The Cursed

 3/4

Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Kelly Reilly, Alistair Petrie, Amelia Crouch, Max Mackintosh

Rated R for Strong Violence, Grisly Images and Brief Nudity

"The Cursed" is a werewolf movie, although it's unlike any other werewolf movie I've ever seen.  Most werewolf movies rely on cheap shocks, chases and gore to entertain audiences.  "The Cursed" is different. This is a moody, atmospheric horror film that uses images of dread and eeriness as its currency.

Edward (Mackintosh), the son of a local landowner, has just gone missing.  One of his friends has just been slain by a wolf.  A visiting pathologist named John McBride (Holbrook) is on the case.  What he uncovers will force an entire town to confront its past.

If you're looking for action and scream-inducing thrills, look elsewhere.  This isn't that kind of movie.  Writer/director Sean Ellis is more patient, allowing the images and sounds to unsettle the viewer.  Ellis has an uncanny eye for atmosphere; the film is choked with terror and dread.  "The Cursed" bears far greater similarity to "The Witch" than "The Wolfman."

Watching this film, I was amazed at how similar it was to "Brotherhood of the Wolf."  They share many of the same plot elements (the Beast of Gevudan is explicitly referenced), so I wouldn't be surprised if Ellis was influenced by the 2001 cult hit.  However, calling "The Cursed" a rip-off or a copy of that French film is as untrue as as it is unfair.  Where Ellis takes the film is radically different.  "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is a monster-tinged swashbuckler with as much adventure as scares.  "The Cursed" is a slow, moody and atmospheric horror film that stirs in its own juices.

It's often overlooked that character actors can be a better choice to anchor a film.  As good of an actor as Leonardo DiCaprio is, his fame and screen presence can overpower a film and make it difficult for an audience member to see the character he is playing.  That's not the case with no-name actors.  They don't have that baggage.  Boyd Holbrook is slowly but surely making his name in Hollywood, but he still lacks star power, and that makes us only see John McBride.  It isn't a great performance, but it works.  Kelly Reilly is also working her way up the ladder, but this isn't one of her better performances; all she does is whisper her lines.  Alistair Petrie is rock solid as the father who keeps a stiff upper lip.  And Amelia Crouch is a natural actress.

Unfortunately, "The Cursed" loses its intensity at around the halfway mark.  Part of the reason is simply due to the nature of the story.  A villain becomes less threatening the more you know about him.  But Ellis cannot fully escape blame.  It is clear that he uses long takes to generate atmosphere and make his audience uneasy.  That's a good tactic when it comes to setting the stage, but not when the film goes into action territory.  There is a distinct lack of tension in some scenes (particularly the climax) because Ellis doesn't ramp up the energy.

Yet I cannot deny that there are many scenes in "The Cursed" that have real power.  It's genuinely spooky and unsettling.  So while "The Cursed" isn't for everyone, those who surrender to its unique approach will be satisfactorily creeped out.

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