10/18/22 – OCTOBER HORROR MOVIE PICK #18 – The Cursed (2022).

I’m always a sucker for historical horror. Something about horror in a completely different era always pulls me in. Not only does it whisk my mind away to that time and place, but it also brings with it a whole different vibe. And I can’t get enough when it’s done right. Mix in an amazing creature, and you’ve sold me. Here is the brief IMDB synopsis:

In rural 19th-century France, a mysterious, possibly supernatural menace threatens a small village. John McBride, a pathologist, comes to town to investigate the danger – and exorcise some of his own demons in the process.

When The Cursed was originally released at the Sundance Film Fest in 2021, it went by the more original name of Eight For Silver. Like many horror flicks that premiere at Sundance, you should go in already knowing this is going to be a bit more than your typical by-the-numbers horror flick. There is a lot of character work, a lot of mystery, and a lot of historical drama. But you just know that when you open your film with the slaughtering of an entire Roma clan, curses are going to be involved (we don’t say, “Gypsy curses” anymore, but the characters still do since it’s authentic to the era). This film has some brutality to it, especially that slaughter scene. And man oh man, does it have some haunting imagery. But where it moved the needle for me, was in the creature work. I won’t spoil anything, but there is a creature sequence in this film that is completely done with practical effects, and it is AMAZING. It is completely an homage to The Thing, and I soaked in it like a warm bath. Overall, the film may be a touch too long, but I still really enjoyed it. If you’re into some intelligent, Sundance-y, historical, creature horror, The Cursed is right up your alley.

For fun, I’ve attached the original “Eight For Silver” one-sheet below as well because I think it’s an amazing poster.