‘The Virgin of the Quarry Lake’: Revenge Thriller With Shocking Horror Twist

From action heroes like John Wick to comic book characters like Frank Castle, revenge stories have long been a mainstay of Hollywood. International cinema also contributes to the genre with films like ‘The Shadow Strays’. ‘A Simple Favor’, ‘Lucky Number Slevin’, and ‘The Gift’ are a few examples of revenge stories that take a more psychological approach, while others tend toward action-packed vengeance.

‘The Virgin of the Quarry Lake’, a slow-burning revenge tale with an unexpected supernatural aspect, debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The movie, which is set in Argentina in the early 2000s, centres on Natalia, a teenage girl who is fixated on Diego, an older boy she briefly dated. Diego, however, is enthralled with Silvia, a chic lady who frequently brags about her travels throughout Europe. Because her own mother left her for Europe, Natalia has a great deal of animosity toward Silvia. Rita, Natalia’s grandmother, raises her, and as her jealousy grows, Rita does a ritual to try to win Diego over. Despite the ritual’s seeming futility, Natalia’s rage lingers.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

As the narrative progresses, Natalia descends into darkness, using drugs and throwing careless parties while her animosity for Silvia intensifies. Strange events, like electrical blackouts and even an unexplained death, appear to be triggered by her emotions. It’s unclear if these occurrences are coincidental or supernatural. The quarry, where Silvia often sunbathes and is said to be haunted by violent dogs, is the scene of the finale. Natalia reveals Silvia’s false narratives during a furious altercation, but Diego seems unmoved. Natalia apparently summons three ferocious dogs, which attack them as they flee. It’s uncertain if this is a self-fulfilling prophecy or a supernatural occurrence.

In the end, Natalia leaves on a bus, having changed from a young woman who is despised to a dangerous character. The movie leaves the viewer wondering if her sudden strength is a reflection of her decline into evil or if it is a true thing.

–Farheen Ali