The Cursed Tapes

Perhaps a sad consequence of the streaming age is that future generations will never know the uncertainty of just what will be on the unmarked videotape you have just put into a VCR. A wedding video? A classic Disney movie? Hardcore porn? Anything was possible. And if horror movies are anything to go by, cursed tapes which damn the viewer to a painful demise are to be wary of too (no wonder Blockbuster went out of business…)

 

The premise of The Cursed Tapes isn’t entirely based on that of The Ring, though inspirations are clear to see. Centred around videotapes with intertwined tales of brutal killings, this small budget anthology uses the idea of cursed tapes to tell the stories of a supernatural demonic killer (Shannon Snedden) and those who form part of her origin such as Sammy (Cole Crum) and those who hunt her in the present like Clint (Donny Boaz).

 

The Cursed Tapes biggest strength is in its impressive production, especially given its lower budgetary restrictions. Running to around 90 minutes, the film maintains a sleekness and authenticity throughout despite the recurrent supernatural elements and aggressive blood and gore. Snedden’s demonic antagonist is a fearsome creation that is seamlessly integrated with effective use of prop design and exceptional lighting. And chase/fight sequences are of a standard far above that of the film’s lower-budget horror contemporaries.

 

The scene-staging, set design and locations are of a similarly high-standard – which with the aforementioned lighting combine to place the film in a truly disturbing, menacing environment which invigorates the ferocity seen on screen. Characters move through the sequences often in low light, but the action never feels difficult to follow or distracted from by the darkness. There are times where the setting gets a little repetitive, particularly as the last vestiges of sunlight in the film ends at around the second act. Neither is the setting terribly original, with what is ultimately a haunted house (with the standard torture chamber/basement of course) likely to feel well-trodden by genre fans.

 

As with many similar productions the plot of the film is a little thin, operating more as a vessel for the directors and cast to enjoy a good old killing spree. There are some engaging themes, such as the monster’s refusal to engage with their own failings in a past life (in the film’s strongest segment), and the self-fulfilling violent ends of those who look only to engage with aggression. But much of film’s horror is there for its own sake – great for gore fans but likely to leave other viewers cold.

 

The Cursed Tapes is a credit to its director Michael Crum and its production teams and cast, who take a pretty standard horror premise and deliver it with impressive gusto. The plot is thin and the themes powering the violence are fleeting throughout. But it will please those who revel in hauntings and enjoy the genre’s greatest hits.

Watch our Video Film Review of The Cursed Tapes on our YouTube Channel:

https://youtu.be/geFSA9pN5NU