The Rope Curse is a movie directed by Shih-Han Liao and written by Keng-Ming Chang.
A classic Taiwanese horror film that draws inspiration from the ghosts of recent Asian cinema and their recent manifestations, especially in ghostly apparitions, aesthetics, and also in the storyline.
However, it manages to combine traditional and ceremonial elements with the spirit of modern times, along with an 80s vibe of video tapes that, although not original in its blend, works perfectly.
Good story development with flashbacks and a well-executed atmosphere.
A low-budget horror film that effectively maximizes the story’s potential through intelligent direction and notable editing.
Movie Review
“The Rope Curse” is a film that knows the rules of horror and understands how to effectively use different elements at each moment, especially sound, in a structurally effective, though not groundbreaking, manner – the story of two friends and a curse.
The film is built upon ruptures, as shown in the initial sequences that quickly narrate the friendship between the two girls ten years ago, leading to the curse. This process is executed rapidly, abruptly breaking the scenes, which seem fragmented, with quick disruptions in both editing and camera shots, transitioning from floral tones to the brutal image of suicide.
This is where “The Rope Curse” excels, constantly disrupting the viewer’s rhythm and surprising with an almost abrupt editing technique, which is highly original, blending humor and ultimately, to create a tangled web that gradually unravels until reaching a resolution that may not be surprising narratively but is visually compelling, successfully blending the two storylines (present and past) into a coherent horror experience.
It may not be original, but it has enough elements executed effectively that it doesn’t require extensive special effects: everything is an exercise in style, editing, sound, and ultimately, direction.
Our Opinion
A film that, without reinventing the genre, skillfully incorporates elements from various sources to create a compelling story of tradition and modernity. It successfully merges two timelines into one through an attractive and effective editing style, creating a movie that impresses without relying on extensive special effects.
This is the power of good horror: when it can impress without relying on CGI.
