Shudder’s Crazy Old Lady (FANTASTIC) Lives Up to Its Title
Title: Crazy Old Lady
First Non-Festival Release: October 10, 2025 (Theatrical Release)
Director: Martín Mauregui
Writer: Martín Mauregui
Runtime: 94 Minutes
Starring: Carmen Maura, Daniel Hendler, Agustina Liendo
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2025.
Dementia and other memory related illnesses devastate families every year. No matter how rapidly or slowly the disease affects one’s health, the consequences reverberate terribly for the sufferer and their families, who are forced to watch their descent.
Laura (Agustina Liendo) is in a bind when she calls her ex-boyfriend Pedro (Daniel Hendler). Her mother Alicia (Carmen Maura) is left without a nurse as she travels miles away to see her daughter’s father. She turns to Pedro as a last-minute carer. Kindly, he obliges. Once there, Alicia confuses him for her late abusive lover, César, beginning a terrifying game that Pedro is forced to play for his life.
A tense hagsploitation horror that avoids typical pitfalls of the subgenre, Crazy Old Lady is a fun, contained thriller.
The trauma Alicia lived through as a young woman has clearly survived through the memory loss, making an interesting point on the persistence of these sorts of experiences. Vivid enough to pierce through that veil, it’s clear to see how it has shaped Alicia. Between her persistent nightmares and contentious relationship with her daughter, it is no wonder that Alicia jumped at the chance to dish out some poetic justice on a man that did his best to destroy her when she believes he has returned. And what a terrible fate! In her twilight years, typically meant for relaxation and personal goals, Alicia is condemned to be a prisoner in her own mind to a man she long since escaped. Although never pictured, no one quite haunts the film more than the specter of the evil man who created the monstrous echoes of Alicia’s former self. Whether it is trauma to the body or trauma to the mind, it keeps score either way.
This remains the focus, rather than the typical tropes other hagsploitation films take in telling their stories of murderous old people. Alicia has agency even when her memory betrays her. Dangerous not because of her illness but by what it conceals, her moments of clarity come infrequently but with enough danger coloring the edges to make her lucidity as tense as her ferocity. It’s not just the presence of these choices but the absence of the more harmful, less interesting ones that build up Crazy Old Lady. Alicia’s mind is what elicits fear, not her body. Treated with as much dignity as a psychopathic killer can be, her low moments never have to do with her sexuality. For a sub-genre so plagued with these issues, it is a welcome change.
Carmen Maura gives a great leading performance opposite Daniel Hendler’s more rational foil allowing the insanity to truly come to a boil. Layering her performance beautifully, it is easy to see Maura in many lights. Inspiring frustration out of her daughter, initial pity from Pedro, and eventually downright terror from all, Maura makes Alicia dynamic even when she occupies one of these lanes. Ticks evolve, words are re-emphasized, and emotions are dialed up to ten. Part of the delight in Crazy Old Lady is waiting for Alicia’s next move, which allows Maura to play with her timing to delightful results. While the story didn’t always make these beats as unexpected as one would hope, Maura’s performance adds just enough volatility to Alicia to make her an exciting character.
The only limiting element to Crazy Old Lady comes from the static nature of the story’s geography. Since most of the story takes place in one room, it’s easy to get restless watching Pedro struggle against the armchair. Pedro’s confinement not only sidelines his character but traps the audience close by to ensure that the focus never drifts too far away from him. Alicia’s memory conveniently works around most of the obstacles placed in her way, making some of the horror feel unearned. Once or twice would be fine but Alicia gets the upper hand a bit too often to work. Alone, either of these issues would be easy to write off but together they end up dragging the pacing and blunting the effect Alicia has on intimidating Pedro. Still, even in the chaos Crazy Old Lady sneaks in a few shocks and surprises.
An overall enjoyable experience, Crazy Old Lady is a solid horror film that clearly enjoys playing with its audience. Subverting typical hagsploitation tropes, Crazy Old Lady walks a tonal tightrope in delivering its own brand of offbeat psychological horror. Excellent performances, a great concept, and a sharp sense of humor make Martín Mauregui’s zany horror film memorable. Thankfully, you won’t have to wait long to meet Alicia as Shudder is getting the details of your care appointment figured out for some time in 2026.
Overall Score? 7/10
