The Bridge Curse is a 2020 Taiwanese horror film directed by Lester Hsi and starring Ning Chang and Cheng Ko. The film revolves around a group of college students who become cursed after using a cursed bridge as a setting for their horror short film. The storyline follows Wendy and her friends, who are studying film production at university. They decide to make a horror film for their final project and choose a cursed bridge as the location. Legend has it that anyone who crosses the bridge at night will be haunted by vengeful spirits. Ignoring the warnings, Wendy and her friends continue with their project.
While the calendar has autumn starting from 1st September, for many the season truly begins later in the month – on the Autumnal Equinox.
A simple Mabon celebration you can do at bedtime is light a candle, close your eyes and breathe deeply for five minutes, giving thanks for all your blessings. In ancient times Mabon was a celebration of the second harvest Lughnasadh was the first when farmers gathered hearty foods like gourds, pumpkins, grapes and apples.
Ignoring the warnings, Wendy and her friends continue with their project. As they start filming, strange occurrences begin to happen. One by one, the students face terrifying encounters with the vengeful spirits haunting the bridge.
The Origins and Practices of Mabon
Mabon is a pagan holiday, and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated during the year. Mabon celebrates the autumnal equinox. In the northern hemisphere, this September 23 rd will be the autumnal equinox. However, the southern hemisphere already celebrated Mabon on March 20, when the Northern hemisphere celebrated Ostara. It also celebrates the mid-harvest festival (also known as the second harvest).
Many civilizations have celebrated a harvest festival around the equinox. In the 1700s, the Bavarians (part of present day Germany) began a festival that starts in the last week of September. They called this festival Oktoberfest. The festival had lots of feasting and celebrating. Oktoberfest is still celebrated in Bavaria today.
Photo of a Mabon altar. courtesy of Flickr user Colleen. Available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/pearlshelf/8726509704
Many cultures see the second harvest (after the first harvest Lammas) and equinox as a time for giving thanks. This time of year is when farmers know how well their summer crops did, and how well fed their animals have become. This determines whether you and your family would have enough food for the winter. That is why people used to give thanks around this time, thanks for their crops, and animals, and food. The original American Thanksgiving was celebrated on October 3, which makes more sense with harvest times. By the end of November, there’s not that much left to harvest.
The name Mabon comes from the Welsh God, who was the son of the Earth Mother Goddess. However, there is evidence that the name was adopted in the 1970s, and the holiday was not originally a Celtic celebration.
To celebrate this holiday, pagans might pick apples. Apples are a common symbol of the second harvest. They may use the apples in an apple harvest ritual that thanks the gods for the bountiful harvest. Others might perform a ritual to restore balance and harmony to their lives, as this holiday celebrates a day with equal light and day. Another common ritual is to set up an altar with symbols of the season, such as apples, grapes, and other seasonal harvests. Any sabbat would not be complete without a feast for family and friends.
You can learn more about Mabon with these items:
Animals: Owl, stag, blackbird, salmon
In order to break the curse, they must uncover the dark secret behind the bridge and find a way to appease the spirits. The Bridge Curse combines elements of supernatural horror and mystery to create a thrilling and suspenseful atmosphere. The film explores themes of guilt, regret, and the consequences of our actions. It also delves into Taiwanese folklore, adding a cultural aspect to the storytelling. The performances by the cast, particularly Ning Chang and Cheng Ko, are commendable. They effectively convey the fear and desperation of their characters, drawing the audience into their plight. The eerie cinematography and sound design further enhance the horror elements of the film. Overall, The Bridge Curse is an engaging and chilling horror film that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It offers a fresh take on the genre with its incorporation of Taiwanese folklore and showcases the talents of its cast and crew. Fans of supernatural horror will find this film to be a satisfying and terrifying experience..
Reviews for "The Bridge Curse Film: An Intense Experience in Taiwanese Horror Cinema"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Bridge Curse" film. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was so poorly done. The acting was wooden, the dialogue was cliché, and the scares were predictable. I kept waiting for something truly terrifying to happen, but it never did. Overall, it felt like a waste of time and money.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I cannot express how much I disliked "The Bridge Curse" film. It was filled with every horror movie trope you can think of - jump scares, creepy dolls, and a predictable plot. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The film was also incredibly slow-paced, making it hard to stay engaged. I was hoping for a thrilling and unique horror experience, but unfortunately, this film fell flat for me.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Bridge Curse" film, but it turned out to be a major letdown. The story was confusing and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow. The scares were cheap and relied heavily on loud noises and sudden movements, rather than building genuine tension. Additionally, the editing was choppy and disjointed. Overall, I found "The Bridge Curse" to be an underwhelming and forgettable horror film.