"The Curse of La Llorona" is a horror movie that is available on the popular streaming platform Netflix. The film tells the story of a mother who becomes convinced that her children are being targeted by an evil spirit known as La Llorona. As she seeks help from a former priest who specializes in the supernatural, she must uncover the truth behind the curse in order to save her family. The main plot of the movie revolves around the legend of La Llorona, a ghostly figure from Mexican folklore who is said to haunt and prey on children. The story is set in 1970s Los Angeles and follows a social worker named Anna who inadvertently attracts the attention of the vengeful spirit after she intervenes in the case of a troubled family. One of the main themes of the movie is the importance of family and the lengths that a mother will go to protect her children.

How This Celebrity Tattoo Artist Created a Tattoo You Can Turn On and Off At Will

Bang Bang—who has inked the likes of Rihanna and LeBron—teamed up with research scientists to develop a new kind of light-sensitive ink.

Nearly everybody I know has at least one tattoo except me. But I am apparently not the only person without ink, because a day does not go by where my inbox does not host at least one press email declaring how to get the look, peddling tattoo stickers in the form of Hailey Bieber’s delicate hand tattoos or Pete Davidson’s more in-your-face styles. They’re meant to cater to people like me—blank canvases who still want to play along—or people who aren’t averse to tattoos, but just haven’t found one they’d be willing to commit to permanently yet.

And that’s what makes Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy, owner of Bang Bang Tattoo Studios and very famous tattoo artist, very excited to talk to me about his latest innovation in ink. It’s so much cooler than a sticker—it's real tattoo ink that you can “turn on” or off using different wavelengths of UV and white light. He showed me on himself with a small red heart tattoo on his wrist—a few seconds of a white light flashlight and it was gone, and a few seconds in front of a UV flashlight and there it was again. Just like a spell, hence its name: Magic Ink.

Lots of tattoos here—but only the heart is Magic Ink.

Courtesy of Matt Cooney

Bang (as he's known to his friends and associates) has been quiet about Magic Ink thus far, teasing hints of it on his Instagram, showing only few VIP clients—and now me, in the literal flesh. We met at his glossy Manhattan studio—there's digital screen-wrapped entrance hall, a hovering fish tank above the staircase, poured concrete floors below. Also, lots and lots of abs. Every patron on the Tuesday afternoon of my visit appeared to be a model, or at least a music video extra. (“We get a lot of pretty people in here,” as he put it.)

Bang may be most notable for inking celebrities: Miley Cyrus, Adele, LeBron, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber. It started with Rihanna. “I met this girl who wanted a tattoo. She wanted a little word on her hip,” he said. It was during his early days working downtown. (“It was like tattoo shop, sex shop, tattoo shop, pizza shop, Papaya Dog—grimy”). It was also around the time “Umbrella” dropped, but he just knew that she was a singer, like so many people who move to NY to pursue their dreams. Rihanna liked the tattoo enough to return several times, and they became friends, which opened more doors. Naturally she was one of the first people he showed Magic Ink. Her reaction was apparently similar to mine: “What the fuck?!”

“Tattooing hasn't changed for the most part. Some of the tools have, but the particles are just essentially soot in skin,” he explained. Magic Ink changes the particles. When they are exposed to certain wavelengths of UV light, they activate. And when exposed to other wavelengths of visual field light (like white light), they deactivate. The idea came by way of a team of scientists in the Atlas Institute at University of Colorado. Doctors Carson Bruns and Jesse Butterfield had been laying the groundwork for “tech tattoos,” a way to incorporate their love of ink with biomedical benefits. The original idea behind Magic Ink was to create a “solar freckle,” something that could alert the wearer to the presence of UV light on their skin (and when it’s time to reapply SPF). “They were trying to solve this issue [that] we can't see ultraviolet—insects can—but we can't, and it's dangerous to us,” Bang explained. He immediately realized how much more there was to do with that technology creatively.

Of course, we are living in a time when tech implants and micro-chipping have gotten some bad PR. (“I hear Black Mirror a lot,” he laughed at one point.) Bang is a believer of skin being the bridge between biology and tech—skin-tech, if you will. When you hear him talk about using an AmEx tattoo to pay for things in the future, it doesn't sound too far off. But as Bang sees it, a tattoo that you can turn on and off isn't so different from regular ink. “Hundreds of millions of people in the world line up for tattoos. We already put things in the body. They just don't have abilities yet.” Bang imagines Magic Ink being used primarily for creative expression, at least for now. But he's looking into how it can be incorporated into cosmetic tattooing: microblading eyebrows you can erase or change shape, freckles you can turn on or off, eyeliner you can “put on” or “take off,” all with light-responsive encapsulated nanotech particles.

True to future-forward philosophy, Magic Ink debuted via NFT auction (sold for 100 ETH, roughly $164,00 at press time). The highest bidder is the owner of the world’s first rewriteable tattoo. Bang is now rolling out the technique with a research set of Magic Ink tattoos on different skin tones and types, mostly comprised of the studio’s artists and VIP clients, and looking to go wider in 2023.

“People love tattoos, even if they don't have tattoos. Everyone has skin; everyone has this relationship to an idea—like ‘how would I externalize what I internally feel, you know what I mean? ‘How do I do that visually that represents my style, my shape, who I am?’” And while that's always been permanent, now there's a way to make it change.

ARTISTS

Owner/ operator Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy, named by Vogue “the most famous tattoo artist in the world”. Responsible for iconic tattoos on Rihanna, Lebron James, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, Adele, Selena Gomez and countless others has recently announced the worlds first reprogrammable, rewritable, erasable tattoo nanotechnology “Magic Ink” and is positioned to reinvent the modern tattoo… again.

One of the main themes of the movie is the importance of family and the lengths that a mother will go to protect her children. Anna, played by Linda Cardellini, is a strong and determined protagonist who will stop at nothing to keep her family safe. She is portrayed as a loving and devoted mother who is willing to face her worst fears in order to save her children from the malevolent spirit.

JAY SHIN

Specializes in illustrative color, fine line and single needle.

Originally from Seoul, Korea Jay became a tattoo artist six years ago after learning from his brother. Shin says, “Previously I did a lot of different jobs, but none satisfied me. I’m much happier as a tattoo artist.”

The movie also explores the concept of belief and how it can influence one's perception of reality. As Anna seeks help from a former priest named Rafael, who has experience with the supernatural, she is met with skepticism from others who dismiss her concerns as mere superstition. However, as the terrifying events unfold, Anna and Rafael must confront the undeniable presence of La Llorona and work together to find a way to break the curse. "The Curse of La Llorona" is a visually stunning movie that is filled with suspense and chilling moments. The film relies on psychological horror rather than excessive gore or jump scares, making it a thrilling watch for fans of the genre. The cinematography and sound design create a moody and atmospheric tone, heightening the tension and creating a sense of dread that lingers throughout the movie. Overall, "The Curse of La Llorona" is a gripping and well-executed horror film that explores the themes of family, belief, and the power of a mother's love. With its strong performances, atmospheric visuals, and a captivating storyline, it is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts. So, if you are in the mood for a bone-chilling supernatural thriller, "The Curse of La Llorona" on Netflix is the perfect choice..

Reviews for "The curse is real: Stream 'The Curse of La Llorona' on Netflix"

1. Sarah - 2 stars

I was really excited to watch "The Curse of La Llorona" on Netflix, but I ended up being really disappointed. The storyline was incredibly predictable, and there were no real surprises or scares throughout the movie. The acting was mediocre at best, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. It felt like a generic horror movie that relied too heavily on cheap jump scares rather than creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere. Overall, I found "The Curse of La Llorona" to be a forgettable and lackluster addition to the horror genre.

2. Michael - 1 star

I honestly don't understand the hype around "The Curse of La Llorona." The plot was thin and the pacing was way off. It took forever for anything remotely suspenseful or scary to happen. The jump scares were predictable and lacked any real impact. The characters were poorly developed, and their decisions seemed nonsensical and forced. I expected much more from a horror movie, but "The Curse of La Llorona" fell flat for me. I would not recommend wasting your time on this film if you're looking for a good scare.

3. Emily - 2 stars

"The Curse of La Llorona" had potential, but it failed to deliver. The story was intriguing, but the execution fell short. The scares were formulaic and lacked any genuine terror. The film seemed more focused on creating jump scares instead of building an eerie atmosphere. The acting was unimpressive, and the characters felt one-dimensional. Overall, "The Curse of La Llorona" was a missed opportunity that left me underwhelmed. If you're looking for a truly chilling horror movie, this isn't it.

4. David - 2 stars

As someone who loves horror movies, I was excited to watch "The Curse of La Llorona," but it turned out to be a major disappointment. The plot was convoluted and confusing, leaving me frustrated rather than scared. The scares were predictable and lacked any real tension. The overuse of jump scares became tiresome after a while, and it felt like a lazy attempt at horror. The performances were forgettable, and the characters were poorly developed. In the end, "The Curse of La Llorona" was a forgettable addition to the horror genre that failed to deliver on its promises.

Prepare to be scared: 'The Curse of La Llorona' debuts on Netflix