What in Watched in February 2022

I love a good werewolf tale, especially one that isn’t afraid to sling a bit of gore around. But if you fear that THE CURSED (2022) is going to be some mindless splatter fest you will be surprised. Written, directed, and shot by Sean Ellis this film is much more interested in mood and a sense of place than in shock value. The film is best described as a slow-burn that rewards patience with excellent creature effects and a creative twist on werewolf mythology. Indeed, the vision of what happens to the people transformed into the beasts after being bitten is a glorious horror to behold.

I’ll admit that the middle section does meander a little as the characters learn what we are already aware of but the creepy atmosphere remains enthralling the entire time. The feeling evoked is of a bit of classic folklore brought to life and that is a wonder to see. THE CURSED is an exciting, fascinating work of horror that will no doubt be one of the year’s best genre releases. It’s an R-rated monster film that is merciless in how it treats its characters and sometimes shocking in its violence. Good stuff!

 

THE LIST 

THE NAUGHTY NINETIES (1945) – 5 (spotty Abbot & Costello effort buoyed by the Who’s On First routine)

BEYOND DARKNESS (1990) – 4 (jumbled Euro-horror)

THE MAN WHO WOULDN’T DIE (1942) – 6 (OK Shayne mystery)

SLEEPERS WEST (1941) – 8 (rewatch) (very good Michael Shayne film)

THE PLOT THINKENS (1936) – 7 (well done Hildegard Withers murder mystery)

MARK OF THE GORILLA (1950) – 5 (juvenile and silly but it moves)

NOBODY (2021) – 8 (excellent action film)

DON’T LOOK UP (2021) – 5 (not as funny or clever as it should be – excellent performances though)

BLUE, WHITE AND PERFECT (1942) – 7 (another good Michael Shayne mystery)

BLOOD CURSE (2006) – 6 (a.k.a. Bad Blood) (Portuguese haunted house story)

THE WEREWOLF AND THE YETI (1975) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

DELUGE (1933) – 7 (fascinating disaster and aftermath Pre-Code film)

BACK PAGE (1934) – 6 (small town newspaper intrigue)

CREATURE FEATURE: 60 YEARS OF THE GILL-MAN (2015) – 7

THE MAD DOCTOR (1940) – 7 (Rathbone is superb in this thriller)

HAIL, CAESAR! (2016) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

THE BRAIN EATERS (1958) – 3 (rewatch on Blu)

DEATH ON THE NILE (2022) – 8 (excellent)

MYSTERIOUS INTRUDER (1946) – 6 (another dark, bleak Whistler noir)

BLUE MOVIE BLACKMAIL (1973) – 7 (rewatch) (Italian crime)

THE CURSED (2022) – 7 (excellent slow burn monster film)