If you think a “dark and stormy night” spent babysitting a senile grandmother sounds like a boring Tuesday, you clearly haven’t met Alicia. Here are my thoughts on Crazy Old Lady.
Writer-director Martín Mauregui (with horror heavy-hitter J.A. Bayona on board as producer) has taken the very real, very grounded fear of dementia and twisted it into a relentless nightmare. Crazy Old Lady is out today on Shudder, and it’s a brutal reminder that sometimes the most terrifying thing in the house isn’t a ghost—it’s the person sitting in the rocking chair.
A “Favor” Gone Horribly Wrong
Our protagonist, Pedro (Daniel Hendler), is having a rough day that’s about to get a lot worse. When his ex-girlfriend calls in a total panic, he agrees to do the one thing he definitely shouldn’t: babysit her elderly mother, Alicia, for the night.
Pedro arrives just as the weather turns nasty, thinking he’ll be watching game shows and keeping an eye on an elderly woman. Instead, he finds himself trapped with Spanish cinema icon Carmen Maura, who is playing a version of “Grandma” that would make most slashers run for the hills.
More Than Just Forgetful
Here’s where the film flips the script. Alicia isn’t just confused; she’s calculated, sadistic, and completely out of control. This isn’t a story about a woman losing her mind—it’s about a woman using her perceived frailty as a weapon.
What was supposed to be a quiet night turns into a series of life-or-death psychological and physical traps. Even though she promises to let him go if he wins, Alicia has zero intention of letting Pedro leave, and he quickly realizes that “playing along” is the only way he’s going to keep his head and fingers.
Why It Works
Maura is an absolute powerhouse here. Her ability to pivot from a “sweet, vulnerable senior” to a “horror movie nightmare” in the blink of an eye is chilling. It’s a masterclass in performance-driven horror.
Mauregui keeps the special effects subtle. Instead of over-the-top gore, the film relies on shadows, silence, and the viewer’s own imagination to fill in the blanks.
With J.A. Bayona’s DNA involved, you know it’s going to be good. The tension is suffocating, and the movie offers no apologies for its mean streak. And that’s a very good thing.
The Verdict
With Crazy Old Lady, you get what you’re promised and so much more. This is horror done right. With no huge special effects, the film relies on real tension and disturbing events. It got under my skin. In fact, I can guarantee it will land on our “Top 10 of 2026” list we release in December. Yes, I am that impressed. I think the film, which is subtitled in English, deserves a hell of a lot more buzz. It’s chilling to the bone, uncomfortable, and takes the terror of mental illness to towering new heights.
As if it isn’t obvious, let me make this simple: Crazy Old Lady is a brilliant, extremely disturbing film. It should be at the top of your “must-see” list. Luckily, you don’t have to wait; it’s out on Shudder as of today!
