AD200910008931876AR
AD200910008931876AR

The Cry



Oh dear. An hour and a bit of my life that I'll never get back, lost to The Cry, an immensely poor outing detailing the curse of La Lloreda, a 500-year-old vengeful spirit from Mexico that compels otherwise ordinary, loving mothers to drown their kids - in Central Park, for some reason. Throw in a mystical clairvoyant (think Sid James dressed up as an end-of-the-pier fortune teller), a disturbed mother prone to sketching victims while in an entranced stupor, and two bumbling detectives who would struggle to get into the Keystone Cops, and you start to get the idea. To say that the story is weak, the acting amateurish and the cinematography childish would be to understate the paucity of talent at play in this production. In fact, the film is so bad, that at one point I became convinced that I was mistaken and, in reality, was watching a work of total genius. But alas, no. That reverie ended as soon as it had begun, and the film denied me even the cheapest of "so bad it's good" thrills. A dissection of individual performances would bore you, but suffice to say you may not hear much more from these actors. And as for La Lloreda, I'm afraid the poor dame needs to work a little harder at keeping viewers awake if she has any realistic aspirations of striking terror into people's hearts.

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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