X
- 2022
- R
- LD Entertainment
- 1 h 51 m
- 2022
- R
- LD Entertainment
- 1 h 51 m
Summary In the late 1800s, a man arrives in a remote country village to investigate an attack by a wild animal but discovers a much deeper and sinister force that has the manor and its townspeople in its grip.
Directed By: Sean Ellis
Written By: Sean Ellis
- 2022
- R
- LD Entertainment
- 1 h 51 m
- 2022
- R
- LD Entertainment
- 1 h 51 m
The Cursed
62
7.0
Where to Watch
Summary In the late 1800s, a man arrives in a remote country village to investigate an attack by a wild animal but discovers a much deeper and sinister force that has the manor and its townspeople in its grip.
Directed By: Sean Ellis
Written By: Sean Ellis
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
62
54% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
46% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
62
54% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
46% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
This period piece is slow-paced yet peppered with enough gory attacks and smartly staged scare sequences to appeal to horror connoisseurs.
It's all so rich—and so richly executed by Ellis, a total filmmaker—that one wishes it added up to more than a series of smart variations on a certain type of film.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 User Ratings
7.0
63% Positive
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
33% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 User Ratings
7.0
63% Positive
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
33% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Best horror film in a long time. Amazing film, acting, dialog, camera, set designs, costumes, tone/vibe, sfx, enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend.
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A depressing horror movie that starts with an unspeakable act of cruelty, to the point where you root for the resulting curse and all the mayhem that ensues. Atmospheric body horror, with a dark demonic anchor to biblical times. Enough gore to satisfy hardened horror veterans, with some unforgettable scenes worthy of the same physical horror as The Thing. Not for the faint of heart.
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Originally titled Eight for Silver, the film from British writer-director Sean Ellis is brooding, uneasy and fog-filled, with an apprehensive soundscape. Werewolf mythology mixes with biblical allusions and ideas on payments for the sins of elders.
Eight for Silver howls the arrival of a new and exciting take on the old werewolf story, with an inventive mythology and a memorable xenomorph-inspired scene that will nest in your nightmares. Sadly, the good parts of the film are trapped within the monstrous body of an overly long and average feature film.
Even when Ellis ramps up the suspense with crosscutting and monster mayhem in the final half-hour, The Cursed has trouble maintaining nail-biting intensity for very long
The Cursed is stylish and scary enough for what it is. That’s an old-fashioned creature feature, effective enough to give you a mild case of the heebie-jeebies but nothing chronic.
Ultimately, The Cursed is merely a slow trek through horrific gore, lackluster and confusing werewolf lore, and a muddled understanding of the legacy of the Roma.
Normally to find such a fresh, new spin on a classic horror villain archetype like this I'd have to read a novel. Set in the 18th century, The Cursed however puts several inventive, original twists on long-established werewolf lore that allow it to provide a very unique and remarkable viewing experience. Not least of all because of what a great job it does of bringing the time period to life, giving it the vibe of a forgotten old fable.
It's pretty rare in general to come across a horror flick with this strong of an emphasis placed on its storytelling. At least one not coming from A24 that is. Writer and director Sean Ellis has crafted a script with a moderate amount of allegorical properties, well-developed characters, and intriguing scenarios on top of all the artistic Age of Enlightenment era flair taking place in front of the camera. The writing only slightly being marred by the occasional baffling idiocy of its characters at points.
It's not the scariest movie you'll ever see, but features some wonderfully grotesque concepts regardless that come equipped with unexpected symbolic value. An air of dark magic hangs over the entire thing alongside the feeling of a slowly approaching, deserved (but not by everyone) doom that keeps the events interesting even if they never put you in a state of constant fear or anxiety over what you'll witness next.
It's fairly saddening to see this not receiving the amount of commendation it deserves. There's no denying Ellis has crafted a work offering a take on conventional folklore that's entirely his own vision. My hope is that future reappraisals will recognize it alongside Gretel & Hansel as the underappreciated in its own time gem of fairytale-esque horror it is. That may seem like a weird descriptor, but let me ask you this: what is a fairy tale when you strip away the kid-friendly, sanitized Disney mien after all, if not a grim story with a subtle hint of moralizing?
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'The Cursed' puts an interesting spin on the werewolf mythos, but it's not enough to keep you hooked all the time. Sean Ellis, of 'Cashback' fame, delivers a horror film with production values that don't make the tiny budget noticeable, despite the PS3-looking CGI. The practical effects (which truly look grotesque), the costumes, and the photography stand out; the overall gothic tone is well done. The performances aren't bad, but none of them are outstanding, and the characters aren't all that engaging. And although there is a theme related to xenophobia, corruption, and the abuse of power, it kind of goes nowhere. The final twist feels a bit anticlimactic, but you can't deny that Ellis and his team tried to make a horror film that doesn't rely on jumpscares at all. Yes, it's miles away from something like 'The Witch,' but still a decent take on the folk horror subgenre.
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It's a neat twist on the werewolf or shape-shifting curse. Great production values and acting. Definitely reminds me a bit of the old Hammer films, but with less buxomness. I'm interested to see what Sean Ellis does next.
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I must say, this movie surprised me.
The Cursed is pretty predictable, and this is something that tends to happen too much in the horror genre, but what this story manages to do is prove that even when you're playing inside the box, you can still make things productive.
Set in the 18th century, The Cursed goes for atmosphere by ratcheting up the tension and suspense where it's due, even when you as the viewer are already expecting what's going to happen. That's a point I stress, because I feel it's best when a story doesn't try too hard to seek the audience's reaction, but to envelop them in its setting.
Visually outstanding, The Cursed is more about texture, environment and situation. Indeed, it doesn't attempt variants that could have been better explored, but what it does well is more than present and it's efficient.
It could've been shorter, but I still liked it.
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Awards
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
• 3 Nominations
Camerimage
• 1 Nomination
Gérardmer Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
