Netflix’s The Old Ways Divides Everyone on Opinion

Impressions of the Film

The first time I watched this film I did remember feeling like it was too slow of a plot for a horror flick. The development of the demonic possessions seemed to be outshone by multitudes of interpersonal conflict between this small cast of characters. The actual “Scare” scenes were few and far between. I raised an eyebrow and did a “pause-check” at about 60 minutes to see how much longer to go in the film. Not usually a good sign for a horror moviegoer when you’re not invested in “what will happen next.”

I waited a year, and as I was creating subjects to write about I remembered The Old Ways and musing about its unique take on a “possession film” but remembered that I wasn’t overly impressed at the time. I looked it up once more. Official rating when Googled, comes up at %95 “fresh” ON ROTTEN TOMATOES. But HOW? I wondered. So I decided to watch it once more.

I’d forgotten most of the actual plot but sat down with a notepad for notes, but then ten minutes in, I stopped writing and just watched.

I was in awe of the rich character development storytelling. Once I got past my judgment on the visual effects, relatively low budget sets, and lack of “BOO!”, I really started to enjoy the ambiance of being alone in a foreign country. In all truth, this country is only foreign to the main character because she left at a young age.

But this place is still in her blood, still part of her roots and you very slowly over time begin to see her transition. She changes from running from family, tradition, and her memories of living in Vera Crúz Mexico to some higher purpose she finds within herself. You see her growth from living an addiction-riddled life to that of someone who went through a gauntlet and discovers she must care enough about herself to reclaim her soul from all manner of demons in her life. Metaphorical… and otherwise.

So why is it that I didn’t like it casually the first time, but adored it from a filmmaker's perspective the second time? Apparently, I’m not exactly alone as we’ll discuss later in this article.

Budget and Monetary Performance

As this is a Netflix original release, there is not a box office to speak of nor is the budgetary cost for this is disclosed. But on every other reporting account, I could find it was stated that this film is “low-Budget” which could mean anywhere from likely under a million dollars. That would be truly low-balling it as most regular movie budgets (on the low professional end) usually project numbers like $3-8 Million.

The suspicion that this is actually a low budget film stems from the fact that the cast is small and manned by fairly unknown actors as leading characters. In addition, the set is very small and central to 90% of the story apart from some location shots and a few other shots of another room around the home of which the main heroine is held captive at the start of the story.

Films Debut and Reception

The Old Ways made an appearance in October 2020 at the Sitges Film Festival. A prestigious film festival held in Spain since 1967. There are many famous films that have passed through this yearly event.

Horror acclaimed films like The Invitation (2015), Ringu (1999), Hard Candy (2005), Vivarium (2017), Train to Busan (2016), and The Ritual (2017) have made appearances at this festival over the years as well.

In the way of reviews, here’s what's really nuts about what I mentioned in my first section. You’ll notice in the screenshot below (taken on 2/19/2022)

that there is a HUGE divide on whether it’s a good film or a bad one. Critics LOVED it, everyday-joe-horror-guy said “meh.”

But hold up… Hoity-toity film critics don’t usually care all that much for a horror flick. This is usually agreed on “yea it was a good film” between critics and audiences like for The Conjuring (2013),

or for Insidious (2010) (Screenshot below)

Down to outright loathing, and general audiences are just there for the popcorn. Things that have a tanked critic rating, but somehow general audiences are ok with it by just lowering expectations of what you're getting into. Films that no one asked for, like origin stories for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

I’m not saying it can’t happen. For example, The Invitation (2015) has a way higher critic rating than ‘general audience’, but it still pulls off a Fresh in both instances.

But WHAT GIVES? Netflix's experimental possession film landed with general audiences. But why can't regular horror goers vibe with this film? I have a theory or two.

Director and Cast

Director: Christopher Alender

Christophers IMDB portfolio at the time of this article contains about 11 directorship projects and 13 Producer credits. Many names within it are not household-name recognizable projects so I've linked his IMDB to his name in this article.

The Old Ways is one of his more recognized works as a Director but has also had consistent work in working with Disney, specifically with the Muppets Now on Disney +.

He metioned that he did have fun making this film and as a silly spooky note when filming the cursed red book, the camera broke...TWICE. When asked what he did to give the film a unique spin on possession what and what research went into it this is what he had to say:

We were researching everything we could about it from multiple regions, all the way as far away as the Philippines [...] we started zeroing in on the things that we were gravitating in most naturally toward. [...] Because of the influences that were resonating with us from Aztec, Myan, Acro Caribbean, and a little bit of Columbian catholicism, it all just led us to a place of 'Where this could really exist?'

-Christopher Alender

Writer: Marcos Gabriel

Marcos Gabriel also has had a number of smaller Hollywood successes

As being part of the core story team for Disney+ Muppets Now. Marcos has had a number of scripts greenlit over the years. I've linked his IMDB portfolio to his name above if you wish to browse.

During an interview about The Old Ways, he commented on the inspiration behind this original possession screenplay:

I was trying to approach [possession] from a different cultural point of view. And I knew if we could come in from a Hispanic or Latin American point of view it would freshen up and become an exciting and newer take. [...] I certainly went back and remembered some stories that my mother had told me of her growing up in Puerto Rico of brujas, and healers and things like that, just amazing things.

-Marcos Gabriel

Christina: Brigitte Kali Canales

Brigitte has a great portfolio of projects under her belt, but then it's likely you wouldn't recognize her face. This is because some of her best work before this film came out had been in voice acting.

As a role in the recurring character of Trace Martez in Dave Filoni's Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2020), with a recent appearance of the same character on Disney+, Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021).

However, after her time spent on The Old Ways, she landed a recurring role on the television show Fear the Walking Dead (2021) as Rachel.

When asked what it was that drew her to the script handed to her and this is what she had to say:

The fact that she had lost touch with her culture. Because for me, I’m very connected to my culture. Even though I was born and raised in Miami. [...] I had a closeness to my Mexican culture, and Christina lacked that. [...] I thought it would be interesting to portray that aspect of being a bit lost, feeling misplaced and then all of the sudden, what I thought was one of the best parts about the movie, was that she realizes that it’s always been within her. There’s something, that closeness to your roots."

-Brigitte Kali Canales

Miranda: Andrea Cortés

Andrea also had a somewhat modest IMDB portfolio up through the Old Ways. Many smaller television spot performances and shorts. After her appearance on The Old Ways she was able to land a recurring role on the Netflix streaming show On My Block (2021) as Isabel.

Andrea recounted memories from the film. Once where Brigitte accidentally knocked a stake to her arm during an intense scene for the climax of the film during a take. And when they did the force-feeding of goat's milk from a big jug at the second opening scene of the film Brigitte insisted they just take the shot of her co-star pouring it down her face/throat to get as much authenticity for the shot.

But as a fun aside, she also has a Disney connection because she portrayed Ursula in a parody of OneRepublic cover in 2014. I've added the video below for your enjoyment!

Javi: Sal Lopez

Sal Lopez has the most impressive resume of the cast. Sal has touched projects like Full Metal Jacket (1987) as the character T.H.E. Rock. He had a recurring character named Carlos on Dolly Partons television show Dolly (1988).

I'd encourage you to check out his IMDB because there's a treasure trove of professional projects he's been cast in here and there. Films like Logan (2017), Velvet Buzzsaw (2019), Batman Vs. Superman (2016) as a goat herder, but never in the limelight. He's a talented guy and I was glad to get to see him as part of the core cast.

Luz: Julia Vera

Julia Vera has been acting since 1963 in multiple TV show spots. Some of the more recognizable films she's participated in are films like Johnny Depp's Blow (2001), and she even has a mini part in Keanu Reeves Speed (1994) as "Additional Bus Passenger #7" mid-career.

She's far more known today as Luisa on the Disney smash hit childrens show Elena of Avalor. And continues to be a seasoned pillar to the acting community.

Why General American Audiences Didn't Love The Old Ways

In short. This is a case of unmet expectations of your target demographic.

I can feel you rolling your eyes at me. "Care to elaborate because that's too vague of a reason." And totally get that so I'll do my best to articulate it out.

This was a VERY different possession film from what has been a splash with American audiences for 50 years since The Exorcist (1973). For half a century, an American ideal of a possession film should feel more like Amityville Horror.

A suburban family that moves into a "new home" they got for inexplicably low cost, that evidently has some sordid past that will consume them if they do not fight against evil with good.

Traits of a classic American Possession Film:

Hit all three stages of Demonic Possession as explained in the Film The Conjuring

1. Infestation
2. Oppression
3. Possession

The idea that when we coexist in a situation with evil spirits we must prevail over them as the demon cannot live in the same space as the living family without causing them existential harm. That it can usually attempt to corrupt the most innocent first (like children).

These demons are usually only discovered after being trapped into a situation, but demons are never sought out. It also usually has a strict Christian faith guideline of an augural single God whose prayers, biblical mantras, and human spirit of faith are the center to whether our protagonists will prevail.

The Old Ways is none of those things. What it does share:

• Centers around themes of family.
• Centers around a flawed main character who believes in a lie.
• Demons are come to play to make life a living hell.

But here is where it diverges (and to me are a TON of positives):

• Takes place in a rural jungle of Vera Crúz Mexico, no regular American everyday suburban home.
• All Characters are adult, there is no unfettered innocence to prey upon.
• The Main character reveals she purposefully went into the cursed ruins of La Boca because she was suicidal. Demons were sought out to be challenged as non-existent stemming from childhood trauma.
• Demons are exorcised by a Bruja (Witch) utilizing many homemade spiritual methods passed down generationally. A Christian God doesn't enter the equation in either his organization of priests or in biblical records.

• There is no ONE Demon, La Boca evidently is a hotbed of different types of demons that are malicious. And each one has an individual personality of how to be exorcised.
• The exorcism practices are far more physical in contact with the infected, inclusive of the hallucination of the infected.

In Conclusion

The longer I mull over the Old Ways, the more I agree this is a fantastic film.

Perfect? No, it needed more budget to be of higher competition and caliber in the visual effects area. I imagine they worked with what they had best available to them. After all, both the Writer and Director have had visual effect backgrounds for the last ten years. The screenplay writer Marcos Gabriel was offered film credit as the visual effects artist for this film. So there was a lot of doubling up to even make this dream happen.

Is it a solid and dexterous story? Hell ya.

Would everyday audiences who love possession films love this? Ehhhhhh, hard to answer.

When you're talking to someone who has eaten the same American Cheeseburger for years and then is offered a totally different dish that has all the elements/flavors of a cheeseburger re-invented. Could that person grow to love the new dish? Absolutely. Will they look at the plate with puzzled confusion and recognize everything they thought they loved about a cheeseburger has changed and state they don't like it without trying it... also possible. So just eat the whole damn plate, because this film is delicious.