‘Crazy Old Lady’ Review: A Must-See Spanish Language Horror Film [Fantastic Fest 2025]
With the end of this year’s Fantastic Fest in sight, I’m here to report that Crazy Old Lady (Vieja Loca) is one of the standout movies from the fest. Debuting on September 21, 2025, by Argentine screenwriter and director Martín Mauregui (who also dedicated his debut movie to his Mom), Crazy Old Lady is a film filled with dread, suspense, and the heartbreak of caring for an ailing parent. To be very direct, this Spanish-language film is worth the 120-plus minutes of your time.
We follow Pedro (Daniel Hendler) as he decides to lend a helping hand to his ex-partner’s Mother, Alicia (Carmen Maura), after receiving a desperate call to check on her well-being. What starts as a regular wellness check initially filled with a few quirky moments quickly descends into the visit from hell after Pedro awakens to find that he has been held captive by the ailing Alicia, who currently believes that Pedro is a person from her past named “César”.
Shortly after Predros’ arrival, we discover that Alicia has not been getting the appropriate support that she needs, thus resulting in memories from her “old life” consuming the reality of the present. Pedro is in for one hell of a ride, and we, the audience, have front row seats to this diabolical dissension.
Also Read: ‘Silver Screamers’ Review: A Must-See Documentary for Every Horror Fan [Fantastic Fest 2025]
The score of this film is perfectly layered with the sometimes overwhelming sense of unease and tension that plays out in each frame. Between the anticipation of what’s to come and the mystery surrounding the unknown, with all that was implied yet unsaid, Crazy Old Lady left me wanting to know so much more about Alicia and her journey. What was her life before, during, and “after” her time with the mysterious, yet seemingly vile, César, and how does that align with the history of disappearances (and how they are handled) in Argentina?
During the Q&A portion of the premiere (and mentioned briefly in the film itself), Martín Mauregui quickly touched on how historically it was not uncommon for folks to disappear without a trace and no appropriate follow-up.
Crazy Old Lady is a bleak film that makes you sit with the reality of being a caretaker to an aging loved one, but also shows you the horrors of what life may look like when the past shows up to visit in the present day. Paired with the sobering weight of accepting these horrors, despite how hard we may attempt to compartmentalize the many details of situations from our past lives, what’s done in the dark will always come to light.
Be sure to check out Crazy Old Lady when it is available at a theatre near you or on your streaming platform of choice (trigger warning for animal death and sexual assault).
If you’re looking to make this a double feature showing, this film pairs well with Viejos (The Elderly) (2022), directed by Fernando González and Raúl Cerezo. Or La Abuela (The Grandmother) (2021) directed by Paco Plaza.
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Crazy Old Lady
Summary
Filled with dread, suspense, and heartbreak, Crazy Old Lady is a Spanish film well worth your time.
Categorized: Reviews
