The Legend Of La Llorona Release Date, Cast And Plot - What We Know So Far

The mythology of La Llorona, sometimes called "The Weeping Woman" or "Wailing Woman," has been told for centuries, but no one is really sure where it first came from (per Legends of America). There are stories about "weeping women" going back to the early 1500s, with similarities in the different stories told throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America. The underlying theme of all of these stories is of a woman whose children drowned, either by her own hand or by accident, leaving her doomed to wander the earth until she finds them. Often, the story is told to children to deter them from going off on their own or playing near water (via Library of Congress).

Given the possibilities with a folk story such as La Llorona, it shouldn't be surprising that it's become a popular horror movie plot over the past several years. Two years ago, the creators of "The Conjuring" film series debuted their own version, "The Curse of La Llorona," starring Linda Cardellini. And this January, we will see director Patricia Harris Seeley's version, "The Legend of La Llorona," released in theaters. Here's what you need to know.

"The Legend of La Llorona" was filmed in Mexico City, and is the feature film debut of director Patricia Harris Seeley, who is better known for directing television shows like "Puppy SOS" and "Caution: May Contain Nuts." This La Llorona film has absolutely nothing to do with 2019's "The Curse of La Llorona," or the Guatemalan "La Llorona" film that was released that same year.

The story was written by Cameron Larson, and screenplay writer Jose Prendes has plenty of experience with the horror genre, penning films "Blood Brothers" and "Hansel and Gretel." It's distributed by Saban Films, a boutique distribution company based in Los Angeles that also distributed Danny Trejo's films "Pups Alone" and "American Sicario" this year. Other recently released Saban films are "Ida Red" starring Josh Hartnett, "American Night," starring Jeremy Piven and Emile Hirsch. 

"The Legend of La Llorona" will be released in theaters on January 7, 2022, and available on-demand and digital on January 11, 2022 (via Pop Horror).

Autumn Reeser, Antonio Cupo, Nicolas Madrazo, and Danny Trejo star in "The Legend of La Llorona." Trejo is the most well-known actor in the film, playing the cab driver, Jorge. His most recognizable role is probably the character of Machete from the children's movie series "Spy Kids," which later became its own series of films geared toward adults.

Reeser, who plays Carly, is best known for her role as Taylor Townsend on the popular series "The O.C.," and smaller roles in the Tom Hanks film "Sully," and the HBO series "Entourage." Reeser and co-star Cupo, who plays her husband Andrew, also recently filmed the Christmas movie, "A Glenbrooke Christmas." "The Legend of La Llorona" marks the fourth film these actors have co-starred in together. Madrazo plays the couple's son, Danny, who gets taken by La Llorona. This is his feature film debut.

"The Legend of La Llorona" follows a family visiting Mexico. The family consists of Andrew and Carly Candlewood and their son, Danny. In the trailer, they arrive at the home they're staying in, and are curious about one of the paintings, in which a woman is violently crossed out. The caretaker of the home tells them the man in the photo built the house. After they all go to bed for the night, there is a violent wind that blows the windows open, and we see wet footprints leading down the hallway. When Carly runs into Danny's room, she discovers him missing. The caretaker tells them the story of La Llorona, which leads to several jump scares where we see Carly being followed, a broken doll, and a man with blood running from his eyes. Jorge is seen with a gun, and Danny tells his mom, "She's coming. I don't want her to take me." The trailer ends with Danny being grabbed.

Judging from Carly's distant facial expression in the cab, and when Jorge asks if they're visiting for business or pleasure and Andrew avoids giving an answer, you can sense there's an underlying tension in this family. That, paired with the questions surrounding the crossed-out portrait in the home they're staying in, says that there's more to this story that will be revealed. Regardless of the emotional depth, "The Legend of La Llorona" looks like it can be counted on for quite a few jump scares, which is exactly what people are looking for when they see a horror movie like this.