“The Virgin of the Quarry Lake” teases viewers with the promise of eerie folklore and psychological horror but ultimately devolves into a sluggish coming-of-age tale that takes far too long to reach its payoff. Director Laura Casabe, adapting a short story by Mariana Enríquez, crafts a film steeped in Argentina’s tense socio-economic backdrop circa 2001, but the social commentary never fully melds with its supernatural ambitions.
The film tells the story of Natalia (Dolores Oliverio), a teenager navigating heartbreak and jealousy when her childhood friend Diego (Agustín Sosa) is lured away by the older, more experienced Silvia (Fernanda Echevarría). Driven by rejection, Natalia seeks dark magic to sabotage their relationship, only to awaken something far more disturbing within herself.
The film hints at supernatural horror but never fully commits, instead lingering on expository scenes that sap momentum and test the audience’s patience. It’s not bad, it’s just disappointing.
Casabé nails the steamy, oppressive atmosphere of a summer where everything simmers with tension, and Oliverio delivers a raw and believable portrayal of adolescent turmoil. The visual precision and evocative tone show promise, capturing the confusion and anger that can consume a teenage girl. However, the film becomes bogged down by excessive exposition and sluggish pacing, making the journey feel interminable.
When the payoff finally arrives, it delivers a satisfyingly twisted ending — but it’s too little, too late. The diluted buildup lacks the necessary suspense or emotional weight, and the themes of self-empowerment and sexual awakening are intriguing but remain under explored.
“The Virgin of the Quarry Lake” has a lot of good ideas simmering beneath its surface, but it ultimately falls victim to its own narrative meandering.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 