Cinema review
Directed by Rigoberto Castañeda
Starring Iliana Fox, Raul Mendez, Adria Collado
Release date Out now

After her twin sister is left in a coma following a road accident, Catalina unravels the mystery of highway KM 31 – which local legend claims is haunted by a spirit that preys on travellers…

Heavily influenced by J-horror movies such as Ringu and Dark Water, Rigoberto Castañeda’s stylish ghost story was one of Mexico’s biggest hits on release there earlier this year.

The film starts strongly, with a tense opening sequence featuring Catalina’s twin sister Agata running over a boy in the road – before winding up in hospital herself. The subsequent slow-burning mystery creates an effective sense of dread, with good use of whispery sound effects and an impressive-looking spirit. There’s also an intense performance from Mexican TV actress Iliana Fox, who plays both sisters.

But it’s a rather humourless and unoriginal affair, and like some of the lesser J-horrors much of the story makes no sense whatsoever. Terrifying ending though. James Skipp

VERDICT: 6/10
A well-made but slightly cheerless combination of J-horror and Mexican folk tale.