The Curse of Crom is a legend that has plagued the village of Dorrington for centuries. The villagers live in constant fear of the curse, passed down from generation to generation. According to the legend, Crom was a powerful sorcerer who once ruled over the land that is now Dorrington. Crom was known for his dark and twisted ways, using his magic to bring harm and suffering to those who crossed his path. But his reign of terror came to an end when the villagers decided they had suffered enough. They banded together and managed to defeat Crom, sealing his powerful magic within an ancient artifact known as the Stone of Shadows.
The Elderly had a successful festival run beginning with Fantasia, where it was described as continuing “Filmax’s return to top tier genre works that stand completely alone. It is a chilling new vision in Spanish horror cinema.” It won acclaim during its run, with Fantasia awarding Eguileor “Best Actor.”
The film is one of our strongest horror presentations at Cannes this year and is akin to the type of films clients are used to us bringing to the market, such as the highly successful REC franchise, among others, Ivan Diaz, Head of International at Filmax, said previously. A delightful, lowbudget Halloween love letter that balances the Pumpkinhead-like monster scenes with real life issues like paying for college and dickheaded dads.
They banded together and managed to defeat Crom, sealing his powerful magic within an ancient artifact known as the Stone of Shadows. However, in doing so, they unknowingly unleashed the curse upon themselves. The curse states that every hundred years, when the stars align and the moon is full, Crom's spirit will be released from the Stone of Shadows.
Cursr of crom
Stars: Chelsea Jurkiewicz, Cory C. Dangerfield, Tanner Gillman, Halem Medina, Ariana Bagley, Monica Moore Smith | Written by Rob York, Scott Baird, R.H. Grimly | Directed by Rob York
Based on a story by R.H. Grimly, co-writer/director Rob York opens his feature with the image of an autumnal neighbourhood. Amidst the everyday settings, high-school student Mary (Chelsea Jurkiewicz) works hard to earn money by making deliveries. Her night ends with a strange encounter involving her grouchy neighbour, Mr. Murphy (Cory C. Dangerfield), as he instructs that his Chinese food delivery is left on the doorstep with the containers open.
Tensions have risen at home between the student and her father, resulting in him declining to help pay for Mary’s college tuition. This leaves her to sacrifice any spare time in order to pay for her education, with her absence noticed by her best friend, Harvey (Tanner Gillman). The rising financial pressures and minuscule pay leaves Mary to rage at Mr. Murphy, as the frequent customer refuses to leave a tip. This encounter leaves his jack-o’-lantern knocked over, which unknowingly unleashes an ancient Irish entity called Crom to wreak havoc.
As her teenage friends each have their own spooky encounter, Mary must unite them to help stop the demon’s destruction by defeating it before Halloween ends. Considering how many of these encounters occur during night-time in the teen’s houses, one wonders about the lack of on-screen parents. What’s effective is this charming friendship group which includes the big-hearted Harvey, who repeatedly eats weird peanut butter sandwiches, and the lovable lunk, Steve (Halem Medina).
Plaguing Mary is her difficult relationship with her father, as even attempts to mend fences result in rising tensions. Matters are shaken when, during a quest to uncover information about Crom, hidden family truths are unearthed which leads to greater understandings between the characters. The effective human relationships are an interesting contrast to the horror-comedy elements, as the pedestrian scares and lacklustre gags fall short. Credit where it’s due, the well-crafted practical effects and a running gag involving exhuming a dead cat work well.
It all adds up to a film which feels inspired by R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps, while being a good introduction to horror and an enjoyable piece of family viewing.
HOOP X, the 15th FakeVoorhees wrote it best, gotta defer to him. Irish mythology in the suburbs, a monster is set loose, gotta bury him to seal the ritual, ah whatever. One's patience wanes with these things now and then. Not much nourishment in this project, either as a worthy new horror story or as affectionate Halloweentime cosplay in movie form. It gets by on relative innocence and bearing a modicum of production values despite a clearly thin budget. May remind you of something like "The Gate" (1987) or a monster-of-the-week "Buffy" episode, and is fueled by a "Monster House" energy. But it gets tiresome for lack of wit, and never properly makes a name for itself in any way. For use only after exhausting all other '80s and '90s young adult horror options first.
During this time, chaos and destruction will reign over the village, and the villagers will be haunted by Crom's vengeful presence. The curse has become deeply ingrained in the culture and traditions of Dorrington. Every hundred years, the villagers prepare themselves for the arrival of Crom's spirit. They hold a ceremonial ritual to try and appease him, offering sacrifices and performing ancient spells to ward off his malevolent energies. The curse affects every aspect of life in Dorrington. The villagers live in constant fear, always on edge, waiting for the next manifestation of Crom's spirit. Businesses suffer during this time, as people are too afraid to leave their homes. Relationships are strained, as the stress and tension take their toll on the villagers. Despite their best efforts, the curse continues to torment the people of Dorrington, generation after generation. It has become an integral part of their history and identity. They have even built a museum dedicated to the curse, showcasing artifacts and telling the story of Crom's reign of terror. The Curse of Crom serves as a reminder to the villagers of the consequences of practicing dark magic and the importance of unity. It has taught them to be cautious and respectful of the power of magic and to never let their guard down. In conclusion, the Curse of Crom is a haunting legend that has plagued the village of Dorrington for centuries. The villagers live in constant fear of its manifestation, as they prepare themselves for the arrival of Crom's vengeful spirit every hundred years. It serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the power of magic and the importance of unity..
Reviews for "The Curse of Crom: Joy and Sorrow in the Ancient Kingdom"
1. John - 2/5 - "Curse of Crom was a huge disappointment for me. The storyline felt convoluted and confusing, leaving me scratching my head throughout most of the movie. The pacing was also off, with long periods of nothing happening followed by rushed and unsatisfying action sequences. Additionally, the acting was subpar, with wooden performances from the majority of the cast. Overall, I would not recommend Curse of Crom to anyone looking for a quality fantasy film."
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "I can honestly say that Curse of Crom is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The plot was predictable and cliché, and the dialogue was laughably bad. The special effects were poorly executed and seemed low-budget, taking away from the overall viewing experience. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or development. I found myself counting down the minutes until the movie ended. Save yourself the time and skip Curse of Crom."
3. Mike - 2/5 - "I had high hopes for Curse of Crom, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story lacked originality and felt like a generic fantasy adventure. The performances were mediocre at best, with the actors failing to bring any depth to their characters. The action sequences were uninspired and failed to create any excitement. I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninterested in the outcome. Overall, Curse of Crom was a forgettable film that failed to leave a lasting impression."
4. Emily - 2.5/5 - "Curse of Crom had its moments, but overall, it left a lot to be desired. The film suffered from poor pacing, with dragged-out scenes that felt unnecessary and slowed down the story. The visuals were decent, but the CGI was noticeable and detracted from the immersive experience. While there were some entertaining action sequences, they were overshadowed by a lackluster plot and unremarkable characters. I wouldn't actively recommend Curse of Crom, but if you're a fan of the genre and have nothing else to watch, it might be worth a one-time viewing."