Micah Rood, a young man in his early 20s, was cursed with an existence that seemed to be plagued by misfortune at every turn. Born into a humble family in a small village, he grew up with dreams of escaping the monotony and poverty of his surroundings. However, fate had a different plan for him. From a young age, Micah faced various challenges that shaped his character and set the course for his cursed journey. His family struggled to make ends meet, and he was often subjected to ridicule and mockery from his peers due to his humble background. Despite his best efforts, every endeavor he embarked upon seemed to end in failure.
Well, the brothers Grimm are credited in the opening titles for the story of Briar Rose, but were they still alive, they might have passed on that favor. What we have in the new film The Curse of Sleeping Beauty is more based on a relatively obscure comic book, one that looks like a reasonably competent high-school art student tried to design a Clive Barker TV cartoon. With the limited release of the movie primarily targeting on-demand viewers, many of whom will select it based on name alone, we might imagine that a parent or two will be in for a bit of a shock.
Ethan Peck, grandson of Gregory Peck, is Thomas, our dreamer, who suddenly inherits a large, old house from an uncle, with the admonition that he must keep the basement rooms sealed and never go in. It s never really clear that he has much chemistry with the dream girl India Eisley , though; can t this guy get a goth girl of his own that wouldn t come with all the curse baggage.
Despite his best efforts, every endeavor he embarked upon seemed to end in failure. Education offered a glimmer of hope for Micah, but even that was marred by misfortune. He faced constant setbacks in his studies, struggling to comprehend even the simplest concepts.
Review: 'The Curse of Sleeping Beauty' Fractures More Than A Fairy Tale
A man in a sweaty tank top and blue jeans walks through the desert. Somewhat incongruously, he comes across a four-poster bed flanked by Egyptian Anubis statues. He approaches to see the sleeping girl within, whose leather and brass corset adorned with blue feathers make her look all ready for the steampunk Ren Faire. Before much more can be done, he awakens in a dirty, modern apartment. This is Sleeping Beauty?
Well, the brothers Grimm are credited in the opening titles for the story of Briar Rose, but were they still alive, they might have passed on that favor. What we have in the new film The Curse of Sleeping Beauty is more based on a relatively obscure comic book, one that looks like a reasonably competent high-school art student tried to design a Clive Barker TV cartoon. With the limited release of the movie primarily targeting on-demand viewers, many of whom will select it based on name alone, we might imagine that a parent or two will be in for a bit of a shock.
VOD numbers are hard to come by, as studios only tend to release them when they're good, but we can extrapolate that other avenues are unlikely to yield much, as the movie this most compares to is The Scribbler, also released by XLrator media and based on a little-known comic. It was a genuinely good movie, starred Arrow's Katie Cassidy and grossed just over $78,000 in home entertainment sales, with limited theatrical income so low as to be negligible (XLrator generally releases in only 5-6 theaters nationwide, for a week). Like the "mockbusters" often put out by companies like the Asylum, The Curse of Sleeping Beauty presumably depends on a general interest in similar titles (Maleficent, Cinderella, etc.) and may get some extra traffic from confused Disney fans or rebellious teens who are just now learning that the original Grimm stories were toned down for the cartoons. I'm just not sure how many of those who start watching will finish, though the short 89-minute run time is helpful in that regard.
Ethan Peck, grandson of Gregory Peck, is Thomas, our dreamer, who suddenly inherits a large, old house from an uncle, with the admonition that he must keep the basement rooms sealed and never go in. Heeding that advice, he never has any more trouble in his life again. KIDDING. Of course he can't help but tempt fate when he learns more about the house: many people have gone missing in it over the years, and he himself as new rightful owner is starting to develop debilitating stomach pains if he strays too far from the grounds. With the aid of Linda (Natalie Hall) who is investigating some of the disappearances, and Bruce Davison as the obligatory crazy old man-slash-name actor cast for credibility, Thomas comes to realize something we were way, WAAAAY ahead of him on--there's a bunch of creepy stuff hidden in that there basement and probably the Sleeping Beauty of his dreams as well.
Production designer Alessandro Marvelli deserves all the credit here for creating an aesthetic that's part Guillermo del Toro wannabe, part Silent Hill (the movie more than the games) and a touch of Nine Inch Nails music video. Director Pearry Teo (an executive producer on Cloud Atlas) clearly loves his set too, so much so that most of the movie is simply characters - and the camera, by extension - staring at it. If you were to add up all the moments in which the plot is actually advanced, I'm not sure they'd even aggregate to fifteen minutes, which is why it's an extra shame that the movie ends when it does.
See, I mentioned above it's 89 minutes, and that's likely to happen when you have no third act. At the risk of being even vaguely spoilerish, the film abruptly ends right at the moment in the narrative when most similar tales would be ramping up for a big climax. You can get away with that in a short story - cut the movie down to an hour and make it part of an anthology series - but a feature needs to follow through, unless you're the Coen brothers making No Country for Old Men, and have a deeper point to make with the anticlimax.
Peck doesn't have the range of his grandfather, but he makes for a believable regular Joe, one who isn't quite smart enough to wait until daylight to explore his new creepy mansion for the first time. It's never really clear that he has much chemistry with the dream girl (India Eisley), though; can't this guy get a goth girl of his own that wouldn't come with all the curse baggage? Yes, the dreams keep coming, but nothing in them particularly says "This is the right girl for you"; and "stomach cramps when you're not close enough" really isn't a good basis for a future relationship.
The sets are really cool, though. Which makes it a shame almost nobody will see them on a big screen.
While his classmates excelled, he remained stagnant, unable to break free from his intellectual limitations. As he grew older, Micah's cursed existence continued to haunt him. Job after job, he found himself dismissed or overlooked for promotions that seemed within his grasp. He acquired a reputation as an unfortunate soul, a man destined for failure and disappointment. It seemed as though the world conspired against him, burdening him with a life of hardship and struggle. In matters of the heart, Micah's curse proved relentless. Relationships crumbled, leaving him broken and alone. He desperately sought love and companionship, but it always seemed to elude him. Each failed romance added to his despair, deepening the curse that enveloped his life. Micah's mental and emotional state deteriorated over time. The weight of his curse became too heavy to bear, pushing him to the brink of despair. He often questioned his purpose and the reasons behind his seemingly eternal misfortune. The sense of hopelessness that followed him became his constant companion. However, amidst the darkness, a flicker of light appeared. Micah found solace in the arts. Through writing and painting, he discovered an outlet for his emotions, a way to convey his pain and suffering to the world. These creative endeavors became his sanctuary, offering a temporary respite from the curse that plagued him. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against him, Micah refused to let the curse define him entirely. He channeled his pain into resilience, determined to find a way to break free. With each setback, he found a new source of motivation, a renewed strength to keep pushing forward. Although his life was undoubtedly challenging, Micah's curse served as a catalyst for self-discovery and personal growth. Through his struggles, he learned the value of perseverance, empathy, and the beauty of resilience. Despite enduring a lifetime of misfortune, Micah ultimately found solace in knowing that his curse had shaped him into a stronger, more compassionate person. In the end, Micah's curse became a part of his identity, but it did not define him entirely. He was no longer a victim of circumstances but rather a survivor, a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. Despite the challenges he faced, Micah chose to embrace the lessons learned from his cursed existence and use them as stepping stones towards a more fulfilling life..
Reviews for "Debunking the Curse of Micah Rood: Science or Superstition?"
1. Joanne - 2/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with 'The Curse of Micah Rood'. The story started off promising, with an intriguing premise and a mysterious curse, but it quickly became predictable and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions and decisions felt forced. The writing style was also lackluster, with repetitive descriptions and dialogue that didn't flow naturally. Overall, I found it to be a mediocre book and I wouldn't recommend it to others."
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "I regret wasting my time reading 'The Curse of Micah Rood'. The plot was convoluted and confusing, with too many unnecessary subplots that didn't contribute to the overall story. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the book failed to build any suspense or tension. Additionally, the characters were unlikable and I couldn't connect with any of them. The ending was also unsatisfying, leaving many loose ends unresolved. I found this book to be a complete letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to any reader."
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'The Curse of Micah Rood', but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The concept of a curse haunting a small town intrigued me, but the execution was lackluster. The plot seemed scattered and disjointed, with abrupt shifts in focus and inconsistent pacing. The characters were also uninteresting and their motivations were unclear. The writing style was average at best, failing to immerse me in the story. Overall, I found this book to be disappointing and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read."