Synopsis
The Cursed is a 2022 film released under the genre of gothic horror, with a screenplay and direction from Sean Ellis. The film received its first premiere with the name Eight for Silver. The film beautifully intertwines supernatural horror elements with an exploration of historical tragedy, weaving a harrowing narrative laden with curses, guilt, and monstrous metamorphoses. It has a unique perspective as the werewolf mythos is retold from a dark, folklore-inspired viewpoint, the film is set in late 19th-century rural France.
The narrative begins with a French soldier in World War I. They go through an intense trench battle and get wounded, during the surgery the soldier undergo under a silver bullet is found embedded in him. This morphous detail serves as a harbinger for something even greater, serving as a prelude into a narrative that would unfold decades earlier.
In 1881, a wealthy landowner named Seamus Laurent orchestrates a violent massacre of a Romani clan occupying land his estate lays claim to. The Romani were granted legal claim to the land, but were faced with brutal rejection and extermination. Among those brutally murdered was a Romani matriarch who moments away from her death, recites a curse using a set of handcrafted silver fangs. These fangs embody the curse and is a form of the curse that is a tangible relic, triggering horrific metamorphosis and terror.
Strange events start to unfold soon after the massacre in the village. The children begin to have nightmares containing symbols like scarecrows, silver teeth, and dark woods. From there, one of the village boys uncovers the buried fangs and becomes possessed. This particular boy goes on to attack and infect other children, starting a domino effect of monstrous behavior.
Edward Laurent, who is the son of Seamus, also succumbs to the so-called curse and vanishes. At the same time, John McBride, a pathologist with a dark history, goes to the village to look into the recent odd happenings. Events like the nightlife have led him to believe there are other motives, and diseases at play, have the base idea that other forces beyond medicine are involved.
With more and more people vanishing or being discovered deceased, it’s becoming ever so clear that the curse is taking on a more physical form in the world—literally transforming into monstrous wolf-type supernatural creatures. The horror intensifies as McBride seeks to reason with the villagers who believe to have been put under some kind of spell.
The film reaches a shocking climax as the village church turns into a battleground. Fully transformed into a creature, Edward is heart-wrenchingly shot by McBride, who has to shoot through Edward’s mother, Isabelle. The scene invokes brutal and tragic feelings, underscoring the horror and the emotional turmoil behind it.
The film shifts back to the war front in the final scenes. The soldier from the opening scene is revealed to be Edward Laurent, a transformed man who survived and carries the curse’s physical burden. His sister, Charlotte, visits McBride as an old woman and hands him the final silver bullet, perpetuating a tragic cycle of trauma and violence entwined with a cursed legacy.
Boyd Holbrook as John McBride
A quiet, traumatized man of science, McBride is a deeply quiet and haunted figure. As an actor, Holbrook brings depth and nuance to the character who finds himself mired in a battle between reason and the supernatural.
Kelly Reilly as Isabelle Laurent
A mother grapples with a dark fate when her child transforms into a living curse. Reilly brings balance to the story’s emotional core with her portrayal of Isabelle.
Alistair Petrie as Seamus Laurent
He is a ruthless landowner whose actions set off the main tragedy of the story. The cold exterior he shows hides deep-seated fear, guilt, and pride—traits that help bring the story to ruin.
Amelia Crouch as Charlotte Laurent
She is Edward’s sister and is one of the few who is able to retain her humanity. She is a symbol of resilience and of what should be remembered.
Max Mackintosh as Edward Laurent
He is the tragic central character of the curse—guilty by association to a father’s unforgivable sins and innocent in life.
Direction and Style
Sean Ellis, the director, creates a haunting and visually stunning world of fog-laden fields, misty woodlands, and bleak interiors. His use of cinematography leans toward the use of natural light, long takes, and muted color palettes, all of which work to amplify the oppressive atmosphere of the film. Traditional werewolf aesthetics are abandoned in favor of grotesque, alien-like transformations that are unique to this film.
The blending of practical effects and CGI creates a disturbing level of realism, and the film’s sound design is equally as immersive. Growls, whispers, and calculated moments of silence are all used to build a sense of dread. The pace is intentional and allows for the build up of tension in a steady, calculated manner as opposed to rushing into typical horror moments.
Themes
The Cursed delves deep into a blend of complicated themes:
Colonialism and Prejudice: The horror at its core stems from the brutal displacement and genocide of the Romani people. It also serves as a curse—for all the wrongs done, and also a metaphor for vengeance.
Inherited Guilt: The father’s sins—Seamus Laurent—bring consequences to his offspring, especially to Edward as he bears the weight of his father’s cruelty. The film challenges the viewer with the question, can innocence survive in a reality steeped with violence and conflict brought upon by one’s lineage?
Science vs. The Supernatural: The film gives us John McBride, who is determined to find rational explanations to illogical horrors. Through his character, the film argues that not everything can be rational, and his eventual acceptance of the supernatural suggests that not everything can be dissected by science.
Transformation: The changes people go through in the film go beyond the physical. They also face psychological battles. The horror often stems from witnessing a character struggle to be the person they want to be and instead, give in to the darkness that is battling for control within them.
Reception
The Cursed was praised for its originality and atmosphere, as well as emotional depth. Critics have noted the film’s willingness to tackle horror cinematography with serious and sophisticated approaches, proving the genre can be a vessel of moral complexity. The emotional weight of the supernatural events were strong, and the performances from Holbrook and Reilly were highly praised.
Some viewers have pointed out that the film’s pacing and allegorical tone might not resonate with audiences that prefer jump scare horror. The ambiguity surrounding the curse and the unusual design of the creature evoked both appreciation and debate.
Conclusion
The Cursed (2022) goes beyond being a simple monster movie; it serves as a haunting meditation on the violence, guilt, and the hidden consequences of human brutality. The film reinvents the werewolf myth through a historical and emotional lens, offering a different type of horror experience that stays with the viewer long after the movie ends.
Sean Ellis presents a beautifully bleak vision. Fog-covered landscapes and fractured families provide a backdrop for terror that stems from real-world injustice. With its emotionally multi-layered characters, haunting visuals, and methodical pacing, The Cursed is one of the more reflective and ambitious horror films of the past few years.
If you’re looking for a blend of folklore and human emotion, and horror that is both frightening and sorrowful, The Cursed should be at the top of your list.
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