Slamdance 2022 Film Festival – Three freshmen pledges have to prove their commitment to their new sorority and face themselves and their internalized prejudices in Hell Night, or Noche del Infierno. Gina (Cathryn Dylan), Elena (Natalia del Riego) and Penelope (Carolina Riesgo) were ready to do whatever it takes to pledge to the oldest Latina sorority on campus… but they didn’t realize “whatever it takes” meant a bloody ritual that would alter their reality and introduce them to dark magic.

Hell Night takes prejudice by the horns – forcing a white passing Mexican, a stereotypical Chola, and a snooty Spanish girl, all convinced they’re better than the last, to realize their similarities rather than their differences. The idea of not being Latinx “enough” is one I’m very familiar with – as I’m nearly full blooded Mexican and Native, but with my red hair and freckles I have white passing privilege – and my experience is very different from my friends of color, regardless of their ethnic background.

The overwhelming prejudice of Spanish vs Mexican when it comes to Latinx heritage is also highlighted here, in a very frank way, which is refreshing and worth revisiting as a type of “in-fighting” most of us ignore. There are some painful stereotypes here, making correlations from Mexican chola to a ratchet teen mom, et al – but they’re important to talk about and play a crucial part in the moral of Hell Night.

With the exception of a particularly heinous wig (please, please always splurge for the lace front…) Hell Night makes the most of its low budget, estimated at $30,000 on IMDB. An impactful story for a “woke” age – timely and timeless, with just enough college shenanigans to make this feel culty and classic all at once.

6.5 out of 10