Sister Death (2023) User Reviews

Stunning cinematography but average plot

[pedroquintaoo · 6/10 · 1 November 2023]

"Sister Death" is a remarkable horror film for its stunning cinematography, with a palette of vibrant colors and dazzling lights that, if there were a category for Best Cinematography in Horror at the Oscars, would certainly deserve a nomination. Despite a plot that didn't fully engage me, the evocative atmosphere harks back to independent religious horror productions from the 60s and 70s.

Despite its imperfections, it outperforms previous films with a "nun" theme in the horror genre, such as "The Nun." However, some unresolved issues in the third act leave something to be desired, and there were certain points I didn't quite grasp, which might be due to my lack of recollection about "Veronica," the film to which this serves as a prequel. In summary, "Sister Death" is a visually stunning experience, though a more engaging narrative could have made it truly memorable.

Beautiful old style horror film

[Descent1 · 7/10 · 27 October 2023]

This movie is an old style horror which focuses more on the psychology than on cheap visuals to scare you. The setting is amazing the cinematography excellent and the actors played their role well. I liked it more than the Nun movies.

Director Plaza knows how to make viewers feel uncomfortable.

Of course it is not perfect but for a Friday night in Halloween period is a must. It is above average for Netflix standards.

If you love horrors and want something different than the modern ones give it a try and you won't regret it. Please note that it is a slow burn horror with some nice kills...!!!!

Great until..

[readwritereadwrite · 6/10 · 27 October 2023]

I really loved the premise of this film until the very bad morals let it down. Was it lazy writing? It was very unsatisfying to see the conclusion.

Why on earth was such a cruel fate meted out to a little girl (Rosa) who had nothing at all to do with ANY of the nonsense? Why were the two older nuns punished so harshly when the rapists were seen as a force of nature?

By the standards of the day, keeping the act quiet so mother and child could remain together would have been very brave and kind. The death was accidental. Why would the dead mother of the dead child be so full of revenge?

I tried to view the film from the position of 'women who do not stick together deserve punishment' but this does not excuse the death of the little girl by hanging.

The horror was good. The cinematography was excellent. Everything - the mood - the lighting - the soft focus. The image of the confessional lattice filled with eyes was very striking. I was completely absorbed by this film until the revelation at the end.

Weff.

What a shame.

Good slow paced horror movie

[iamangelcortes · 28 October 2023]

From the trailer the film visually looked a little more like an independent film in the sense of having long shots and a fixed camera. I have to say that I liked it a lot, the atmosphere is well constructed, the actors do a good job and above all, as many here have said, it is better than The Nun. I haven't seen the movie Veronica, but after watching this movie I'm going to watch it. I, personally, had not seen a horror film so well constructed and so well crafted for a long time, I was left speechless. I like Spanish cinema, and this director has done it quite well. The photography, on the other hand, is spectacular, it should win the Goya award for best photography, I hope so.

Good film

[PedroPires90 · 7/10 · 28 October 2023]

Good movie. I consider Veronica to be a superior film, but this is how you make a prequel. Completely different on its approach, with significance for the original story, yet very much its own thing.

Very good performance in the lead role by Aria Bedmar, whom I wasn't familiar with, but who showed a range of nuances in approaching this character. I loved the production design and cinematography, with Paco Plaza once again demonstrating his exceptional camera work, one of the best in the horror genre, and always maintaining impeccable mise en scene. Once again, sound - mixing, score and sountrack - is also a standout in his works. I can't say it was scary or terrifying, but it's a very well-paced story, creepy enough, and with some very interesting setpieces.

Finally a good horror movie with literally NO JUMPSCARES

[mdas-96055 · 7/10 · 30 October 2023]

Without spoiler: The movie Starts slow but it picks up the pace and it gets more disturbing with each passing second. For the last 30 minutes I was so tensed by this movie that I couldn't even look away for a fraction of a second, overall the movie is what horror movies should be. Acting is on point and the plot is just outstanding. The only negative point about the movie is that some scenes are unnecessary according to me. Hope we see more movies like this in the future and get part 2 of Veronica. Director should be praised and I think this movie should have been released in theatres rather than Netflix.

Like a humus

[octavian179 · 2/10 · 2 January 2024]

Last night's horror film was a letdown, much like my homemade hummus experiment. Both lacked the necessary spice and depth. The movie, promising a thrilling ride, ended up being as bland as my hummus that missed a dash of garlic. Where my hummus had an uneven texture, the film's plot was equally inconsistent, filled with holes and lacking cohesion. Just as my hummus failed to strike the right balance of flavors, the movie struggled with its pacing, too slow at times and hastily rushed at others. The lack of genuine scares in the film was akin to the absence of a zesty kick in my hummus. Both were unremarkable, forgettable, and left me unsatisfied, craving for something more robust and fulfilling.

Tremendously effective "nun" chiller from Paco Plaza! [+69%]

[arungeorge13 · 7/10 · 27 October 2023]

The name - Paco Plaza - is almost enough assurance for a horror product to work. Here's a nun movie that's way better than both The Nun entries from The Conjuring universe, and it comes from one-half of the directors of the REC films. This is a prequel to Plaza's 2017 chiller Veronica, focusing on Sister Death's side of things. For a film that just runs for 90 minutes, there's a surprising level of depth in storytelling, and Plaza's use of visual metaphors is on full display here. The "eclipse" aspect is wonderfully incorporated into the storyline, and while the first two acts may come across as slightly less effective from a narrative standpoint, the final act where the dots begin to connect, is truly spectacular. Even in those first two acts, the atmospherics are remarkably set up.

The makers of The Nun films could learn a thing or two, in terms of how to design aesthetically spooky frames. The smart usage of close-up shots, the innovative use of gore, and the commendable performances of the child actors help Sister Death rise above your generic supernatural horror film. The only thing that sort of baffles me, is the makers' decision to add synth beats to a couple of chilling scenes, which made me tune out of the film's madness albeit for a few seconds. I have to say I enjoyed this a bit more than Veronica, and that may (or may not) have to do with how disappointing the recent demonic nun movies have been. This is a solidly packaged pre-Halloween gift indeed.

Nun too great.

[BA_Harrison · 4/10 · 31 October 2023]

An undeniably visually stylish film, Sister Death is, disappointingly, a rather unremarkable ghost story, one that employs a very slow burn approach that, unfortunately, doesn't have a strong enough payoff to make the wait worthwhile.

Ten years after her visions of the Virgin Mary, novice nun Sister Narcisa (Aria Bedmar) joins a Catholic school as a teacher where she witnesses strange occurrences and discovers that the other nuns are harbouring a terrible secret.

To sum up the plot in fewer words: an angry spirit takes revenge. That's all there really is to this slow Spanish spook tale - no clever twists or unique developments, just a very gradual and predictable reveal of what happened in the past to explain what is happening in the present. The cinematography is great, and the acting is fine, but the whole thing is just too derivative and drearily paced to make for a wholly effective horror.

4.5/10, rounded down to 4 for the death of Rosa, which I don't understand: why would the ghost kill an innocent child?

THE EYES HAVE IT! Solid screams, stellar production

[ObviTheMargs · 7/10 · 5 October 2023]

I had the good fortune of seeing this at Sitges Film Festival today, and it delivers. In my experience the Spanish like their horror layered in religion, blood, nuns, blood, self-harm, long psychological turns, blood, religion, harm, and to top it all off add in a narrative of historical reference and voila! To me, it's like there should be a whole other category labeled S-Horror akin to K-Pop or J-Horror. But to the matter at hand!

I loved La Abuela, so have a hard time seeing its rating reaching only 5.9!? To be sure Paco Plaza this time around keeps Sister Death firing on all pistons. The black and white (white and black, if we are being Spanish Spanish) archival elements opening and closing, the completely believable religious environments, and the stupendous set design. Mwah, chef's kiss.

But let's talk SCREAMS. Aria Bedmar may just be the newest Scream Queen. My mind rushed with Linnea Quigley, again and again. And really, I wasn't expecting it, because should I have? Maybe. But man oh man it resonates, along with all the play on sight, eyes, and general ocular type things. Which for the record is not a spolier, just look at the movie poster.

In short, kudos to Plaza on another genuinely engaging horrific (in a good way) romp, give it a go -

A pretty meh watch!!

[sayan_knightrider · 4/10 · 30 October 2023]

A pretty meh watch, if I have to be brutally honest. What could have been wrapped up in 45 mins, took 1 hr 31 mins to complete. What was projected as a horror movie was never able to give us the creeps and that is the most disappointing thing to be getting from a horror flick. That's that! The ghost or whatever it was, was so lame.

The ending was also kind of predictable, with no real twists in the end. With its release kind of coinciding with the Nun II and the similarity in the setting, the makers surely did have to do a better job, which they have failed in, in my humble opinion.

However, acting wise, the actors did try to put up a good show and full marks to them for that.

Haunting...

[JK-WhatsUpWeirdoPodcast · 9/10 · 30 October 2023]

I remember back when I saw Veronica I was struck by how gorgeous it was, there were certain stills in the film you could frame and hang on the wall, just stunning. Sister Death continues that completely. Everything is deep and rich and thoughtfully done. The nun's habits for example don't look like crappy costumes they look SO heavy and thick, and the statues and halls made for such beautiful shots, it's this attention to detail that will keep me anxiously awaiting anything Paco Plaza does. Also Aria Bedmar really gave us every emotion possible, what a performance, and what a scream! The story ends up going to a dark place, so this isn't a feel good or fun watch, but it will keep you scared, and keep you from reaching for your phone. I was all in.

Atmospheric horror, let down a bit by the story

[ssangha-21515 · 6/10 · 27 October 2023]

Beautifully shot in the manner of old style horror films, Sister Death is suffused throughout with a gentle glow, mainly focused on its beatific looking central character , Sister Narcisa. The entire action takes place after the end of the Spanish Civil War and you can feel it's reverberations throughout the story. I was impressed by the atmosphere that felt convincing and plausible. It feels almost dreamlike (nightmarish?) and you can understand how the protagonist 's mind might have begun to give way under the circumstances. A lot of scenes made me think of someone experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations. It holds up very well till the end - but there it falters. Apparently the perpetrators of so much hellish suffering aren't going to be visited by spirits, however people who were victims too are the ultimate ones to be punished. Additionally the ending sequence with the nun being struck blind sort of tips over into being absurd, which I'm sure wasn't the filmmaker's intention. Flaws in the screenplay of this kind bring down an otherwise beautifully shot and enacted film , however it remains an elegant horror film to watch.

Extremely Stupid Movie!

[abdomo27 · 1/10 · 28 October 2023]

The movie is so stupid! The Nun got raped then she goes on a rampage and punishes the sisters who tried to help her cover up the rape and the child she had!!! Yet the rapist doesn't get no punishment at all, she brutally goes after the people who helped her!!! Such a stupid movie plot! And a lot of points are unexplained and/or uselessly put in the movie, like why did the kid hang herself!!!? It doesn't make any sense at all for sister socorro to go after the kid and make her hang herself! The movie has so many holes in its plot, it makes you wonder if the director has ADHD and makes half points and forgets about them!!

in profound sense, beautiful

[Kirpianuscus · 28 October 2023]

As Greek Orthodox, the first observation after final credits was : "so...Romano -Catholic".

And, indeed, scene by scene, it reminds themes and atmosphere and motives of this confesion.

In same measure, a profound Spanish film, for precise reference to Civil war traumas to the rules of monastery and Marian aparitions.

Inspired photography, wise crafted story, fair construction of tension and admirable acting. And a great end, the venerable Narcisa in classroom being the great definition of essence of story.

I loved the work of Aria Bedman and the craft of each detail . Not original but beautiful made scene by scene, offering a precise circle of dark past and a honest circle of salvation.

In the shadow of war

[Pairic · 7/10 · 6 November 2023]

Sister Death: A prequel to Veronica (2017) which gives the backstory of Sister Narcisca. As a child in 1939 she has a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is much admired. In 1949 as a Novice she travels to a convent to join the teaching staff. The Reverend Mother warmly welcomes her but the stern Sister Julia doubts her sincerity. These two nuns are hiding a secret which is central to what follows. Narcisca sees visions, hears voices, she is guided to the basement where she finds the mummified hand fo a Saint, it had been missing since the Convent was ransacked during the Spanish Civil War. More hauntings occur and the atmosphere at the school becomes darker. Narcisca's investigations puts her in physical and spiritual danger, Not a great horror film but it does hold your attention, The mystery works well, who is child whose voice we hear? Why is Sister Sagrario missing? Quite a few jump scares as the tale leads to a grand guignol ending. The shadow of the Civil War hangs over this entire film. Directed & Co-Written by Paco Plaza, On Netflix. 7/10.

Beautiful but flawed

[kkmgirl-448-111988 · 6/10 · 3 November 2023]

The film is visually stunning in many scenes with a haunting soundtrack and the main actress does a great job throughout. However, the storyline is flawed and confusing and I didn't find it scary. Why did the ghost kill an innocent child? And why would it play "hangman" before killing when it could just kill at will? How does looking at the sun during an eclipse cause your eyes to bleed (or turn undereyes into a meaty pulp)? The ending just didn't make sense... a raped nun gets to keep her child at the nunnery, yet after an accident (that she can't see, yet somehow knows her child is dead and somehow has a rope and knows how to make a noose and somehow can reach higher than the chair allows to attach said noose, etc etc), decides to take revenge on her fellow nuns vs the rapist. Speaking of the accident, how is battling a feverish child in the bathtub supposed to be effective? Was it really so terrible to take her to a doctor?! How was the ghost able to kill an innocent child but needed Narcisa to "open the door" so she could kill the offending nuns? Enough questions... thankfully it was at least stylish and a harmless way to pass the night.

Nuns Get Crazy!

[dmsl-22193 · 3/10 · 30 October 2023]

What a strange movie. The first part hand laid some back story as to why Sister Narcisa (hint, hint) arrives at this convent/school. Since this is a prequel to Veronica (which was an excellent horror movie) there is already some knowledge by the viewer as long as the prior movie had been seen. But what comes in the last half of the movie is so confusing. Little girls crying, hanging themselves, nuns running around in flashback to what happened in the Second World War, nun getting raped and subsequently pregnant, nun hanging herself but still talking (!) drowning girl in bathtub, nun with her head in a bathtub filled with blood, and nuns getting knocked off by falling objects and everything just described is in question as to whether it is real or imagined. Couldn't wait for it to end but at least you leave with a vague notion as to why Sister Narcisa lost her sight.

Lot of shadows of other NUN movies

[m-ramanan · 6/10 · 10 December 2023]

RATED 6/10 Language: Spanish Source: Netflix

This is not even close to the earlier ventures of the director. The scare moments are very few and failed miserably as horror movie. The acting and story was good, but it has lot of outdated scenes and shadows from earlier NUN horror flicks.

Felt bore after some point and only good point is that the climax moments and lead to veronica. I was expecting more and it satisfied only half to the expectations.

The acting and making was good. When it ends with reason as revenge flavour, i disappointed. It is not bad but not upto the expectation. Give a try with low expectations.

Fades away

[bjornrhein · 4/10 · 10 December 2023]

Spanish horror is often solid , they dont let you down , good and stabil production and smart written This movie could been one of them but it fades at the end unfortanly, but it starts well and its actually creepy , its no silly jumpscares and no stupid CGI effects , more classic old fashion horror, and its just something with nuns that are spooky

But the movie change , it turn on a direction you dont like , more weird and feels like the fantasy ended and to pull it out a half hour longer it goes a bit annoying instead , its just not good enough to crawl over 5 rating and I guess it wiil be there at 5 something

But we can see again that you dont need alots of money when you do horror, just a spooky place and good acting goes far , just said this movie had this flatfall in the end.

I liked Veronica more!

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 6/10 · 30 October 2023]

My affection for "Veronica" brought me here, and while "Sister Death" doesn't touch the highs like Veronica did on the previous occasion, I am still pretty content with the execution here, as I do not have any major complaints about it other than the underwhelming build-up leading up to the fiery conclusion.

In most scenarios, films tend to miss out on a fitting payoff; in this case, however, the initial buildup came across as petty and insignificant. I wish there were more to showcase in the first hour as I struggled to hold my engagement.

Thankfully, the final act made up for some of that earlier sluggishness. The writing kind of redeemed itself in the end.

Sister Death wasn't born cool, but grew up to be one.

[chand-suhas · 5/10 · 30 October 2023]

Prequel to the 2017 film Veronica, this narrates the story of Sister Narcisa (the cool Sister Death from Veronica) as she battles her doubts with respect to the beliefs and the new responsibilities bestowed upon her. She reluctantly accepts the vows and starts taking class, but also gets spooked by the box she finds in her room. Box containing a picture of Sister Socorro, a pair of scissors and few letters along with a wooden chair and a half drawn hangman. Narcisa continues to experience supernatural presence and sets out to solve the mystery with one of her student Rosa. Things escalate which eventually preps her up to face the truth. What is the big reveal and how Sister Narcisa transforms forms rest of the story.

Narrated in chapters, the supernatural story set around a convent and nuns, is more of a generic horror film which gets elevated in the final act as the big reveal does work and the scenes that follow. For the build up, the character of Narcisa had and introducing her as the famous holy girl, the story revolves around Narcisa getting accustomed to life at the convent and experience the supernatural elements which keeps shaking her belief further while she remains clueless for 2/3rd of the film. This falls below the expectations and the scares too don't stand out. The mystery behind the supernatural events is somewhat kept intact through the scared Rosa's character as well.

It is in the final act where things escalate and the director gets full control of what he intends to narrate. The big reveal is simply that effective and the entire relation with the solar eclipses finally gets a better execution here, as Narcisa seeks her truth with the help of it. As a film, I would still prefer Veronica and this prequel doesn't really set the bar higher with this particular character rendering a lot of interest.

Everything The Nun Should have Been.

[destiny_west · 8/10 · 5 November 2023]

Spanish horror rarely disappoints. I was a fan of the film Veronica, so I will very much looking forward to the prequel Sister Death (Hermana muerte) This film is fascinating with a storyline that is intriguing and slowly reveals its climax, which is well worth the time.

If you are a fan of jump scare, paint by number horror films then Sister Death might not be for you. Spanish horror has evolved from the predictable into a thinking well executed horror machine, with the cogs lubricated with blood.

The acting is also extremely good. It is a shame that films like this don't make it to a cinema run.

If only The Nun had been able to harness the atmosphere and eeriness of Sister Death.

TRAGIC.

[andrewchristianjr · 6/10 · 12 November 2023]

The hauntings experienced throughout the movie end up feeling justified - the tragic story of the specter is perhaps the best part of the movie. The very real and human story is the driving force behind this and despite not being particularly scary or even original, the way the pieces fall together is satisfyingly simple.

Synopsis: In post-war Spain, Narcisa (Aria Bedmar), a young novice with supernatural powers, arrives at a former convent, now a school for girls, to become a teacher. As the days go by, the strange events and increasingly disturbing situations that torment her will eventually lead her to unravel the terrible skein of secrets that surround the convent and haunt its inhabitants.

I've seen worse but also better.

[deloudelouvain · 5/10 · 8 November 2023]

Some reviewers compared this movie to The Nun or said that Hermana Muerte (or Sister Death for the English title) was better than The Nun, but I found them equally not that great. The acting wasn't bad though, even the kids were believable in their roles, so no complaints about that but the story was just not that scary. And when I watch a horror movie I expect some chills but apart from some jump scares it wasn't that great. Even the jump scares were pretty mild. Nice make-up though but that's just not enough to make it a great horror movie. My wife liked it a bit better than me but then again she's easily scared. All in all it's watchable if you don't mind a slow burn. Personally I wished there was more action and scary scenes.