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Under a Spell

Play trailer Under a Spell 1998 2h 10m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Abused adolescent Eliseo (Daniel Acuña) spends the night with his beautiful schoolteacher, Felipa (Blanca Guerra), after one of his father's violent outbursts. Afterward, the previously poor student begins making excellent grades. Further suspicions are raised around the coastal village when the school's principal, Felipa's sailor boyfriend and several of the boys who teased Eliseo are found dead. Run out of town and accused of witchcraft, Felipa re-enters Eliseo's life nine years later.

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Casi una joya!, una historia por demas original, sencilla sin caer en lo ridiculo Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member A lost gem of Mexican cinema...not without its problems though, this should've been a 5 star film but only get 4 from me due to the mess of symbolism that could've been more focused but was nonetheless an essential part of the movie. I had a problem with the trivialization of child abuse in the movie as seemingly "normal" and that it was women put in the position of abusers. If anything the movie really makes me want to seek out the book the movie was based upon, to see how it probably is a little more subtle and nuanced in the themes the movie portrays. Carrera should be commended on making on of the best Mexican films of the 90's, really captures the feel of the time periods in which the story takes place (the 1920's, then the late 40's), the social problems of Latin America and the larger political landscape that came into shape by the end of the movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Under a Spell

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Cast & Crew

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Carlos Carrera

Director

Damián Delgado

Nemesio (adult)

Daniel Acuña

Eliseo (Young)

Vanessa Bauche

Magda

Gerardo Campbell

Fabián

Elpidia Carrillo

Esposa del Brujo

Movie Info

Synopsis Abused adolescent Eliseo (Daniel Acuña) spends the night with his beautiful schoolteacher, Felipa (Blanca Guerra), after one of his father's violent outbursts. Afterward, the previously poor student begins making excellent grades. Further suspicions are raised around the coastal village when the school's principal, Felipa's sailor boyfriend and several of the boys who teased Eliseo are found dead. Run out of town and accused of witchcraft, Felipa re-enters Eliseo's life nine years later.
Director
Carlos Carrera
Producer
Bertha Navarro, Guillermo del Toro
Screenwriter
Carlos Carrera, Martín Salinas, Marcel Sisniega
Production Co
Tequila Gang
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Spanish
Runtime
2h 10m
Sound Mix
Surround