the present, tethering viewers to the film with curiosity and terror.

As viewers try to understand what is going on, and how Cristina has found herself in this predicament, it is revealed her confinement is for her protection – and for the protection of those around her. Cristina has a demon inside of her, a demon both the local bruja (witch) and her son are determined to remove at all costs.

Crafting a Horror

The film is full of jump scares and uncertainty, many times leaving viewers unsure of whether they are actually viewing a demon or if they are watching the resolution of mind in the character of Cristina. Gore liters the film as well, though tactfully and full of intent. It is never used for the sake of use, each time it is present for a purpose.

Brigitte Kali Canales brings the deniability of Cristina to life with perfection, the terror she exhibits buried deep, much like the memories her character struggles to forget. There is a strong front she is able to create for her character while managing the fragility of her broken self just below the surface. While at first Canales seems unsure of her setting and place – both inhibiting the film yet creating an out of place context all the same – she eases into her role, fully encompassing her character and the journey. Andrea Cortes too rises to the horror challenge of her character. There is a devout loyalty that shines through her character, and an emotional balance that speaks to the peace of her life and the confidence she embraces both with her culture and her family. She knows who she is and where she comes from, Cortes using this to shine in the darkest corners of the film.

The Tumultuous road to recovery

At its core, The Old Ways is about addiction and recovery. The communication gap between the bruja and her son with Cristina was a clever storytelling device. Not only did it widen the fissure of understanding, but it also encapsulated the commutation between an addict and those attempting to help. There is a lack of understanding and the means of communication have not become developed yet. There is a desire to help, but also an inability is for both to start the conversation.

The demon within Cristina is the addiction, brought about by past trauma she has been avoiding and unwilling to speak about. There is a loneliness in carrying this burden, and also loneliness in the feeling that if she is to fight back, she will have to do it alone. From this, there is denial. Denial she has a demon or that she is an addict, there is a denial that she needs help – this denial and continued acceptance changing her as a person. “You still don’t believe”, her cousin Miranda tells her.

Final Thoughts

There are horror films that call to an audience through imagery and content. The Old Ways is one of those films. And it lives up to its hype. It is engaging and horrific, keeping relevant themes in the foreground while entertaining with solid and gruesome scares.

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This 41-year-old underrated horror was part of disney's darkest period & it deserves more respect.

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10 Hidden Details You Didn’t Know About Something Wicked This Way Comes

Who plays the older james ryan in saving private ryan, the highest-rated episodes of the sopranos confirm the best character in the show.

Something Wicked This Way Comes is a 41-year-old Disney horror movie that deserves more recognition. The movie, which is based on Ray Bradbury's 1962 novel of the same name, chronicles the adventures of two young boys after a creepy and mysterious circus appears in their sleepy town. The script of the unsettling film was penned by Bradbury himself , so there is not much difference between the movie and the novel apart from the scenes that were cut out as they were deemed too scary for a Disney movie.

The movie which is often underrated and forgotten was part of Disney's dark period. The production of Something Wicked This Way Comes was fraught with behind-the-scenes drama before it was released. Bradbury and director Jack Clayton had disagreements about the screenplay , which was changed during production despite Bradbury writing it. Despite the disagreements between the movie's creators, Something Wicked This Way Comes still ended up being one of Disney's most scary movies .

Prepare to take a dive into Disney's dark side, as we explore the hidden details in Something Wicked This Way Comes.

What Disney's Something Wicked This Way Comes Is About

Something wicked this way comes features a creepy circus.

Something Wicked This Way Comes chronicles the story of a sleepy town that is bewitched by Mr. Dark, the owner of a mysterious traveling circus . Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are two best friends who witness the arrival of the circus with its creepy owner and deduce that their small town is about to be irrevocably changed. The circus has strange attractions that give the members of the town what they wish for, but at a price.

The vampire-like Mr. Dark wants to take control of the town and, like the devil, damn more innocent souls. However, before he can carry out his plans, he needs the help of Fury to uncover the secret of the storm. It's up to Will, Jim, and Charles to overcome their fear in order to save the town from Mr. Dark.

Something Wicked This Way Comes Was Part Of A Darker Turn For Disney

Something wicked this way comes was part of disney's horror trend.

From the time Disney was established, the production company marketed itself as a family-friendly entertainment company and thus released movies that were true to that brand. In the 1980s, Disney deviated from its family-friendly formula and ventured into material that would not be typically associated with the production company. It was during this time that the company began releasing horror movies such as The Watcher in the Woods , The Black Cauldron , Return to Oz , and Something Wicked This Way Comes .

While it seems like the 1980s marked the beginning of the production company's dark turn, Disney's horror movie trend actually began 94 years ago . Something Wicked This Way Comes and other movies released in the '80s were a continuation of that trend. The horror movie had some spooky scenes including a decapitated head, a room full of tarantulas, and an electrocuted corpse that would scare even the most seasoned horror movie viewer. Something Wicked This Way Comes doesn't feature gore, death, or violence typically featured in horror movies, but there's still something about the eerie town that makes the movie unnerving.

Why Something Wicked This Way Comes Is An Underrated Disney Movie

Something wicked this way comes was a box office failure.

One of the reasons Something Wicked This Way Comes is overlooked is due to the film's poor box office performance. The movie had an estimated production budget of $20 million but only made $8.4 million , making it a financial failure for the production company. Something Wicked This Way Comes was released during a period when Disney was producing movies in the horror genre that made more of a splash, making it easy for the film to be underrated.

Movies such as The Watcher in the Woods , Return to Oz , and The Black Cauldron were usually compared to Something This Way Comes and the 1983 horror fantasy often fell short. However, despite being a financial failure and not being fully appreciated for what it is, the movie still garnered good reviews. Something Wicked This Way Comes is not only a good Halloween movie, but also one that features hidden gems and themes that still resonate today.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

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Something Wicked This Way Comes is a dark fantasy film based on Ray Bradbury's novel. Directed by Jack Clayton, it follows two young boys and the illusionist Mr. Dark, whose mysterious carnival arrives in their small town. With a cast led by Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce, the story delves into themes of desire and fear as the boys uncover the sinister secrets behind the carnival's supernatural attractions.

AV Undercover

Squirmy, funny body horror Booger turns a cat lady into a cat-lady

Another trauma-stricken woman goes the way of the animorphs in this winningly gross film..

Horror’s externalizing metaphors for interior turmoil can easily either be oversimplified to the point that they’re blunt instruments, or muddied until they really could be a metaphor for anything. It takes precision, and a certain amount of courage, to make a horror film steeped in metaphor that’s just messy enough , clear in its purpose but also willing to leave certain conclusions to its audience. Booger , the feature debut from writer/director Mary Dauterman, is that kind of film, a horror story steeped in the awkward realities of human emotion that’s also direct in its portrayal of body horror as a metaphor for the stages of grief. Intimate, inventive, and full of squirm-in-your-seat moments, it’s a strong first feature despite some stumbles.

Anna (Grace Glowicki) is having a hard time. Her roommate and best friend Izzy (Sofia Dobrushin) just died in an accident, leaving behind a half-empty apartment and her combative cat Booger. Lonely and reeling, Anna spends most of her time ducking work and aimlessly drifting through the home, her only company the cat and the memories she’s able to dredge up in the form of videos on Izzy’s phone.

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Things get worse when Booger stages an open rebellion, biting Anna’s hand and bolting down the fire escape. Faced with an onslaught of work calls, visits from Izzy’s grieving mother (Marcia DeBonis), and the guilt of losing her best friend’s pet, Anna spirals—and starts to realize that Booger might have left her with more than just puncture wounds.

Yes, Booger is about a woman who gets bitten by a cat and starts turning into one. As her life gets out of control, personally and professionally, Anna gets distracted by bits of trash rolling in the wind, scratches herself against tree bark, swats at insects, and does pretty much everything else you’d expect from a budding cat personality. It’s a clear body horror premise, and Dauterman lives up to those expectations through expressionistic flourishes and impressive, low-budget flashes of visceral intensity.

Anna believes she’s finding long black hairs in the bite mark Booger left, but she also swirls through nightmares where that same black hair covers every surface. She follows sunbeams across the apartment, but she also sees the world in dreamy blurs of memory, fantasy, and harsh reality. Through itchy close-ups and remarkable dream sequence work, Dauterman crafts a tone that’s constantly unsettling, leaving us forever uncertain of what Anna will do next, how far she’ll go, and how her behavior will impact those around her.

Glowicki, in a fearless performance that takes her to some dark and even hilarious places, amps up Dauterman’s concepts with pure, expressive fury. She spends much of the film in silence, reacting rather than acting, communicating her transformation through exhausted, grief-stricken eyes and a jaw that seems to constantly twitch between human and feline. Horror acting is often derided for being all about the big emotions, but performances like Glowicki’s remind us that the genre is also often a showcase for the little things, the spurts of disgust, resentment, and pure confusion that ground scary stories in our own understanding of the world.

For much of its lean 78-minute runtime, Booger is a pulsating, uncomfortable ride through Anna’s emotional and physical transformation, a clear metaphor for the grounded emotions of grief, survivor’s guilt, and anger she feels over losing Izzy. The imagery and the clarity of vision are impressive, as is the level of tension Dauterman is able to maintain, but it only takes the film so far. Evocative and unsettling though it is, Booger ’s third act collapses in on itself, folding under the weight of its many dangling threads of meaning. The messiness of Anna’s experience is winning, as is the way Dauterman’s script is able to weave together so many emotional truths both big and small together in the journey of one character, but by the end, Booger drops down into pure expressionism, surfacing only when it needs a supporting cast member to flat-out explain something to Anna in an effort to reach a resolution. It’s not an outright failure, but it is the only time the film really struggles, especially noticeable because of how tight and tonally clear the first hour feels.

But even if it doesn’t stick the landing, Booger retains its discomfiting, twisted energy throughout, delivering a promising debut from Dauterman, a great performance by Glowicki, and a few gut-wrenching images that will make the cats around you look a little different for a few days after. It’s a darkly funny, deranged little movie, and at its best it hits you right in the heart.

Director: Mary Dauterman Writer: Mary Dauterman Starring: Grace Glowicki, Garrick Bernard, Heather Matarazzo, Marcia DeBonis Release Date: September 13, 2024

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Movie Review

James mcavoy engages in psychological terror in speak no evil.

Scoot McNairy and James McAvoy in Speak No Evil.

Blumhouse Productions has become the premier horror movie company over the past 15 years, starting with 2009’s Paranormal Activity . Over that time they have made all types of scary movies (along with the occasional non-horror ), ones that range from silly to gory, ones that will haunt your dreams to ones that are more psychological in nature. Their latest, Speak No Evil , falls in the latter category, playing with perceptions in a way that may not please everybody.

Based on the 2022 Danish film of the same name, it follows Louise and Ben Dalton (Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy), an American couple living in London who, as the film begins, are on vacation in Italy with their daughter, Agnes (Alex West Leifer). There, they meet Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Francioni), who are staying at the same hotel with their son, Ant (Dan Hough). After hitting it off, the two couples soon agree for the Daltons to visit Paddy, Ciara, and Ant at their rural home in Ireland.

The visit to Ireland starts off well, but Louise and Ben soon start to feel uncomfortable with a variety of things. Paddy and Ciara’s attitudes toward parenting put the two couples at odds, especially when Paddy is overly critical of Ant, who they say is mute due to a congenital tongue condition. More and more is revealed as the story goes along, with each disclosure seemingly worse than the last.

Written and directed by James Watkins, the film is light on horror but heavy on personal drama and explorations of the human psyche. It might cause more than a few discussions among married couples about what they would do in a similar situation, as much of the story revolves around how people often hide their true feelings for the sake of being polite. Louise’s discomfort comes well before that of Ben, who’s often willing to give Paddy and Ciara the benefit of the doubt, but both of them bite their tongues until it proves impossible to hold back.

The enjoyment of the film by individual viewers will depend on their appetite for scary things. While Paddy and Ciara come off as strange, especially compared with the buttoned-up Louise and Ben, Watkins relies more on the building of tension instead of outright frights for the majority of the film. There’s an explosion of that tautness in the final act, but the time it takes to get to that point may not be fully satisfactory for some.

Instead, the film is character-driven, with the clashing traits at the heart of the drama. Louise and Ben are still struggling to come to terms with their recent move to London, and the stress of that and other marital issues colors many of their scenes. Paddy and Ciara seem to be gaga over each other, but there are signs of cracks that belie their free-spiritedness. The truth is easier to find between the two kids, although Ant’s condition prevents him from being fully forthcoming.

McAvoy has the ability to go from utterly charming to outright terrifying in no time at all, and his performance is what drives the film to be as engaging as it is. Davis is great at showing disbelief or outrage, and she makes sure the audience never trusts Paddy and Ciara. McNairy makes Ben into someone who’s especially timid, giving the chameleonic actor another level to play. Francioni is not as well-known as the other three main actors, but she holds her own.

While the killing and gore is kept to a minimum in Speak No Evil , it succeeds because of the way it pits its characters against each other psychologically. Blumhouse continues to show that they know multiple ways to make horror films, including the awfulness of not knowing when to confront someone over behavior you don’t like.

Speak No Evil opens in theaters on September 13.

Dallas police seek help in identifying 2 jerks who dumped their dogs

2 dallas suburbs top list of the fastest growing cities in america, 9 mega-restaurants from out of town coming to dallas in fall 2024, weekend event planner, jam-packed list of 17 best things to do in dallas this weekend.

There are some weekends in and around Dallas that are so jam-packed that it's almost impossible to leave anything out of our weekly events roundup. That is certainly the case this week, as theater, music, early Halloween activities, a film festival, dance productions, art exhibitions, a celebrity tennis match, and movie and TV-themed events will vie for your attention.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, September 12

SheDFW Theater Festival SheDFW Arts will present the inaugural SheDFW Theater Festival, comprised of four shows written by women, trans, and non-binary writers. The festival, taking place through Sunday at Lyric Stage, will present three new full-length plays and one original musical. If you're not able to make it in person, the productions will be recorded and can be watched online, September 17-24.

Undermain Theatre presents Athena Our apologies to Undermain Theatre for not mentioning their new production, Athena , which actually opened last week. It focuses on Mary Wallace and Athena, who are 17-year-old fencers training for the Junior Olympics. They practice together, they compete against each other, they spend their lives together. They wish they were friends. The regional premiere of the play by Gracie Gardner runs through September 29.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky" Edward Gardner, Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, leads the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in their first classical concert of the season. Selections for the program will include Stravinsky's Petrushka (1947) and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. There will be performances on Thursday and Saturday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Shakespeare Dallas presents Julius Caesar Following their two summer productions, Shakespeare Dallas returns with its fall production, Shakespeare's Julius Caesar . Concerned that Julius Caesar poses a threat to democracy, revolutionaries take the violent decision to murder him. As the world spins out of control, chaos and superstition lead to civil war. The production runs through October 13 at Samuell-Grand Amphitheater.

Chris Botti in concert For over two decades, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Chris Botti has amassed a variety of honors, including multiple Gold and Platinum albums, to become the nation’s largest selling instrumental artist. He has performed with an array of legends, including Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Yo-Yo Ma, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Andrea Bocelli. He'll play at Majestic Theatre in support of his 2023 album, Vol. 1 .

Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Jet Fuel Amy Evans' groundbreaking new play, Jet Fuel , goes on a journey through the world of elite sports. Inspired by the extraordinary tale of Olympic sprinter Caster Semenya, the production casts a spotlight on the intricate intersections of gender, race identity, and the quest for fairness in the realm of athletics. The production runs through September 22 at Bishop Arts Theatre Center.

Friday, September 13

Early Halloween events Halloween is well over a month away, but a couple of Halloween-themed events are using the occasion of Friday the 13th to get the scares started early. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington will present their annual Fright Fest , featured haunted attractions inspired by properties like the Saw franchise, Stranger Things , The Conjuring , Trick ‘r Treat , and Texas Chainsaw Massacre . At Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, visitors can journey through the cursed corridors and encounter a host of dark and sinister characters lurking in every shadow. Both events will be open on weekends through early November.

It Came from Texas Film Festival The second annual It Came from Texas Film Festival celebrates films made either wholly or in part within the Lone Star State. This year's event will examine the tall tales of the Independent Texas Spirit that lean into the Western genre, including Tender Mercies (1983), The Last Picture Show (1971), and Giant (1956). The festival takes place through Sunday at Plaza Theater in Garland.

Garland Civic Theatre presents On Golden Pond On Golden Pond is about an aging couple, Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend their summers at their vacation home on Golden Pond in New England. The play explores the difficulties of a long marriage, the relationship between a father and daughter, and the generation gap between young and old. The production runs through September 29 at Granville Arts Center in Garland.

Theatre Arlington presents Visiting Mr. Green Newly widowed, Mr. Green narrowly avoids getting hit by Ross Gardiner in New York traffic. Ross is sentenced to six months of community service, helping Mr. Green weekly. What starts as a comedy about two men who do not want to be in the same room together becomes a gripping and moving drama as they come to care about each other, and open old wounds. The production runs through September 29 at Theatre Arlington.

Texas Ballet Theater presents Cinderella Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella transports audiences to a magical realm of fairy dust, glass slippers, and hilariously wicked stepsisters. The beloved story of love triumphant is choreographed to the score of Sergey Prokofiev, promising a performance of unparalleled beauty and grace. The production will have four performances through Sunday at Winspear Opera House.

Saturday, September 14

Arlington Museum of Art presents "Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume" and "All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives" opening day The Arlington Museum of Art will open two new Disney-themed exhibitions. Through original items including ball gowns, sorcerers’ capes, a pirate’s jacket, and iconic glass slippers, "Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume" celebrates the artistry of some of Hollywood’s designers. "All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives" will feature prized pieces of jewelry and accessories, giving visitors the rare opportunity to see these jewels up-close. The exhibitions will remain on display through March 23, 2025.

Nasher Sculpture Center presents Hugh Hayden: "Homecoming" opening day Working in the tradition of wood carving and carpentry, New York-based artist Hugh Hayden builds sculptures and installations that explore the idea of the "American Dream." For this exhibition, Hayden will mine memories from his childhood in Dallas, nodding to home life, school, and play from youth to adolescence. The exhibition will remain on display through January 5, 2025.

The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic is an exhibition-style charity match led by Nowitzki, an NBA Hall of Famer who played 21 seasons for the Dallas Mavericks. He will be joined by former NBA players Steve Nash and J.J. Barea; former World No. 1 tennis player in doubles, Mark Knowles; new Mavericks guard Klay Thompson; Dr. Phil McGraw of the Dr. Phil show; and former World No. 9 in singles, CoCo Vandeweghe. The event takes place at Banner House at T Bar M in Dallas.

Kane Brown in concert Kane Brown is part of the new brand of country music, unafraid to add pop and R&B sounds to his songs. Not so coincidentally, that has made him very popular, resulting in all three of his albums going to No. 1 or No. 2 on the Billboard Country charts (2018's Experiment also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200). He'll play his ever-growing list of hits at this concert at Globe Life Field in Arlington, joined by Cole Swindell, LOCASH, and RaeLynn.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Napoleon Dynamite Live! The 20th anniversary of the beloved indie classic Napoleon Dynamite will be celebrated at this special event. The evening includes a full screening of the film followed by a moderated discussion with fan-favorite cast members Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). The event takes place at Majestic Theatre.

Sunday, September 15

Avatar: The Last Airbender in concert At this special concert, a live orchestra will bring Avatar: The Last Airbender ’s musical score to life, in harmony with highlights and favorite moments from the series. Asian instruments like taiko and erhu will share the spotlight with violins and clarinets while the series' scenes play out on screen. There will be two performances on Sunday at Majestic Theatre.

Texas Ballet Theater presents Cinderella at Winspear Opera House, September 13-15.

Movie Review: Two ideas compete for the soul of 'My Old Ass' but sweetness finally wins

They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers anxiety, paranoia and nervousness

They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.

“Dude, I'm you,” says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. “Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?”

What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for “My Old Ass” and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.

After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.

“Can we hug?” asks the older Elliott. They do. “This is so weird,” says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name “My Old Ass.” Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.

Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.

The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where “my life is about to start.” She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.

Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair relationships with her golf-loving older brother and gloriously odd younger one, who has an obsession with Saoirse Ronan. This is a filmmaker who knows siblings and how they vibe.

Then Chad pops up.

Chad is sweet and thoughtful and goofy and cute and smart and resourceful and really, really into Elliott. “Everything about him feels so right,” the younger wails. A central question in the movie is why My Old Ass wants young Elliott to stay away from Chad, played so beautifully by Percy Hynes White that you want to shake sense into both women.

Both parts of Park's movie — the coming-of-age tale and the me-visiting-from-the-future tale — work, but maybe not in the same movie, a little like the two different Elliotts. The tone of each part are different, one wistful, the other zany, and together threaten to pull “My Old Ass” apart.

Aside from a stunningly funny ‘shroom-induced dream sequence that includes a Justin Bieber concert, Park is strongest exploring the liminal space between one thing ending and another beginning — soft beautiful memories that are sad and yet necessary.

Both Chad and Elliott’s mother (a strong Maria Dizzia) have lovely dialogue about the profound effects that tiny moments of change can have: Sometimes you know it has ended forever — like a baby transitioning from your bed to a crib — and sometimes you never get to say goodbye, like the last day you spent all day messing around with your friends on bikes.

Even if the road is a little rocky, stay for a satisfying end, one in which, somewhat predictably, the younger Elliott offers some wise advice to the older. There's a moment or two when Chad threatens to overpower “My Old Ass” and steer it into a third movie, but Park knows her way out. It's a story that has always been about the younger Elliott and seeing her finally steer her boat — literally and metaphorically — is a joy.

“My Old Ass,” an Amazon MGM Studios release that opens in movie theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday and wide Sept. 27, is rated R for “for language throughout, drug use and sexual material.” Running time: 89 minutes. two and a half stars out of four.

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‘speak no evil’ review: james mcavoy is in top sinister form in a slow-burn blumhouse thriller that almost works.

Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis play the victims in a remake of the 2022 Danish horror movie about two families holed up in a remote farmhouse.

By Caryn James

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J. K. Simmons Couldn't Say No to 'Juror No. 2' as Clint Eastwood's Final Movie Sets Release Date

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Legendary director Clint Eastwood 's purported final movie, Juror No. 2 , will open in select theatres on November 1, just days after it makes its world premiere at the 38th AFI Fest, where it will close the festival, but it's as yet unknown if the movie will get a wide release. The plot of Juror No. 2 centers on a juror who slowly comes to realize that he may be responsible for the very murder at the heart of the trial he’s sitting on. The legal drama delves into deep moral questions, where the lines between guilt, responsibility, and justice are blurred. The film features a stellar cast, including Nicholas Hoult , Toni Collette , Zoey Deutch , Eastwood's daughter Francesca Eastwood , and J.K. Simmons .

“There is only one Clint Eastwood — and AFI is proud to present the World Premiere of this next chapter in his historic canon,” said Bob Gazzale , AFI President and CEO. “We are honored to bring the community together once again – artists and audiences – to celebrate an American icon.”

Simmons Jumped at the Opportunity To Join a Clint Eastwood Movie

J.K. Simmons as Ray King, wearing a jacket and hat in The Accountant.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Whiplash , Collider’s Steve Weintraub recently sat down with Damien Chazelle and J.K. Simmons at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss not only their iconic film but also some of their upcoming projects. Simmons has what he described as a "nice sized part" in Eastwood’s Juror No. 2, positioned as the Hollywood icon's final film . During the interview, Simmons opened up about what it was like to work with the legendary director. When asked about his experience making Juror No. 2 , Simmons didn't hesitate to express his excitement. He told Collider:

“It was fantastic. When my wonderful agent sent it to me, he was like, ‘Eh, it's not a great part, probably a pass.’ I read it, and it's a very nice medium-small, little supporting part in it, but I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? It's a Clint Eastwood movie. Am I gonna not do a movie with Clint Eastwood?’”

Though Simmons acknowledged that his role wasn’t large, the opportunity to work with Eastwood was an immediate draw. He emphasized that joining a project led by a filmmaking legend like Eastwood wasn't something that required a great deal of thought. For Simmons, getting to work with such a talented group under Eastwood's direction was a "no-brainer." Simmons also talked about how production was interrupted by the SAG-AFTRA strike . The team initially didn’t expect the strike to halt the film's progress, but it inevitably did. “We were in week three before the strike. First of all, we thought, ‘There's not gonna be a strike,’ and second of all, because I'm a naive idiot, I was thinking like, ‘They’re not gonna stop Clint Eastwood from making a movie!’”

Despite the disruption, Simmons noted that the experience of filming in Savannah, Georgia, was wonderful, and he's eagerly awaiting the final cut of the movie. “We didn’t go back to work until October and finished the film... I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I’m excited about it.”

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on Juror No. 2 . In the meantime, Whiplash is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.

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COMMENTS

The Old Ways
Rated: 6/10 Nov 21, 2021 Full Review Alejandro Turdó Hoy Sale Cine The Old Ways is a slow burn supernatural Horror tale that goes from psychological Thriller to full monster showdown. A story ...
The Old Ways Movie Review
Our review: Parents say ( 1 ): Kids say ( 1 ): This fantastical, bloody, and winsome horror movie thrills from start to finish. Except for a love it or hate it double ending, The Old Ways is a refreshingly simple and taut take on the exorcism horror genre.
The Old Ways
Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 21, 2021. Alejandro Turdó Hoy Sale Cine. The Old Ways is a slow burn supernatural Horror tale that goes from psychological Thriller to full monster ...
The Old Ways (FrightFest) review
The Old Ways is a very well-made film, written with understanding and presented with care. It's creepy, gruesome in parts, has an intriguing story and fascinating basis in lore. The only snag (for me, anyway) is that it is neither exciting nor scary, and I had been led to expect it would be at least one of those.
The Old Ways
Original-Cin. Oct 15, 2021. The Old Ways might have continued along a path of deception and naïve beliefs and have survived on its bleak and irreverent humour, but director Alender steers the film from dark to darker. It's not quite an about-face, as the film never reaches a point where it can be taken too seriously, but it does churn out a ...
The Old Ways (2020)
The Old Ways: Directed by Christopher Alender. With Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortés, Julia Vera, Sal Lopez. Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, travels to her ancestral home in Veracruz to investigate a story of sorcery and healing. There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals who claim she's the devil incarnated.
The Old Ways
With plenty of twists and turns, The Old Ways works as metaphor and as horror as Cristina finds herself in a role reversal in order to ultimately deliver the death blow to the demon determined to keep advancing. From Dark Star Pictures, The Old Ways is available October 12 on streaming services and on Blu-ray/DVD. MPAA Rating: Unrated.
The Old Ways
The Old Ways is a 2020 American folk horror film directed by Christopher Alender. It stars Brigitte Kali Canales as Cristina Lopez, a Mexican-American reporter who returns to her hometown near Veracruz in search of a story on witchcraft. [1] There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals, including a bruja (a female practitioner of witchcraft), who believe her to be possessed by a demon.
The Old Ways (2020)
5/10. Not a bad film, but not really a good one either. darkreignn 26 August 2021. "The Old Ways" is, in many ways, your run of the mill horror flick. In other ways, however, it manages to pull its own weight and elevate itself beyond what you would typically expect from a film in this genre. For better or for worse, there is ultimately not ...
The Old Ways
The Old Ways is a masterpiece that shows how great horror will be done in the future: swiftly paced, engrossing and terrifying. The film could have easily worked as a dramatic movie with occult trappings like Serpent and the Rainbow, as it takes its characters and themes seriously and nurtures them throughout the story. Its pacing helps engross ...
The Old Ways Movie Review
There have been countless exorcism films in the horror genre, and The Old Ways refreshingly breaks free from the pack to tell an original film that's rooted in connecting to one's ancestors. Written by Marcos Gabriel and directed by Christopher Alender, The Old Ways fuses the best parts of a mystery into a demon-hunting tale while showcasing the badass rituals of a Bruja.
The Old Ways (Review)
The Old Ways (Review) by Blacktooth Nov 15, 2021, 7:09 pm 0. Director - Christopher Alender (Memorial Day, Muppets Now) Starring - Brigitte Kali Canales (Fear the Walking Dead, Baby Driver), Andera Cortes (Sins of a Call Girl, Criminal Minds), and Julia Vera (Mayans M.C., Blow) Release Date - 2020. Rating - 3/5.
‎The Old Ways (2020) directed by Christopher Alender • Reviews, film
Brigitte Kali Canales Andrea Cortés Julian Lerma Sal Lopez Julia Vera AJ Bowen. 90 mins More at IMDb TMDb. Sign in to log, rate or review. Share. Ratings. 17 fans 2.7. ★. 306 half-★ ratings (2%) 651 ★ ratings (5%)
A new Netflix horror movie has an almost perfect Rotten ...
A new horror movie has arrived on Netflix - and it's definitely one to get watched, as it has an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. The Old Ways hit the streamer in August following its ...
The Old Ways (2021)
Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, travels to her ancestral home in Veracruz to investigate a story of sorcery and healing. There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals who claim she's the devil incarnated. Christopher Alender. Director. Marcos Gabriel.
The Old Ways, Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortes, (Horror Movie Review)
Still, for a low-budget horror import and a sophomore effort made 20 years after the director's first film, THE OLD WAYS is fresh and ferocious enough to give a look when it drops on VOD October ...
THE OLD WAYS: The Horror In Addiction And Recovery
Premiering this weekend at the 2020 Sitges Film Festival, The Old Ways, from director Christopher Alender, is a horror film that takes you below the equator and into the jungle of forgotten traditions. Cleverly balancing the elements of horror with its deeply relevant and urgent themes, The Old Ways is sure to satisfy both viewer and horror ...
Netflix Horror!
Are The Old Ways the Best Ways? Find out here as I examine this new Netflix horror movie with a spoiler free review!𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://rottedreviews.co...
The Old Ways
Available On Demand October 12thWorld Premiere at Sitges Film Festival, followed by a healthy run of genre and international festivals including Panic Fest, ...
A movie I wrote
Directed by my pal Christopher Alender. An indie horror movie, labor of love, played the festival circuit - and luckily Netflix grabbed it and it's available in 250 territories right now. I love all you maniacs that make up this Dreadit community and I can't wait for you to check it out (although I am girding my loins - you can be a tough crowd ...
The Old Ways (Netflix) was a very pleasant surprise : r/horror
The Old Ways (Netflix) was a very pleasant surprise. Definitely recommend this movie! Even though on it's surface it's just another demon exorcism movie it was also very unique and refreshing and put a very different spin on the whole genre. Also had some really great tension building scenes. Overall really worth checking out! 87. Sort by: Best.
The Old Ways : r/horror
The Old Ways. This movie has a 95% rating from critics on rotten tomatoes. That's insane to me and as bad as this movie is, it almost leads me to believe the critics were paid off by Netflix. The critics wax poetic about the originality of this movie, when in reality this movie is emblematic of its name; a return to old cliches demon movies.
This 41-Year-Old Underrated Horror Was Part Of Disney's Darkest Period
One of the reasons Something Wicked This Way Comes is overlooked is due to the film's poor box office performance.The movie had an estimated production budget of $20 million but only made $8.4 million, making it a financial failure for the production company. Something Wicked This Way Comes was released during a period when Disney was producing movies in the horror genre that made more of a ...
The Front Room Review: Crappy Horror Weaponizes Incontinence
The 40 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now (Sept. 2024) The 35 Best Anime of All Time A solution to the not-quite-happy couple's financial burdens soon presents itself, in the form of Norman ...
Booger review: Cat-based body horror comedy makes you squirm
Things get worse when Booger stages an open rebellion, biting Anna's hand and bolting down the fire escape. Faced with an onslaught of work calls, visits from Izzy's grieving mother (Marcia ...
James McAvoy is terrifying in new horror film Speak No Evil
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