This gothic period piece presents a unique take on lycanthropy and curses, ambitiously welding expected trappings of classic horror. The film is partially handled as a period medical mystery and partially about a town under siege by monstrous forces. The atmosphere is dark and brooding, drenched with Hammer overtones, chilling surroundings and a stunningly spooky mansion. The acting from the leads is uniformly good, although the cast can’t seem to decide what location they’re in or what accent to use. The script riffs on notions of class warfare and societal taboos, but in subtle ways that are organic to the setting and interesting to examine. An examination of genealogical sins and responsibility weave through the script, setting up some rather predictable endgame twists. The gore and scenes of attacks are quite good, what’s unfortunate is an overuse of computer generated effects which tend to break immersion. The creatures in question aren’t werewolves in the traditional sense, but draw comparisons to mind. While there are plenty of horrific and gruesome horrors presented, the most impactful scenes of horror are grounded in historical atrocities founded in greed and willful inhumanity. The movie is not without flaws, issues of pacing and visuals and predictable twists detract from an otherwise well executed period thriller that will certainly offer genre fans something to enjoy.
The Cursed (2022)