The Curse is jagged with good qualities, like frights and a shocking ending, but also frustrating in between the brighter moments.
The Curse is a Japanese/Taiwanese horror film playing at Fantastic Fest. It highlights the pros and cons of social media and how much people unknowingly share with strangers online. There are scary moments, but it’s more disturbing than chilling. While it starts promising, much of the characters’ choices lack logic. As such, the cast is hollow and as superficial as the characters’ social media posts. The Curse is jagged with good qualities, like frights and a shocking ending, but also frustrating in between the brighter moments.
Directed by Kenichi Ugana (I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn, Incomplete Chairs), the story follows a curse that travels through social media. Like One Missed Call made people afraid of contact lists, The Curse builds a dread for social media. It follows Riko, played by Yukino Kaizu (Tokyo Swindlers), who spends her days working at a hair salon, scrolling through Instagram to look at her friends’ posts, and evenings enjoying her friend and roommate’s cooking.But when a friend living in Taiwan posts a creepy video with a woman lurking in the background, it sets off a chain of events that puts her and her roommate in jeopardy.
The Curse Is Uncomfortable and Occasionally Creepy
Throughout the film, some moments create discomfort while others raise questions. Especially moments that lean into gross if you’re not a fan of them. However, there are also creepy moments where silence creates the tension and terror. There’s one moment that literally made me jump back in my seat. So, The Curse does make good on the terror initially, but later favors shock above all. But it still builds an overall entertaining story.
Characters and Danger Feel Unclear
It’s hard to gauge certain choices or even the lackluster concern by the lead, Riko. On one hand, there seems to be concern for herself and others. But at other times, it appears nonexistent. An additional issue is that the film lacks clear rules for the entity. By the end, the decisions from the cast are ridiculous. Outnumbering your opponent, yet struggling to defeat them, is irritating because there’s no logical reason why. So, while I commend The Curse for its ending, it’s also a head-scratcher.
Bitter Woman Is Tiring
The Curse offers plenty of entertainment despite the “I can’t move” nonsense from the cast. You’re not exactly cheering for their success because of it. But it plays into a familiar trope of the bitter, resentful, older woman. Sure, fictional stories are fun. However, it feels a tad “been there, done that.” So, leaning into that drags the film down. Trust, many older women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are not giving younger women a thought.
With tense moments, shocks, and discomfort, The Curse has more working for it than not. But having shallow characters does not always pass in horror, especially if their choices feel guided by something other than their personality. It’s a film I enjoyed watching. However, it’s not one I would ever feel the need to revisit. It might work better as a short film. The Curse is fun with scares, but viewers need to suspend their disbelief and then some.
