Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- claustrophobic
- visceral
- late night horror marathon
- folklore horror double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an effective but uneven folk-horror and possession story, with strong atmosphere and cultural specificity offset by reliance on jump scares.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story centers on Veracruz sorcery, shamanic healing, witchcraft, and Mexican folklore.
Locals use spiritual practices and blood magic to confront the claimed demonic possession.
Cristina is kidnapped and told that she is the devil incarnated.
Creepy totems and blood magic provide recurring supernatural imagery.
Films like The Old Ways, and why
The Exorcist
shared possession horror, folk magic, ritual healing, and Latin American cultural context
The Wailing
shared folk horror atmosphere, indigenous spiritual traditions, and a protagonist confronting supernatural forces
The Curse of La Llorona
shared witchcraft, ancestral folklore, female-centered supernatural horror, and ritualistic dread
The Taking of Deborah Logan
shared body possession, occult ritual, graphic violence, and claustrophobic supernatural tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Christopher Alender
- Release Date
- 2021-04-04
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (388)
Cast
- Brigitte Kali Canales
- Andrea Cortés
- Julian Lerma
- Sal Lopez
- Julia Vera
- AJ Bowen
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Old Ways about?
- A Mexican American journalist investigating Veracruz sorcery is abducted into a brutal ritual struggle over whether she is possessed or misunderstood.
- What is The Old Ways like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Old Ways as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Old Ways violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Old Ways as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Old Ways?
- Critics generally found the film an effective but uneven folk-horror and possession story, with strong atmosphere and cultural specificity offset by reliance on jump scares.
- Which films are like The Old Ways?
- Films with a similar feel include The Exorcist, The Wailing, The Curse of La Llorona, and The Taking of Deborah Logan.
- How long is The Old Ways?
- The Old Ways runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Old Ways?
- In United States, The Old Ways is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
