Even the Wind Is Afraid (1968)

Touches You

Beautiful, moving film.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I began watching this Mexican horror film, a thriller set in a girl's school, with some excitement since I had read nothing but praise for it. Now that it is over, I do not see what all the fuss is about. Perhaps one has to see Hasta el Viento Tiene Miedo young, before watching many horror movies. Otherwise, it is just not an especially memorable horror movie. The first problem is the film's slow pace. The first forty-five or fifty minutes is all set up. It's a lot of wind blowing, cats jumping out, and "did you see that strange girl" type discussions. All of this becomes tedious after awhile. The film does not produce any surprises or action until its final third. By that time, many viewers have given up.A second problem is the tameness of the whole film. I do realize that a ghost story is built upon mood and atmosphere rather than shock scenes, but, really, this is a horror film for one's grandmother. I find the film's scares all old hat for 1968. That was the year of Night of the Living Dead, the year of Targets, the year of Naked You Die, a much better school girl mystery.Hasta el Viento Tiene Miedo does have a few surprises. The film takes an unexpected turn in the final third. The striptease scene is colorful and sexy in a PG way. There is also some nice interaction between the girls. Despite these pluses, the film is not worth the time. The movie is further ill served by a flat ending. Those interested in seeing a late 1960's mystery set at a girl's school would be better off checking out Naked You Die or The House that Screamed from 1969.

While not as prolific as the USA, UK and Italy; Mexico is responsible for many great horror films; with the sixties in particular being something of a goldmine for the horror fan. Carlos Enrique Taboada's Hasta el viento tiene miedo has a great reputation amongst those who have seen it; and after having finally tracked the film down myself, I have to say that its reputation is completely deserved! The title translates into English as 'Even the Wind is Afraid' and as you would expect from a film with such a title; this is a macabre treat! Like the classics The House That Screamed and Suspiria, this film focuses on an all-girl boarding house. After a group of girls sneak into a restricted part of the school and are caught; their punishment (doled out by the head teacher nicknamed 'The Witch') is that they have to stay behind during the summer break! Naturally the girls are not too pleased, and things take a turn for the worse when a long dead student is sighted during the heavy winds, and seems to be after a student named Claudia...The story is very much of the slow burn variety and while we do get plenty of horror; the film focuses more on building the characters, their relationships and the central situation. The horror is brought forward more through atmosphere and while the locations used are not as Gothic as those seen in similar Italian films; the film does deliver a great air of creepiness and the way that the wind is used provides one of the main highlights. The acting is very good, with adult performers Marga López and Maricruz Olivier delivering the standout performances as the two teachers. The younger performers are all very nice looking and while the acting is sometimes a bit cheesy; it doesn't harm the film too much. The plot does move slowly but it's always interesting and the film builds tension as we get closer to the end, with the film taking a rather unexpected twist half way through. It all boils down to an engaging and original (for the time) climax and overall; Hasta el viento tiene miedo may not be one of the best known horror films ever made, but it will certainly be of interest to horror fans. Recommended!

"Hasta el viento tiene miedo" is a good offering of Mexican horror. It takes place in a boarding school for girls. Five years ago a girl that studied there committed suicide. At night, when the wind whistles.....This film is a horror film with touches of comedy and it manages to create a good supernatural atmosphere (night, the wind blowing, the leaves trembling, the tower..). It reminded me somehow of "Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory" an Italo-Austrian film made in 1961, that also took place in a girls boarding school. But "Hasta el viento tiene miedo" is the better film. "Hasta el viento.." tells the story in a very straightforward way, no room for ambiguity is left, so it becomes predictable and this takes away some of the film's edge. The girls, though, are very charming and add eye candy to the film.You can't compare it to the Italian Gothic films ( by Bava, Margheriti, Freda, Caiano..) with their visual grandeur (lighting, decors, camera work ..), and their magnificent soundtracks.Anyway "Hasta el viento...." is an interesting film - I think that it won't scare the modern viewer, but it offers in return a well-crafted atmosphere, with touches of suspense and comedy. It is charmingly naive and romantic. It was released in Mexico in 30 May 1968. Some months later a hard wind blew and even the wind was afraid.

You need to see a real horror-suspense movie? Don't miss this one. Hasta el Viento Tiene Miedo is 36 years old, and still is so fresh and captivating.Carlos Enrique Taboada didn't need special make up, mutilated bodies, rivers of blood, FX nor a budget of millions of dollars to create the best horror-suspense Mexican movie. No names to point, but in fact this movie is much better than many other popular horror movies you have seen.To listen the spectral voice calling "Claudia...Claudia"; see her slowly go towards that voice; watching Claudia dead covered by a blanket and suddenly to see her arm moving under the blanket; still takes my breath away.Yes, the final part is a cliché. However the first fifty minutes are worth.