Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess named Aurora. She was known for her exceptional beauty and kind heart. One day, a wicked fairy placed a curse on her, proclaiming that on her sixteenth birthday, she would prick her finger on a spindle and fall into a deep sleep, from which she could only be awakened by true love's kiss. The curse brought great despair to the kingdom, and Aurora's parents tried everything to prevent it from happening. They banned all spinning wheels in the kingdom and kept their precious daughter hidden away in a remote castle. However, fate had its own plans.
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.
However, fate had its own plans. On her sixteenth birthday, while alone in a room, Aurora stumbled upon a secret room, where an old woman was spinning a spindle. In her curiosity, Aurora approached the old woman and unknowingly pricked her finger on the spindle.
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.
Immediately, she fell into a deep slumber, fulfilling the curse. The entire kingdom was devastated, and the news spread far and wide. Many princes and brave suitors attempted to wake her up, but none were successful. Years passed, and the kingdom fell into a melancholic state. The once bustling streets were now empty, and the castle was covered in vines and thorns. Over time, Aurora became known as the Sleeping Beauty, and her story lived on in the hearts and minds of the people. One day, a brave prince heard of the cursed princess and decided to find her. He battled through the thorny vines and fought off the creatures that guarded the castle. When he finally reached Aurora, he was captivated by her beauty, even in her sleeping state. Out of pure love and determination, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. As if by magic, Aurora opened her eyes and awoke from her long slumber. She was overjoyed to see the prince, and they quickly fell in love. The curse was finally broken, and the kingdom rejoiced with happiness. The tale of Sleeping Beauty serves as a reminder of the power of true love and the strength to overcome any curse. It teaches us that sometimes, even in the darkest of times, love can wake us up from the deepest sleep and bring us back to life..
Reviews for "Sleeping Beauty: A Reflection on Aging and Mortality"
1. Jessica - 1/5 stars - I was really excited to watch "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" as I am a fan of fairy tales and dark fantasy. However, this movie was a huge disappointment. The story was convoluted and poorly executed. It felt like the filmmakers took bits and pieces from various fairy tales and tried to mash them together without any coherence. The acting was also subpar, with the lead actor delivering a wooden performance that lacked depth. Overall, "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" failed to capture the magic and suspense that I was hoping for.
2. Michael - 2/5 stars - As a fan of the original Sleeping Beauty story, I was intrigued by the concept of a darker and more twisted version. Unfortunately, "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" didn't live up to my expectations. The plot was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters and their motivations. The CGI effects were poorly executed, making the fantasy elements look cheap and unrealistic. While there were a few suspenseful moments, they were overshadowed by a lackluster script and weak performances. Overall, this movie had potential but failed to deliver a captivating and engaging story.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I went into "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" with high hopes, expecting a modern and eerie take on the classic fairy tale. However, I found myself bored and uninterested throughout the film. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked originality. The filmmakers seemed more focused on creating jump scares than in-depth character development. The climax of the movie was anticlimactic and left me feeling unsatisfied. While the visuals were visually pleasing, they couldn't compensate for the lack of substance in the plot. Overall, "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" felt like a missed opportunity to breathe new life into a timeless story.
4. David - 2/5 stars - "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" had an intriguing premise, but it fell short in execution. The characters were underdeveloped, and their motivations were unclear. The script relied heavily on clichés and failed to bring anything new to the table. The special effects were lackluster, and the dark atmosphere failed to create the suspense that was promised. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving many questions unanswered. Overall, "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" had potential, but the lackluster storytelling and mediocre performances made it a forgettable experience for me.