Virgin of the Quarry Lake (Sundance 2025) Review – Hell Hath No Fury Like A Scorned Teenager

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“Virgin of the Quarry Lake” Film Details

• Runtime: 1 Hour and 35 Minutes
• Release Date: January 30, 2025
• Initially Available On/Via: Film Festival – Sundance
• Advisory Film Rating: Not Rated
• Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Romance, Young Adult, Non-English (Spanish)
• Director(s): Laura Casabé
• Writer(s): Benjamin Naishtat
• Based On Work By: Mariana Enriquez

Plot Summary

In her late teens, Natalia has experienced the kind of loss that makes it so that while her grandmother Rita may have remained by her side, she is not enough. Enter Diego, the guy Natalia has had her eyes on and even hooked up with before. She wants more from him, a boyfriend, to go all the way, but with the rise of instant messaging, Diego meets Silvia, and she becomes an instant rival.

But what Silvia doesn’t know, and maybe Rita as well, is that there is a darkness brewing in Natalia, and it appears getting in her way could have deadly consequences.

Character Descriptions

Natalia (Dolores Oliverio)

Natalia is in her late teens, has been raised by her grandmother for the most part, and was fairly popular at school. However, despite her popularity, especially with boys, the one she has set her eyes on seemingly hasn’t given her the time of day in a way that felt meaningful – and she hopes to change that this summer.

Diego (Agustin Sosa)

Diego is treated as one of the hottest guys around, at least in Natalia’s world. Hence why she, even her friends, to a point, wants him.

Silvia (Fernanda Echeverria)

Silvia is someone Diego met online, and she is a force to be reckoned with. She presents the idea she has traveled and is cultured, and while Natalia may not see Silvia as pretty as her, Silvia does offer a lot that Natalia can’t, which keeps Diego interested.

Rita (Luisa Merelas)

Rita is Natalia’s grandmother who is into some bruja-type stuff but also is an old school and traditional woman – the type who has needs but also positions herself to be a matriarch for the neighborhood, in a way. But, it is because she is old school that she sometimes finds herself in conflict with Natalia to the point of saying cruel things to try to humble her.

Review

Characters

Highlight(s)

• Layers To Natalia [83/100]

Natalia is the type of character who could easily fall onto the side of a potentially mean girl or someone who hasn’t gotten her way for most of her life, so it could be believed she deserves this one thing. However, Natalia isn’t simple or easy to pin down. Does she give queen bee vibes at times? Yes. However, as shown by Silvia’s ability to swoop in, her influence is limited.

Yet, because of how she is humbled at home, considering she is being raised by her grandmother as opposed to her both, assumingly alive, parents, you see there is more to her. And it isn’t the case of her feeling powerless at home so she seeks to feel empowered outside the home, for when a kid comes to live with her, she cares for him like a little brother. Maybe not at first, but definitely in time.

And it is with discovering Natalia isn’t one note that you become invested in her, root for her, and even are on her side when it seems she only intends to cause harm.

On The Fence

• You May Feel There Isn’t Enough About Diego To Get The Attraction [73/100]

Diego fits the bill of the guy a lead character seems obsessed with, but you don’t get it. What talents does Diego have? What was with words, prospects, or anything to make him so attractive he can have sway over Natalia? It’s understood they’ve known each other for a long time, but it also presents that Natalia could have anyone she wanted.

So is it just a case of her wanting something she cannot have? The abandonment of her parents making it so she likes the idea of having someone who is unavailable? Either way, the one good thing about her crush on Diego is what happens to it in the end.

World-Building & Culture

Highlight(s)

• A Weird Vibe Across Where Natalia Traverses [82/100]

A lot about where Natalia is from, the people there, and the culture will make you raise an eyebrow. From Rita seemingly wanting to support Natalia by putting a curse on Silvia, the stories Silvia tells, this rotting cart in the neighborhood, and more, it feels out of place at first, but it all comes together by the end of “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake” to make what happens in the ending less weird. It’s still very bizarre but less weird since, technically, you have been shown something is off about this place since the beginning.

On top of that, something is off with Natalia too.

Story & Pacing

Highlight(s)

• You Know What The End Goal Is And Enjoy The Ride [81/100]

Sometimes, it is nice to know the end goal of a film and not just watch a series of events until the film hits around 90 minutes and begins the wrap-up. Natalia wants Diego. Whether as a boyfriend or to sleep with him, she wants this man. Now, is she willing to do anything it takes? Yes and no.

Story-wise, because Diego isn’t shown to be a hot commodity, but it isn’t 100% clear why, this can mess with the pacing of “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake.” You know Natalia only has the summer to seal the deal, but there is this sense that there isn’t a rush, and we’re going day by day. At times, that is fine because Rita brings enough to the situation to keep Natalia’s love triangle from getting dull. But, you never lose sight of what this film is ultimately about and rarely does it feel like the pacing slows down as life happens outside of Natalia’s crush or when the focus is her trying to seduce Diego into taking initiative.

Diverse Hooks & (Re)Watch Value

Highlight(s)

• Fully Wishing This Was A Series [84/100]

Because of all that goes on within “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake,” you’ll wish it got to be expanded on. From the mystical elements introduced, wanting more of Rita and her dating life, Natalia’s overall family dynamics, to wanting to get to know the people in the community more, including Natalia’s best friends who lowkey sometimes seem to just be there, there is so much to want more of here.

Which, often can feel like a negative, not touching on this subject, developing that person, or explaining that situation more. But with “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake,” it just feels like you are on vacation and only get to see and experience so much, and by the time the trip ends, you know you have to come back to hopefully fill in some missing pieces.

Overall

Our Rating (80/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

While the central focus of “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake,” Natalia’s crush on Diego, may not make a whole lot of sense, there is so much life and things to take an interest in outside of the often boring Diego that it is easy to feel the film compensates for what he lacks. Thus allowing you to get into what “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake” has to offer and want more as it ends.

Content Information

• Dialog: Cursing
• Violence: Gore, Blood, Torture
• Sexual Content: Nudity (Mild, Limited [Female – Chest]), Sexual Situations (Soft-C, Implied)
• Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Drinking, Drug Use, Smoking

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External Links

• “The Virgin Of The Quarry Lake” Sundance Page