A Fisherman's Tale

"Un cuento de pescadores" is a great folk horror film based on the creature known as "La Miringua", whose folklore has its roots in Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, Mexico. Director Edgar Nito does an excellent job bringing this story to the big screen, transforming it into four different stories about the inhabitants of a fishing island on Lake Pátzcuaro who somehow find themselves connected to this mermaid-like creature. The performances are strong, with Renata Vaca, Andrés Delgado, and Ruby Vizcarra standing out as "La Miringua". The cinematography is magnificent, replete with natural lighting, silhouettes, and chiaroscuro that give a sinister atmosphere to the filming locations on the lakeshore. The underwater scenes are also noteworthy. The music composed for the film is utterly eerie and increases the tension in key scenes. The editing work manages to tell the story intensely by uniting the lives of the island's inhabitants. The special makeup effects are magnificent and realistic, and "La Miringua" is extremely chilling. Worth mentioning is the incredible scene with Renata Vaca and Ruby Vizcarra, which emulates Goya's painting of Saturn Devouring His Son. "Un cuento de pescadores" is a great folk horror production, with an addictive story.

The movie brings a Purépecha legend to the screen in a way that feels both respectful and cinematic. It's a story well known among the communities around Lake Pátzcuaro, but not widely recognized beyond that, and this film might be the one to change that. It helps give this piece of regional folklore the attention it deserves.

The cinematography is stunning, capturing the atmosphere and spirit of the lake towns beautifully. The performances are strong across the board, with a cast that feels genuinely connected to their roles. While there are definitely some well-executed scares, what really stands out is how the story makes you care about the characters. You get invested in what happens to them, and the film draws you into its world.

It's refreshing to see this kind of bold, culturally rooted storytelling in Mexican horror. Not just for the scares, but for the stories it chooses to tell.