The Cursed shows signs of struggles from the get-go.
Sean Ellis’ gothic thriller The Cursed is coming to theaters this weekend. It stars Boyd Holbrook, Kelly Reilly, and Alistair Petrie. It is a reimagining of the werewolf legend for a modern-day audience. This movie is not is to be confused with the 2005 werewolf movie ‘Cursed’. That film starred Christina Ricci and Jesse Eisenberg.
Synopsis
In the late 1800s, a once-peaceful remote country village is under attack—but by who or what, no one knows. Villagers spread rumors of a cursed land, supernatural forces, and even demonic creatures, as the disappearances and killings continue. Pathologist John McBride arrives to investigate the danger, only to discover something much deeper and more sinister than he ever could have imagined.
To my surprise I found out that The Cursed was not the film’s original title. My understanding is that it called Eight for Silver, in other markets or recently had a last minute title change, which is a red flag. Additionally, the film opens up with a flashback that already spoils the movie, which is an odd move by the director and another red flag. The Cursed is a very slow-paced “horror” film that does not have many scares other than its overly long runtime. Despite delivering a unique werewolf concept and design and solid acting, the lack of tension and the director’s misunderstanding of the genre proves this film bites off more than it can chew.
Verdict
I give The Cursed 2out of 5 stars. Fans of the genre will be disappointed in this film and may want to hold off for it to be offered for free on a streaming platform.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.