The highly acclaimed true-crime documentary of the year, The Lady of Silence: The Mataviejitas Murders, made its debut on Netflix in July. This gripping drama delves into the chilling narrative of Juana Barraza, a former professional wrestler and Mexican serial killer infamous for the brutal murders of 16 elderly women spanning from 1998 to her arrest in 2009.
Directed by María José Cuevas, renowned for her work on BELLAS DE NOCHE, and scripted by Miguel León, the documentary has a runtime of one hour and fifty-one minutes. While initially filmed in Spanish on location in Mexico, the documentary is also accessible in English, offering a broader audience a chance to explore this haunting story. Adding to this, the film commences with an eerie musical score accompanied by aerial visuals, seamlessly transitioning into a description of the murderer possessing a "broad back" and "big hands."
The Lady of Silence: The Mataviejitas Murders is rapidly gaining traction among the audience, and here are some key points about the documentary.
5 Revelations From The Mystery
1. The Lady of Silence delves into the horrifying series of murders that targeted elderly women in Mexico during the late 1990s and early 2000s. These gruesome killings sent shockwaves through the nation, igniting widespread fear and panic.
2. Among those affected is Alejandra Alday, the granddaughter of Margarita, one of the victims of Juana Barraza. In the documentary, she courageously shares her anguish with the global audience while fervently seeking answers to haunting questions like "What about the victims?".
3. The film diligently aims to illuminate this harrowing narrative, especially due to the fact that the targets of these heinous acts, the elderly women, hold a revered position within Mexican society.
4. The aftermath of the investigation into the murders also cast a shadow of unrest over the transgender community residing in Mexico. Faced with unfounded accusations and suspicions, they found themselves entangled in the search for the perpetrator.
5. This misconception arose from the investigators' initial belief that the perpetrator was a man posing as a nurse, exploiting the guise to approach and gain the trust of the victims before carrying out the gruesome acts.
Yet, the true identity of the perpetrator was eventually unveiled as Juana Barraza, a Mexican woman who had a dual life as both a professional wrestler and a serial killer nicknamed "La Mataviejitas" (The Old Lady Killer). In 2009, she was handed a staggering 759-year prison sentence for her role in the ruthless murders of 16 elderly women. The roots of her heinous actions trace back to a troubled upbringing, marked by an alcoholic mother and even instances of sexual assault, which inflicted lasting scars on her psyche.
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