Children are really quite creepy-looking. There is something about their androgynous and out-of-proportion features that freaks me out more than just a little. And Carlos Enrique Taboada understood that. Coming off the mega-success of Hasta el viento tiene miedo, Taboada decided to direct another ghost story, albeit one of a slightly different variety. Instead of sexy schoolgirls we here have a sickly ten year old girl, Sylvia, whose father and step mother fear is developing a mental illness, because she spends all of her time playing with her friend "Hugo" who does not even exist, or at least is never seen. So her father hires a new governess for her, Julia, played by Marga Lopez. Lopez, who played the evil headmistress in Hasta el viento tiene miedo, here plays a completely different kind of character, one who is loving and sensitive as opposed to well, absolutely awful. Despite initial resistance from Sylvia, Julia manages to form a bond with the little girl, but soon things begin to take a turn for the worse when strange things begin to happen around the house that are all connected with a statue near the lake, a statue of a boy named, of course, Hugo. Forget all these Paranormal Activity and Inisidious-type movies coming out of Hollywood lately, this is real terror, legitimate nightmare fuel. I swear I could not sleep after watching this late at night in the dark. The shot of Hugo's face in the mirror, slightly obscured by the darkness is something that once seen can never be forgotten. And unlike today's horror movies, Taboada lingers on the image, allows it to sear into one's mind, he does not screw around. Watch at your own risk.
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