Beatriz is Spanish with English subtitles. It takes place in a rural area in an undetermined time period that might as well be the dark ages, except there is a gun. It features a friar, outlaws, religious folk, an old witch-woman, a countess, her children and servants. Everyone believes in black magic, but it doesn't seem like it believes in them. Beatriz is the daughter, who, with the servant woman, are the objects of the men's lust. To a lesser extent, so is the countess. Only the old hermit woman who can't even walk and babbles superstition doesn't have someone hoping to win her heart, though a few of them visit her to ask questions about the things they do not understand. The movie is slow paced for most of its running time. It seems less like a horror movie and more like a European coming of age film.

I just watched this movie on a bluray from Vinegar Syndrome. It deals with witchcraft, possession, banditry and 3 forbidden romances. The most important one being between a friar, coming back from war in the Holy Land, and the title character, a daughter of a Spanish don, who is under a spell casted by a witch who is employed by the beautiful servant who herself is employed by the widow of the deceased Don. The servant is not maliciously jealous of her mistress and Beatriz but just wants to save her infant son from illness.

At the same time, the 20ish servant girl, who is not married, is in love with Beatriz's brother who is no older than 10. Yikes! However, I'm a bit jealous. I wish I had such a beautiful and lusty young woman after me when I was 10.

The 3rd romance is between the widowed dona and a bookish librarian who is employed by her.

Banditry and deviltry dominate the proceedings but it really doesn't descend into exploitation except maybe in the climax when there are attempted rapes. Also, just when you think the movie is going into fullon Exorcist ripoff territory, it backs off and changes storylines. So don't watch this movie if you are expecting that type of horror. Anyway, there are enough Exorcist ripoffs out there for those that want to watch that sort of thing. I include myself in that lot. Lol. This movie was a nice change of pace though.

I'd characterize this movie as a Spanish Gothic period piece that takes place in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is also a bit of slow burner with lots of atmosphere, fog etc. I liked it. I'd give it a 6.5.