Unlike standard horror films, Castigo Divino uses its setting to explore themes of religious dogma and political repression. The "divine punishment" of the title is ambiguous: is it a supernatural curse, or is it the psychological manifestation of a village crushed by guilt and authoritarian rule? The film handles this ambiguity well, grounding the supernatural elements in real-world trauma.

Some claimed it was a documentary of actual events. Others swore it was a student film gone wrong. There were even whispers that watching the full version brought bad luck.