The curse of Sleeping Beauty is a well-known plotline popularized by old fairy tales from various cultures. The curse typically involves a young princess who falls into a deep sleep after pricking her finger on a spindle, and can only be awakened by the kiss of true love. While Sleeping Beauty is typically portrayed as a beautiful and pure character, her curse highlights certain problematic aspects of the story. Firstly, the curse of Sleeping Beauty raises the issue of consent. In many versions of the tale, the prince who awakens Sleeping Beauty does so without her explicit consent. This raises questions about the dynamics of their relationship and the importance of consent in romantic encounters.
Fairy tales have been told, retold, modernized, and altered since falling into the cultural lexicon. The current trend seems to be returning (or claiming to return) to their original darkness. The not-so-great (but not terrible) prequel/sequel The Huntsman: Winter’s War (although, still love Emily Blunt riding that bear … awesome!) came to us last month, and now there’s a small budget film taking inspiration not from Snow White, but Sleeping Beauty.
The one thing I can say in favor of Curse of Sleeping Beauty is that it commits to that Grimm darkness but embracing the darkness doesn t necessarily make everything better, and the darkness here doesn t make up for how unbearably dull it turns out to be. It s very easy to see how in this fast-paced modern time of ours, many people might stop watching the film because of it s slow pacing early on, and miss out on the shift when building towards the climax and conclusion.
This raises questions about the dynamics of their relationship and the importance of consent in romantic encounters. The fact that Sleeping Beauty needs to be saved by a prince also reinforces traditional gender roles and the idea that women are helpless and need rescuing. Furthermore, the curse of Sleeping Beauty depicts a passive and helpless female protagonist.
Examine the curse of sleeping beauty
Every so often, a filmmaker uses a fairy tale as the basis for a horror movie. It makes sense, because many fairy tales are pretty dark to begin with (or they are when you get back to the original source material, at least). The Curse of Sleeping Beauty is the latest to utilize this approach, and while it has an effectively dark and Gothic visual style, there's ultimately nothing about it that's scary. In the end, the film feels like a fairy tale as re-imagined by the staff of your local Hot Topic.
Ethan Peck plays Thomas Kaiser, a guy with recurring dreams about a beautiful young woman who is perpetually sleeping. After learning that he has inherited a giant old mansion from a relative he didn't know existed, Thomas's dream changes. The girl, Briar Rose (India Eisley), awakens. Thomas learns that, in addition to the house, he has also inherited the age-old curse that comes with it. He begins investigating the secrets of the mansion, with the help of a local woman named Linda (Natalie Hall), whose brother is among the dozens of people who went missing there. Thomas comes to believe that Briar Rose is real and trapped somewhere inside. If he can find her, he might be able to lift the curse.
The Curse of Sleeping Beauty has a concept that's full of potential. It takes the story of Sleeping Beauty � one we all know � and turns it sinister. Briar Rose is possibly a real person, trapped in eternal slumber somewhere, waiting for the right person to come along and rescue her. Thomas, meanwhile, finds that the closer he gets to her, the more the mansion's sinister forces start to oppose him. That's a fun idea, and director Pearry Teo gives the movie a sleek look. Most of it is dark and gloomy, contrasted by intermittent dream scenes with Briar Rose (who resembles Avril Lavigne in her Sk8er Boi days). These sequences contain splashes of color that, compared to everything else, look pleasingly edgy. Going back and forth provides a visual contrast that is striking.
Although it looks good, the movie doesn't really know what to do with its core premise. The plot incorporates the same old elements that have fueled hundreds of other horror movies. There's a creepy old book, and a hidden room in the basement, and deformed creatures who pop out of the shadows. You keep waiting for The Curse of Sleeping Beauty to toss in something original, but it never does. Worse, Teo has trouble finding ways to stage certain things. For example, needing to show the passage of time, he uses sped-up imagery that makes the characters walk around at comical speed, not unlike an old Benny Hill sketch. It's a technique sharply in conflict with the story's tone. Meanwhile, the screenplay by Josh Nadler relies on clunky out-of-nowhere coincidences to keep things moving. When Thomas needs someone to translate a book full of ancient writing, Linda announces that she coincidentally has an ex-boyfriend who specializes in just such things. Moments like this call attention to how thin the film is.
The acting is decent, and again, it's often fun to look at. Overall, though, The Curse of Sleeping Beauty just isn't very effective as a horror movie. Too much about it is too familiar to be creepy. It's like a really elaborate tattoo � you can admire the style, but there's not a lot of function or purpose.
The Curse of Sleeping Beauty is unrated but contains some moments of intensity and violence. The running time is 1 hour and 29 minutes.
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(L-R) Ethan Peck as Thomas and India Eisley as Briar Rose in the thriller film “THE CURSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY”. Photo courtesy of XLrator Media
Sleeping Beauty is often portrayed as a passive figure who lacks agency and is completely dependent on someone else for her salvation. This reinforces a harmful stereotype of women as weak and in need of a male savior. It also perpetuates the idea that a woman's life is only complete with the presence of a romantic partner. Additionally, the curse of Sleeping Beauty emphasizes physical appearance and the concept of "true love." The story suggests that only someone who loves Sleeping Beauty for her physical beauty and is willing to kiss her can break the curse. This may send a problematic message to young readers, implying that physical attractiveness is the most important aspect of a woman and that love is solely based on appearance. In conclusion, the curse of Sleeping Beauty raises several critical issues. It highlights the importance of consent, challenges traditional gender roles, questions the portrayal of women as passive, and highlights the emphasis on physical appearance and the concept of "true love." While the tale may be a classic and beloved story, it is crucial to critically examine its themes and messages, especially in the context of modern society..
Reviews for "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty: A Gendered Perspective"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch "Examine the Curse of Sleeping Beauty" because I love fairy tale adaptations, but boy was I disappointed. The storyline was confusing and poorly executed, leaving me scratching my head throughout the entire film. The acting was subpar, and it felt like the actors themselves didn't even know what was going on. The special effects were also lackluster, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Overall, it was a letdown, and I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this movie.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Examine the Curse of Sleeping Beauty" is hands down one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The plot was convoluted, the characters were uninteresting, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The attempts at creating tension and suspense fell completely flat, and I found myself longing for the end of the film. The only positive thing I can say about it is that the cinematography was decent, but even that couldn't save this disaster of a movie. Save yourself the boredom and avoid this one at all costs.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of the original Sleeping Beauty story, I was excited to see a new take on the tale. Unfortunately, "Examine the Curse of Sleeping Beauty" failed to live up to my expectations. The changes made to the story were unnecessary and confusing, making it difficult to connect with the characters and their motivations. The pacing was all over the place, and the plot became more convoluted as the movie progressed. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving me feeling disappointed and wanting more. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to breathe new life into a beloved fairy tale.