When the movie Frankenstein is shown in a small Spanish village of the 1930's, it's bound to make an impression on the audience. As that time knew no age limits on movies, 7-year-old Ana and her little older sister Isabel (both characters named the same as their actresses) are in the audience. The frightening creature, and its violent fate linger in the minds of the girls. They go looking for the monster from a abandoned house, and its deep well. Isabelle pretends to die, frightening and hurting Ana; and there are many other scenes related to death. The turning point is when Ana befriends a vagabond who has moved into the abandoned house – quite a touching scene – and later finds out he's been killed, an event with strong parallels with the Frankenstein story.

Ana is much the same serious little girl as in Cría Cuervos, except younger, and even more touching. It would be nice if her role weren't quite so gloomy, but even then her performance is remarkable. I was most impressed by her hurt expression when Isabel has played a thoughtless and mean trick on her, scaring her badly.

Isabel does fine as the big sister, nor is there complaining about acting of any others. My biggest problems with the movie are its slow pace, and occasional excessive obscurity of symbolism. If old, serious, Spanish movies appeal to you, this one is highly recommended, and otherwise only if Ana touches your heart like she does mine.