Sister Death

{{Infobox film

| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|Hermana Muerte|nolink=yes}}

| image = Sister Death poster.jpg

| caption = Promotional release poster

| director = Paco Plaza

| producer = {{ubl|Enrique López Lavigne|Diego Suárez Chialvo|Pablo Cruz}}

| writer = {{ubl|Jorge Guerricaechevarría|Paco Plaza}}

| starring = {{Plain list|

Aria Bedmar
Maru Valdivielso
Luisa Merelas
Almudena Amor
Chelo Vivares
Sara Roch
Olimpia Roch
Adriana Camarena
Martina Delgado
Claudia Fernández Arroyo

}}

| music = Mikel Salas

| cinematography = Daniel Fernández Abelló

| editing = {{ubl|Martí Roca|Guillermo de la Cal}}

| studio = El Estudio

| distributor = Netflix

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2023|10|05|Sitges|2023|10|27|Spain}}

| runtime =

| country = Spain

| language = Spanish

| gross =

}}

Sister Death ({{langx|es|Hermana Muerte|links=no}}){{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3762718/sister-death-netflix-debuts-teaser-for-upcoming-prequel/|website=Bloody Disgusting|date=18 May 2023|first=Meagan|last=Navarro|title='Sister Death' – Netflix Debuts Teaser for Upcoming 'Veronica' Prequel from '[REC]' Director}} is a 2023 Spanish supernatural horror film directed by Paco Plaza and written by Jorge Guerricaechevarría and Plaza which stars Aria Bedmar. A prequel to the 2017 film Verónica, the plot follows the paranormal experiences of a novice (Bedmar) enrolled as a teacher in a convent operating as a girls school in 1940s Spain.

The film world premiered as the opener of the 56th Sitges Film Festival on 5 October 2023 and was subsequently released on Netflix on 27 October 2023.

Plot

In 1939 Spain, a young girl is revered by the townsfolk for her seemingly holy visions. Ten years later, novice Narcisa arrives at a convent that has been reformed into a school for girls following the Red Terror during the Spanish Civil War.{{cite web |last1=Rudra |first1=Srijoni |title='Sister Death' Ending Explained: Who Were Sister Socorro & The Little Girl? |url=https://dmtalkies.com/sister-death-ending-explained-2023-netflix-spanish-horror-film/ |publisher=DM Talkies |access-date=8 June 2024 |date=27 October 2023 |quote=During the Spanish Civil War and the unleashing of Red Terror, Narcisa evolved to become the only hope of believers when she was claimed to have a connection with divine power.}}{{cite web |last1=Lennon |first1=Mads |title=Sister Death succeeds everywhere The Nun II failed |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/sister-death-succeeds-everywhere-the-nun-ii-failed/ar-AA1iSJYE |publisher=MSN |access-date=8 June 2024 |language=English |date=26 October 2023|quote=In 1939, at the end of the Spanish Civil War, a young Narcisa received attention for supposedly seeing the Virgin Mary.}} Narcisa is greeted by Sister Julia and the Mother Superior; the latter of whom is enthused to have the "holy girl" from the news who inspired the community among their ranks. The Mother Superior explains to Narcisa that she will take over the duty of lecturing the girls, which had previously belonged to Sister Inés, who had earlier left the convent.

In her new room, Narcisa discovers a cigar box with letters, scissors, and a funerary photograph of Sister Socorro. Not long after her arrival, Narcisa begins to experience horrific nightmares and inexplicable supernatural phenomena: a chair repeatedly falls on its own in her room; an incomplete hangman drawing appears on her wall; and one of her students is frightened by Narcisa simply writing her name on the blackboard. At confession, Narcisa admits her insecurities regarding her supernatural gifts and her faith.

One night, two girls find the scissors from the cigar box and have a supernatural encounter in the bathroom. However, Sister Julia dismisses their concerns, and punishes one of the girls, Rosa, for causing trouble. Narcisa visits Rosa in confinement for answers. Rosa explains that the convent is haunted by an entity referred to as "the girl", and that if one's name is written by the spirit on the blackboard they are cursed, explaining why Sister Inés had fled.

While Narcisa lectures the girls on an upcoming solar eclipse, Rosa's name appears written on the blackboard. Narcisa seeks to communicate with the spirit and asks Rosa for help; together, the two of them complete the hangman drawing. Rosa notices a spirit behind Narcisa before vanishing. Frantically searching the convent for her student, Narcisa has a disturbing paranormal encounter in the confessional booth before finding Rosa hanged behind the lattice.

While the others mourn Rosa, Sister Julia blames Narcisa for her death. Narcisa decides to leave the convent, but is caught under the eclipse. As the eclipse blinds her eyes, Narcisa goes into a trance and witnesses the plunder and sexual violence that befell the convent during the war.

Narcisa is returned to the convent for treatment; in her room, the spirit of Sister Socorro appears. Through visions, Narcisa learns that Socorro was raped during the war and conceived a daughter, whom the other nuns decided to keep concealed within the convent. When the child fell ill some years later, Socorro insisted on taking her to a hospital. The nuns, wanting the child's existence to remain a secret, locked Socorro in her room while taking the child to the bathroom; while struggling to force Socorro's daughter into the bath to lower her fever, the child fatally hit her head on the tub. Upon realizing her daughter had died, Socorro hanged herself in what would become Narcisa's room. Narcisa unleashes Socorro's spirit, which exacts its vengeance on Sister Julia and the Mother Superior, killing them both. The spirits of Socorro and her daughter reunite in the bathroom.

Decades later, the now-elderly Sister Narcisa is introduced to her new class, some of whom mockingly nickname her "Sister Death". There Narcisa encounters student Verónica.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Aria Bedmar as Narcisa{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/cultura/2023-10-06/hermana-muerte-paco-plaza-sitges_3748575/|website=El Confidencial|title='Hermana muerte': las monjas de Paco Plaza inauguran el Festival de Sitges|date=6 October 2023|first=Marta|last=Medina}}
Almudena Amor as Hermana Socorro{{Cite journal|journal=Fotogramas|first=Juan|last=Pando|volume=75|issue=2144|date=June 2022|title=Pánico en el convento|page=38|issn=1889-9706}}
{{ill|Maru Valdivielso|es}} as Hermana Julia
{{ill|Luisa Merelas|gl|Luísa Merelas}} as Madre Superiora ('Mother Superior')
Chelo Vivares as Hermana Sagrario
Sara Roch as Rosa
Olimpia Roch as Elvirita
Adriana Camarena as Ana María
Martina Delgado as Marina
Claudia Fernández Arroyo{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a39558119/hermana-muerte-pelicula-paco-plaza-netflix-fotos-trailer-estreno/|website=Fotogramas|title='Hermana Muerte': Paco Plaza arranca el rodaje de 'Hermana Muerte' para Netflix|first=Juan|last=Silvestre|date=28 March 2022}}
Consuelo Trujillo as Hermana Muerte{{Cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/features/sister-death-cast-whos-who-in-the-horror-movie|website=What to Watch|date=27 October 2023|title=Sister Death cast: who's who in the horror movie|first=Lucy|last=Buglass}}
Sandra Escacena as Verónica

}}

Production

File:SantJeroniClaustreEscala06.jpg was used to portray the fictional setting of the convent and girls school.]]

The film was written by Jorge Guerricaechevarría and Paco Plaza.{{Cite web|url=https://mag.elcomercio.pe/fama/hermana-muerte-de-que-trata-y-como-ver-la-pelicula-de-terror-de-netflix-espana-video-nnda-nnlt-noticia/|website=mag|via=El Comercio|date=27 October 2023|title=Precuela de "Verónica": de qué trata "Hermana Muerte" y cómo ver la película de terror de Netflix|first=Nelly|last=Osco}} The film is an El Estudio production. Filming began in the Valencia region in March 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://valenciaplaza.com/paco-plaza-inicia-el-rodaje-de-hermana-muerte-que-entronca-con-veronica|website=Valencia Plaza|title=Paco Plaza inicia el rodaje de 'Hermana muerte', que entronca con 'Verónica'|date=28 March 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/ocio-y-cultura/20220329/netflix-anuncia-hermana-muerte-precuela-13447558|website=El Periódico de Catalunya|title=Netflix anuncia 'Hermana muerte', la precuela de la cinta de terror 'Verónica'|date=29 March 2022}} The Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba was chosen as shooting location to portray the school and convent where the fiction takes place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/ocio-y-cultura/20220330/monasterio-valencia-protagonista-serie-netflix-13450699|website=El Periódico de Catalunya|date=30 March 2022|title=Un monasterio de Valencia será protagonista de la nueva película de Netflix|first=Carla|last=Melchor}} Enrique López Lavigne, Pablo Cruz and Diego Suarez Chialvo took over production duties,{{Cite web|website=Deia|title=Paco Plaza dirige para Netflix 'Hermana Muerte'|date=17 April 2022|url=https://www.deia.eus/vivir-on/cine-y-tv/2022/04/17/paco-plaza-dirige-netflix-hermana/1210350.html}} whereas Daniel F. Abelló did so with cinematography, Guillermo de la Cal and Martí Roca with editing, Laia Ateca with art direction and Alberto Álvarez with production supervision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audiovisual451.com/paco-plaza-dirige-hermana-muerte-para-netflix-terror-a-la-valenciana-y-a-plena-luz-del-dia/|website=Audiovisual451|title=Paco Plaza dirige 'Hermana Muerte' para Netflix: terror a la valenciana y a plena luz del día|date=30 May 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sitges.cat/serveis/cultura/actualitat/noticies/romancero-confirma-lidil-li-de-sitges-2023-amb-les-series|website=Ajuntament de Sitges|date=7 October 2023|title=Romancero confirma l'idil·li de Sitges 2023 amb les sèries}}

Release

The film was presented as the opening film of the 56th Sitges Film Festival on 5 October 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/sitges-paco-plaza-netflix-el-estudio-1235617315|website=Variety|date=18 May 2023|title=Sitges Announces Opening film 'Hermana Muerte' at Cannes' Fantastic Pavilion, Reveals Poster for Upcoming Edition|first=Marta|last=Bałaga}}{{Cite web|website=La Voz de Almería|url=https://www.lavozdealmeria.com/noticia/5/vivir/263530/dinosaurios-monjas-y-vampiros-almerienses-andan-sueltos-por-sitges|title=Dinosaurios, monjas y vampiros almerienses andan sueltos por Sitges|first=Evaristo|last=Martínez|date=7 October 2023}} It was distributed by Netflix,{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/paco-plaza-dirigira-hermana-muerte-spin-off-de-su-exito-veronica-4977704/|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|date=28 March 2022|first=Carles|last=Rull|title=Paco Plaza dirigirá 'Hermana muerte', precuela de su éxito 'Verónica'}} with a streaming release set for 27 October 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/hermana-muerte-precula-veronica-netflix-estreno-trailer-sinopsis-reparto-5171367/|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|date=11 September 2023|first=Miguel Ángel|last=Romero|title=Todo lo que sabemos sobre 'Hermana Muerte', la precuela de 'Verónica' en Netflix: estreno, imágenes, reparto...}}

Reception

According to the American review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Sister Death has a 88% approval rating based on 16 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 7.2/10.{{Cite web |title=Sister Death |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sister_death|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media |access-date=15 December 2024}}

Miguel Ángel Romero of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, underscoring Plaza's consolidation as a master of Spanish horror cinema as a verdict.{{Cite web|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|first=Miguel Ángel|last=Romero|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/criticas/hermana-muerte-critica-estreno-reparto-5184877/|title=Crítica de 'Hermana Muerte': Paco Plaza abandona la oscuridad del cine de terror en la precuela de 'Verónica'|date=26 October 2023}}

Jesse Hassenger of Decider.com gave the film a positive recommendation, deeming it to be "an efficient and well-made horror picture".{{Cite web|website=Decider.com|title=Stream It Or Skip It: 'Sister Death' on Netflix, Another Nun-Centric Horror Movie at the Tail End of Spooky Season|date=27 October 2023|url=https://decider.com/2023/10/27/sister-death-netflix-review/|first=Jesse|last=Hassenger}}

Elsa Fernández-Santos of El País assesses that Plaza delivers one of his best films owing to a staging combining a "Gothic tale background with Spartan architecture and an aura of fierce fatality and martyrdom", writing that the film is built "with visual elements that are as simple as they are disturbing".{{Cite web|url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-10-27/sister-death-catholic-terror-in-a-bloody-convent.html|website=El País|first=Elsa|last=Fernández-Santos|date=27 October 2023|title='Sister Death': Catholic terror in a bloody convent}}

Sister Death has been classified in Collider as a nunsploitation film.{{Cite web |last=Sapiano |first=S. K. |date=2024-04-28 |title=The 10 Best Nunsploitation Horror Movies, Ranked |url=https://collider.com/nunsploitation-horror-movies-ranked/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Collider |language=en}}

= Top ten lists =

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:

5th — El Periódico de Catalunya (critics){{Cite web|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/ocio-y-cultura/20231222/10-mejores-peliculas-espanolas-2023-95987646|website=El Periódico de Catalunya|publisher=Prensa Ibérica|title=Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023|first=Quim|last=Casas|date=22 December 2023}}
7th — El Confidencial (consensus){{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/cultura/cine/2023-12-21/mejores-peliculas-espanolas-2023_3793386/|website=El Confidencial|first=Marta|last=Medina|title=Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023: niños robados, sexualidad femenina y monjas, muchas monjas|date=21 December 2023}}

Accolades

| {{center|2024}} || 11th Feroz Awards || Best Poster || Iñaki Villuendas, José Haro || {{nom}} || {{center|{{Cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/el-cultural/cine/20240127/premios-feroz-lista-completa-ganadores/827917680_0.html|website=El Cultural|via=El Español|title=Premios Feroz 2024: la lista completa de todos los ganadores|date=27 January 2024}}}}