Normally to find such a fresh, new spin on a classic horror villain archetype like this I'd have to read a novel. Set in the 18th century, The Cursed however puts several inventive, original twists on long-established werewolf lore that allow it to provide a very unique and remarkable viewing experience. Not least of all because of what a great job it does of bringing the time period to life, giving it the vibe of a forgotten old fable. It's pretty rare in general to come across a horror flick with this strong of an emphasis placed on its storytelling. At least one not coming from A24 that is. Writer and director Sean Ellis has crafted a script with a moderate amount of allegorical properties, well-developed characters, and intriguing scenarios on top of all the artistic Age of Enlightenment era flair taking place in front of the camera. The writing only slightly being marred by the occasional baffling idiocy of its characters at points. It's not the scariest movie you'll ever see, but features some wonderfully grotesque concepts regardless that come equipped with unexpected symbolic value. An air of dark magic hangs over the entire thing alongside the feeling of a slowly approaching, deserved (but not by everyone) doom that keeps the events interesting even if they never put you in a state of constant fear or anxiety over what you'll witness next. It's fairly saddening to see this not receiving the amount of commendation it deserves. There's no denying Ellis has crafted a work offering a take on conventional folklore that's entirely his own vision. My hope is that future reappraisals will recognize it alongside Gretel & Hansel as the underappreciated in its own time gem of fairytale-esque horror it is. That may seem like a weird descriptor, but let me ask you this: what is a fairy tale when you strip away the kid-friendly, sanitized Disney mien after all, if not a grim story with a subtle hint of moralizing?