IR Film Review: CRAZY OLD LADY [Shudder]
The concept of "Crazy Old Lady" takes the very real aspect of dementia and takes it to a horror structure degree. It never takes itself beyond its means and is anchored by a vivid performance of actress Carmen Maura as Alicia, the mother/grandmother in question. There is a slightly abstract nature to the proceedings which take place mostly inside a dreary and yet almost gothic house that Alicia lives in. Her daughter is a day or so away visiting friends (it is not as clear why) and finds a phone call with her mother where a nurse disappears a bit distressing. There is a context of another for Alicia (a husband before the mother's dad). The film adds its supernatural twist in a way but it is done through in a dream through the mind of the granddaughter which might be the sign of an unreliable narrator. This might explain certain aspects of the film but the possibility of possession versus mental breakdown is never quite brought to bear (nor does it really need to be). Daniel Hendler plays Pedro, an inept of sorts ex-husband of the daughter Laura (Agustina Liendo) brought in to watch over Alicia and give her her pills until the daughter gets there. Alicia isn't one to be taken care of. She seems to split between personalities but believes Pedro (because of his mustache) is a former husband/paramour.
The aspect is that writer/director Martín Mauregui does point to something real in the past but also something beyond. Alicia's constraining of Pedro is reminiscent of something else in her life. The true or false questions she uses to play her games are grey in their very setting and set up. There is obviously a lot more detail and backstory that could have been explored here but Mauregui simply leaves that up to the audience. When a realtor (obviously the house is set to be sold) comes knocking with a mother and her baby, there is a sense of what the deranged grandmother might do but it walks a tightrope which is part of the point. Maura doesn't flinch and while there is a glimpse of humor in how Pedro reacts and acts, it is mostly darkly progressed but it never quite gets into dread which is interesting. This is mostly because Alicia never seems unintelligent in what she does. Even in the final moments, there is a great misdirect though the reality is that it could possibly be (again) in someone else' mind (but likely not). "Crazy Old Lady" uses an adage but never loses the strength of the main character. She may be misguided and unhinged but she is force, beyond that of her own mind. B
By Tim Wassberg
