The Curse — Fantastic Fest Review
Source: Rights Cube
The Curse feels like a nostalgic trip back to the techno-horror films of the early aughts, calling to mind eerie classics like The Ring and Pulse, but with a distinctly modern twist. Instead of cursed videotapes or haunted websites, the threat here seeps through the familiar feeds of social media, making the film feel both unsettling and eerily relevant. It taps into the anxiety of living online, how much of ourselves we share, and how much of others we consume, and warps those ideas into something genuinely sinister. Ken’ichi Ugana uses this premise not just to scare but to hold up a mirror to the culture of constant exposure, showing how easily digital intimacy can turn into something invasive and dangerous.
There are some genuinely creepy moments, and the film is at its most effective when Ugana focuses on disturbing imagery rather than outright gore. The cinematography ratchets up the tension and unease, with tight close-ups and slow, creeping pans that make it feel as though something malevolent is lurking just out of frame even before it reveals itself. This visual language keeps the viewer on edge, never quite sure where to look, and gives even the quietest scenes an unnerving energy.
The score is another highlight. It amplifies the sense of dread and at times feels almost reminiscent of John Carpenter’s iconic work on Halloween or Jack Nitzsche’s haunting music for The Exorcist. Its pulsing, hypnotic rhythms make even mundane moments feel charged with menace.
Source: Rights Cube
Unfortunately, the special effects leave something to be desired. They have a noticeably low-budget quality that pulls the viewer out of the moment, especially during the film’s most intense sequences when the horror should be peaking. Instead of heightening the fear, they undercut it, and the result is that some key moments that should be terrifying end up feeling unintentionally campy.
The human element of the story is also lacking. Some of the performances feel slightly stilted, and the characters make questionable and often infuriating decisions that make it difficult to sympathize with or become emotionally invested in them. This emotional distance weakens the impact of the story’s climax and leaves some of its tragic moments feeling hollow.
Still, beneath its uneven execution lies a haunting message. The Curse works as a cautionary tale, an ominous warning about the dangers of oversharing online and the psychological toll of measuring your worth against the curated lives of others. It suggests that the true horror may not be the supernatural force stalking its characters but the world they willingly expose themselves to every time they log on.
The Curse had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2025.
