The curse : the return of a cult film
For several years, Hollywood has been stubbornly reviving old horror sagas. Lately there has been the trilogy Halloween (2018-2022), which despite a good first work, proved to be uneven. Subsequently, David Gordon Green unfortunately continued in this perspective of rebooting cult horror films The Exorcist: Devotion (2023). And let’s not forget the Chainsaw massacre (2022) from Netflix, which still had some good ideas. There were still some of these great works of genre cinema from the 70s The curse (1976) by Richard Donnerand the latest version dates back to 2006.
The idea of a prequel wasn’t necessarily appealing. What’s the point of telling it? Damien’s originsthis young adopted child who turns out to be the Antichrist ? Even more so since in this type of production, called non-exploitation (around religious belief, with ecclesiastical plots and evocation of demons), there is a risk of falling into ridicule. As highlighted by The Vatican Exorcist (2023) or Immaculate (2024). Nevertheless, The curse: the origin pleasantly surprises.
Of course, the film doesn’t escape supernatural folklore. And there we find it the usual somersaults, predictable for fans of the genre. A series of terrible clichés expected, but which are canceled in favora true cinematic propositionterrifying and fascinating, capable of push the blood to the extreme.
A terrifying film that goes beyond clichés
The good idea of The curse: the origin it will take place for the first time in the early 1970s, in Rome. The film has the importance of using time and place to bring a certain depth and of using the cinema of the time to play with certain codes. Without retracing the history of Italy, the feature film evokes social movements and demonstrations of a young generation that has distanced itself from religious beliefs. Which will then serve as justification the sordid acts of a part of the Churchone of the main themes of the film.
In this context we follow Margaret, who comes from the United States to enter an orphanage and serve the Church. Impossible not to think about it Immaculate The two stories are so similar in their first act. But the ambition ofArkasha Stevensondirector and co-writer of The curse: the origin, it is much more marked. If nothing else in the writing of Margaret’s character, more complex than it seems. Superbly performed by Nell Tiger free, whose cinematography is undeniable, Margaret has an alleged madness that allows some horrific elements to be justified. This allows Arkasha Stevenson to create surprising visual proposals that immerse the audience a harrowing nightmare.
Above all, the director finds the right balance between seemingly conventional passages and a form of modernity. In fact, he succeeds go beyond the horrible clichés from which he builds his work. For example, there is a feeling of novelty when faced with these nuns who smoke, who joke about men and sexuality, and go so far as to let loose in a bar before taking orders. Likewise, this predictable passage, in which a man is hit by a van, regains his interest moments later by surprising us with the horror of the bloody conclusion.
From body horror engaged
Arkasha Stevenson’s way of subverting classicism with touches of visual modernity is also felt in the film’s discourse. A profoundly modern discourse on possession of women’s bodies. Let’s quickly find out in The curse: the origin that a dark society forces women to mate with a creature to give birth to the Antichrist. From an unbearable birth sceneArkasha Stevenson explained her desire to demonstrate that “the female body is violated from the inside“. The image of this tied woman, hit with laughing gas to make her more docile, is an obvious political gesture. Just like this desire to actually tend more towards body horror than towards non-exploitation.
From this sequence then comes a disturbing shot of Nell Tiger Free’s face, positioned as if her head were separated from her body, with locks of hair waving like snakes and splayed like spider paste. Let’s think about the Medusa. Not that of Caravaggio, who made a terrifying representation of it. But it was a modern version in the #MeToo era that made it a feminist icon, rehabilitating this mythological creature whose monstrosity derives from a rape by Poseidon in a temple dedicated to Athena. This then goes punish the victim transforming her into a Gorgon.
Between mythology and Possession
In The curse: the originMargaret and others see their body damaged, wounded and cut in different ways. Like this nun who has to cut her hair before a ceremony to wear the veil. That same protagonist who, at the beginning of the film, convinces the heroine to give her body the last moments of freedom before joining the Church. Which, in passing, gives rise to an almost dreamlike scene, which is reminiscent The neon demon (2016)also in Margaret’s character’s outfit, similar to the one worn by Elle Fanning in Nicolas Winding Refn’s work.
So, Arkasha Stevenson settles The curse: the origin a more original and daring proposal than expected. Because instead of clinging to the character of Damien, he places women dispossessed of their own bodies at the center of the film. The director also manages to create permanent tensionand gives its actress Nell Tiger Free the opportunity to make an impact on the audience. The actress is remarkable during a sequence in which, locked in a room, she seems to sink into madness. And even more so when she has beastly convulsions in front of the camera, like Isabelle Adjani a Possession (nineteen eighty-one) – another alleged influence of the director. With her mesmerizing gaze and the energy she displays, Nell Tiger Free alone justifies the discovery The curse: the origin.
The curse: the origin by Arkasha Stevenson, in theaters from April 10, 2024. Above is the trailer. Find all our trailers here.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
