The curse of Downers Grove is a topic that has garnered some attention over the years. Downers Grove is a suburban village located in DuPage County, Illinois, with a history dating back to the 1830s. Despite its charming appearance and close-knit community, some believe that the village is cursed. One aspect of the curse revolves around Downers Grove's public high school, Downers Grove North. According to legend, a curse was placed on the school by a Native American tribe that was forced to leave the land. It is said that the curse causes at least one student to die before their graduation each year.
But he said he did befriend music legend Muddy Waters.
So, The Curse of Downers Grove that Hornburg wrote -- he described it as a lighthearted high school tale like Clueless -- turns into a fairly violent homage to Sam Peckinpah s home invasion thriller Straw Dogs at Chrissy s suburban house. He became a musician and spent a year working at a San Francisco nightclub, then moved to New York where, he said, he makes his living selling used records and books.
It is said that the curse causes at least one student to die before their graduation each year. While there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, the alleged deaths have sparked curiosity and fear in the community. Another part of the curse involves the Grove Theater, a historic movie theater located in downtown Downers Grove.
Curses! Downers South grad not happy with movie version of his book
In the new movie "The Curse of Downers Grove" -- being released Tuesday on Blu-ray, DVD and video on demand -- a student at Downers Grove High School tragically falls to his death from a water tower.
It's one of many terrible deaths attributed to the Downers Grove "curse."
Yes, but for Downers Grove South High School graduate Michael Hornburg, who wrote the book the movie's based on, it's all too real.
"I saw more people die in high school than in the rest of my life," he said on his cellphone while walking the streets of New York City.
"One kid died in a car crash," he said. "One kid drowned in a quarry. The girl who sat next to me in typing class, she was kidnapped outside of an arcade and was found murdered inside a garbage bag in Lisle. So there was a lot of murder and mayhem and people getting killed on a scale I never experienced again. It was so concentrated in such a short period of time."
Hornburg lived on Chicago's North Side until he was 14. Then he moved to Downers Grove, where his grandparents lived.
He graduated from Downers Grove South High in 1978 before heading off to live in Portland, Oregon. He became a musician and spent a year working at a San Francisco nightclub, then moved to New York where, he said, he makes his living selling used records and books.
We asked Hornburg if he had seen "The Curse of Downers Grove" and if he approved of the huge changes made from his original book, all about a high school senior named Chrissy who becomes slightly obsessed that she might fall victim to "the curse."
News||Life & Entertainment||Entertainment||Movies||Geography||Communities||Downers Grove||Columnists||Sotonoff/Gire||Geography||High Schools||Downers Grove South High School|| -->
by signing up you agree to our terms of serviceChrissy's sagely grandmother, a dominant figure in the novel, has been expunged from the movie, as has Chrissy's mother's insatiable appetite for male attention.
"Chrissy's grandmother is the moral center of the book," Hornburg said. "Chrissy is always going to her for advice. That's sad they didn't keep her in the movie."
Hornburg admitted that if this had been his first experience turning a book into a movie, he'd be much more outraged by the changes. But he's been on this horse before.
His 1996 novel "Bongwater," a quasi-autobiographical work centered around the grunge music scene in Portland during the '80s, became a 1998 movie starring Luke Wilson as an aspiring artist who falls in love with smoking pot, prompting his girlfriend (Alicia Witt) to head to New York with a heroin addict (Jamie Kennedy). The movie also featured Jack Black, Amy Locane, Brittany Murphy, Andy Dick and Jeremy Sisto.
"In books, you're trying to create an emotional feeling," Hornburg said. "In movies, people want to be rocked out of their seats. It's a completely different thing. I had previously gone through this with 'Bongwater.' I was in complete shock over that.
"That experience prepared me to be more open and more understanding and more ready for what (the film) was going to be. You just have to distance yourself from the movie. I understand that they have so much money invested in this that you have to let them do what they want."
And what was it they wanted for the movie?
"They always wanted more drama, more tension! More tension! More tension!" he said. "That's just the theme in Hollywood. They want things scarier and scarier. That's just how it works."
So, "The Curse of Downers Grove" that Hornburg wrote -- he described it as a lighthearted high school tale like "Clueless" -- turns into a fairly violent homage to Sam Peckinpah's home invasion thriller "Straw Dogs" at Chrissy's suburban house.
Hornburg's Downers Grove roots can be found in both his novels. They share a common character in David. "Bongwater" features a five-page flashback to David's youth in Downers Grove, one that Hornburg says reflects his own experience.
"Downers Grove was very much a party town," he said of his time living in Illinois.
How did he escape the Downers Grove curse?
"When you're young, you're careless," he reflected. "I remember people driving around in cars doing stuff they shouldn't be doing while driving.
"And I was very conservative, not politically, but in a careful way."
Does Hornburg get a percentage of the earnings for "Curse of Downers Grove" or did he simply sell the rights?
"I learned from the first time I did this that you get all your money up front," he replied. "That's how it works."
• Jamie Sotonoff and Dann Gire are on the lookout for suburbanites who would be make good column subjects. Send them your suggestions at [email protected] and [email protected].
relatedMentors? Musician, novelist and Downers Grove South High School graduate Michael Hornburg didn't have many.
But he said he did befriend music legend Muddy Waters.
"When we were kids in Downers Grove, Muddy Waters lived in the next town over, Westmont, and he would let us go into a lot of shows for free," Hornburg said. "He used to come into the Shell station where we were in Downers Grove all the time in a butter-colored Cadillac.
"We kept saying we were going to come out to California and see one of his shows. He'd say, 'Sure, sure, I'll put you on the list.'"
So, Hornburg and a friend finally made it out to a Muddy Waters concert in California.
"We're like these two scruffy, long-haired boys who show up, and they're like, uh, this is a private event," Hornburg said. "So we said, "We're Michael and Gene from the Shell station in Downers Grove!' So, the man says, 'Oh, you're the boys from Illinois. They've been waiting on you.'
"They take our car and put us in a golf cart and drive us to the front row. It was like a lawn party or something. It was so hilarious. He (Muddy Waters) was like a grandfather figure. Isn't that crazy?"
"When we were kids in Downers Grove, Muddy Waters lived in the next town over, Westmont, and he would let us go into a lot of shows for free," Hornburg said. "He used to come into the Shell station where we were in Downers Grove all the time in a butter-colored Cadillac.
Legend has it that the theater is haunted by the ghost of a former projectionist who died under mysterious circumstances. People have reported strange occurrences at the theater, such as flickering lights and unexplained footsteps. Furthermore, there have been reports of other supernatural phenomena throughout the village. Some residents claim to have seen ghostly apparitions, heard eerie voices, and experienced inexplicable events in their homes or public places. However, these accounts may be more attributed to urban legends and the power of suggestion rather than concrete evidence of a curse. Despite the superstitions surrounding the curse, Downers Grove remains a vibrant and thriving community. The village offers a variety of amenities and attractions, such as parks, shopping centers, and restaurants. It has also been recognized as one of the best places to live in Illinois. In conclusion, the curse of Downers Grove is a topic that continues to capture the interest of residents and outsiders alike. While there are no definitive answers or explanations for the alleged curse, the legends and supernatural occurrences have become part of the village's history and folklore. Whether one believes in the curse or not, Downers Grove remains a community with a rich heritage and a promising future..
Reviews for "The Curse's Origins: Tales from Downers Grove's Dark Past"
1. John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "The Curse Downers Grove". The plot was confusing and it felt like the story didn't make any sense. The characters were poorly developed and I couldn't connect with any of them. The pacing was off, with slow and boring moments followed by rushed and confusing scenes. Overall, it was a waste of my time and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
"The Curse Downers Grove" had an interesting concept, but it fell flat for me. The writing style was dry and lacked emotion, making it difficult for me to engage with the story. The twists and turns were predictable and uninspiring. The ending felt rushed and unresolved, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. I was hoping for a thrilling and gripping read, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars
I had high expectations for "The Curse Downers Grove", but it didn't live up to them. The pacing was inconsistent, with parts of the book dragging on and others feeling rushed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their fates. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, it was an average read that didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I found "The Curse Downers Grove" to be a tedious read. The plot was convoluted and confusing, failing to hold my interest. The writing was overly descriptive, with excessive details that didn't add anything to the story. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to connect with them. I was hoping for a gripping and suspenseful read, but I was left disappointed.