In a cinematic landscape full of jump-scare-driven horror, The Cursed emerges as a masterclass in atmosphere and dread—a slow-burning nightmare where the past doesn’t just haunt the present, it consumes it.
Set in a remote European village in the late 1800s, The Cursed follows Dr. Elias Harrow (played by Cillian Murphy), a war-weary physician summoned to investigate a string of brutal, unexplainable killings on the estate of a noble family. The victims appear to be mauled by beasts—but there are no tracks, no witnesses, and no ordinary explanation.
As Harrow digs deeper, he discovers the land’s cursed history: decades ago, the estate’s lord slaughtered a Romani settlement and buried a relic—a silver idol said to be bound to vengeance and darkness. Now, a mysterious fog creeps in each night, and those who dream beneath it wake with blood on their hands... or not at all.
The curse is spreading—and it has a voice.
Directed by Rose Glass, The Cursed is a gothic horror triumph, drenched in ash-gray palettes, flickering candlelight, and whispered prayers. Every frame feels heavy with foreboding. The cinematography avoids cheap shocks in favor of creeping horror—slow pans, distorted silhouettes in the mist, and grotesque transformation sequences that feel almost Biblical in their terror.
The horror here is twofold: supernatural and psychological. As paranoia spreads, the villagers begin turning on each other, unsure if the evil lies outside... or inside. The film cleverly plays with perception—who is cursed, and who simply deserves it?
Cillian Murphy anchors the film with a restrained, haunted performance, while newcomer Freya Allan (as the cursed nobleman's daughter) brings sharp emotion to a story about generational guilt and inherited damnation.
At its heart, The Cursed is about cycles of violence, the price of denial, and the cost of silencing history. The monsters may wear fur and fangs—but the true horror lies in what people do to keep power.
The Cursed is a grim, atmospheric horror story that refuses to hold your hand. It's the kind of film that lingers after the credits—like smoke, or something breathing just out of sight. If you like horror that hurts and haunts, this is one to watch.
