Luke Pederson
Contributing Writer
Do not be fooled into thinking that this show is a comedy. While it has satirical elements and moments that are humorous, my experience with the ten-episode miniseries titled The Curse has been something of a slow-burn horror, a descent into something that is as unnerving as it is intentionally cringeworthy, and a show that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Created by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, The Curseis a satirical comedy/thriller streaming on Showtime and Paramount +. It revolves around the lives of Asher and Whitney Siegel (played by Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone): a husband and wife duo trying to produce a HGTV television show called Fliplanthropy. Helping direct and produce the show is Dougie (played by Benny Safdie), a long-time friend of Asher. After Asher is cursed by a little girl for cheating her out of $100, the couple’s lives, relationships, and moral compasses slowly start to unravel.
Arguably, the most striking aspect of this show is its relatability. Despite each of the three main characters being as unlikeable as they come (which, for a show like this, is a good thing), their flaws and nature feel so incredibly grounded. Each suffers from a personal insecurity that grounds the show into a metaphorical mirror; even if you cannot relate to the characters themselves, you have definitely met them at some point in your life. It’s this relationship the show has with the real world that makes it a compelling social commentary and gives it its own personal brand of horror. It’s as if the show The Office, a series built on cringe comedy, was remade into a psychological horror/thriller (depending on how you view the series as a whole). The cringe-worthy elements cut deep into the characters’ insecurities and further an overarching feeling of unease. Never has a show made a scene revolving around a comedy class feel simultaneously unnerving, cringeworthy, and depressing while still being funny.
The person you are dictates what you will get from this show. There are thousands of different interpretations of every episode and it should be noted that this series is primarily grounded in reality outside of the finale. There are no specific genres that The Curse sticks to outside of general drama (which is a ‘blanket genre’ if we’re being honest) and social commentary. That is not to say that it lacks substance, serving as a wishy-washy, identity-less program, but that its genre remains so specific to the particular audience member that they themselves are left to define the genre. I can easily imagine someone finding as much comedy in each episode as I do in horror.
This series is a social commentary and it examines the ‘flaws’–for lack of a better word–in our day-to-day interactions. The insincerities, inconsistencies, self-corrections, and mistakes that tend to eat away at us are painstakingly recreated in the narrative. Each character operates at a unique level of self-awareness, from Asher attempting to change his nature and identity to become a more ‘likable ’ individual to Dougie’s lack of self-awareness, causing him to follow dangerous impulses. Each character has or lacks a front to put up to feel good about themselves. The performances of every actor/actress soar, delivering their respective characters with a precise level of nuance, giving just the perfect amount of insight into how they function without overselling their concepts as a whole.
The Curse is a genuinely stunning and haunting world of television that will not leave my brain. I sat paralyzed once the final credits rolled. However, I cannot recommend this show to everyone because it is not for everyone. The show makes many bold decisions with its narrative (specifically with its ending) and, thus, has garnered a controversial reputation. People either seem to love it or hate it. If you want something to turn your mind off to after a hard day of work or a longer, more traditional narrative to get hooked to, I’d recommend passing on The Curse. But if you are interested in weird/artful media, or something trying to communicate an emotion unlike anything you’ve felt before, I could not recommend The Curse enough. It is one of the most innovative shows since Twin Peaks: The Return, which may even alter how you view yourself and your relationships. It is a truly transcendent piece of media and something that I cannot wait to return to upon rewatch.