Even the Wind Is Afraid

A gem of Mexican horror that for too long remained confined to its home country, “Hasta el Viento Tiene Miedo” (US title: “Even the Wind is Afraid”) is a story of vengeance from beyond the grave, one that deserved greater success in light of its unquestionable narrative and visual quality. Written and directed by Carlos Enrique Taboada, who specializes in supernatural thrillers (especially as a writer), the story unfolds amidst Gothic splendor as tension relentlessly builds, reaching a cathartic culmination in the final act.

A compact and well-acted work that doesn’t shy away from delving into the psychological realm (vice-headmistress Lucía is a truly interesting character, particularly for her relationship to the strict school headmistress for whom she demonstrates a unique combination of deference, understanding, and attraction). In addition to the psychological aspect of the characters, the film also skillfully exploits sounds and shadows to convey a genuine sense of unease.

In fact, far from trying to scare the viewer with explicit or repugnant gruesomeness (“Was she [the presence] really ugly?” “No, all the opposite. And her hair is down to her waist”), the film attempts to convey horror through sensations, foreboding, unstated elements, and ineffable forces – the wind’s furious howling to symbolize the rage of a restless soul, that soul’s baleful influence on the school’s pets, the darkness of the night as a prerequisite for the spectral dimension to materialize, and so on.

Given this approach, it’s really no surprise that the anything-but-frightening depiction of the restless spirit (a beautiful teen who’s more than a little reminiscent of the girl in Mario Bava’s 1966 “Kill, Baby… Kill!”) manages to inspire a profound sense of menace while guaranteeing a healthy dose of shivers and chills for the viewer.

Basically, despite a lack of international recognition, “Even the Wind is Afraid” is a compelling film that fans of the genre definitely shouldn’t miss out on.