In the remote village of Aurore, a dark cloud of fear and superstition hangs heavy over the townspeople. They believe in a curse that has plagued their ancestors for centuries - the curse of Aurore. According to legend, anyone who is born in Aurore is destined to suffer misfortune and tragedy throughout their lives. This supernatural belief has woven itself into the very fabric of the village, shaping the lives and actions of its inhabitants. The curse of Aurore is said to be the result of a pact made with a malevolent spirit by one of Aurore's founding families many generations ago. It is believed that this pact was made in exchange for prosperity and power, but the consequences proved to be far more devastating than anyone could have imagined.
There’s the seed of a good idea here–filmmakers pursuing a real-life tragedy and opening up a dangerous can of worms–but it isn’t sufficiently developed in the script by Barron and director/editor Mehran C. Torgoley. The tone is more travelogue than terror for quite a while, as the friends go shopping, the guys have their first poutine, they visit key sites from Aurore’s life and death, etc. There are hints that they’re venturing into unsettling territory–an overabundance of religious totems in the place they’re staying, a late-night procession into the house next door, some of the locals don’t take kindly to having cameras pointed at them–which remain largely incidental. Even when a late-night drive leaves them stranded in the middle of nowhere, forcing them to seek help at the house of a spiritualist who gives Lena a Tarot reading (no prizes for guessing which card turns up), the situation isn’t milked for as much dread as it could have been.
Every so often, the film digs a little deeper into their characters, most notably in a well-played scene where a drunk Lena confesses her insecurities, but these don t come to much, and their personality traits are largely plot-driven. Coupled with creepy atmosphere and interesting camera work, the end result is an entertaining horror film that discerning found footage fans and most horror fans in general will be able to latch onto.
It is believed that this pact was made in exchange for prosperity and power, but the consequences proved to be far more devastating than anyone could have imagined. The curse specifically targets the descendants of the family who made the pact, ensuring that their lives are filled with hardship and sorrow. As a result of the curse, the people of Aurore live in constant fear and are always on guard, waiting for the next tragedy to strike.
UFF 2022: What the Hell is a Dark Web Mystery Box? or CURSE OF AURORE
I know very little about cryptocurrency. I know even less about the Dark Web. And, I know even less about the so-called “Dark Web Mystery Box” phenomenon. In fact, this film introduced me to the concept with the Youtube wraparound story about such boxes. So, after watching the Curse of Aurore, I googled “Dark Web Mystery Box” and read a few articles, then went down a YouTube rabbit-hole of sorts. While most of the videos seem quite manufactured, some are genuinely creepy. There are even a few stories from legitimate news sources citing YouTubers giving over the boxes to authorities due to concerns they had over the nature of the items in them. Suffice it to say, the phenomenon feels interesting enough to certainly warrant this and other horror films dedicated to it.
In the case of Curse of Aurore, the Dark Web Mystery Box set up is simply used as a framing device, noting that the footage we are seeing was on a thumb drive in one such box. This answers the question of why the footage was being shown and how it got there, a question some found footage detractors often get hung up on. While I personally don’t see this as a need in all cases, the framing device here works and the YouTuber felt authentic in his delivery of the wraparound story.
While researching the historic murder of Aurore Gagnon for a script inspired by her story, three filmmakers cross a line. By the time they realize they’ve tampered with something they shouldn’t have, their footage is already on its way to being sold in a mystery box on the dark web.
The actual story we see unfold from the footage on the thumb disk isn’t necessarily new or original for hardcore horror fans. The idea of folks investigating a story and getting in over their heads is one we’ve seen before, this is essentially the type of set up of the late great Erik Myers’s Butterfly Kisses, the quintessential found footage horror film The Blair Witch Project, or even most episodes of Scooby Doo (albiet the classic kids show ends with far more uplifting results). However, Aurore does it well and should be commended for such.
The primary cast members all sell their parts of the story to perfection, without any major moments of bad acting – an issue that can plague low budget and microbudget cinema. Coupled with creepy atmosphere and interesting camera work, the end result is an entertaining horror film that discerning found footage fans and most horror fans in general will be able to latch onto.
After a great showing at UFF, the film is available to the general public via Amazon Video. It is free for Prime members and also available for rental or purchase for anyone. It is also free for anyone to enjoy via Tubi, if you can stand a few commercials.
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Justin has been running websites since his first Geocities site in 1994, but only did he ever start covering anything of substance years later. After he stopped regularly running local concerts in Northern NJ and the greater Philly area, he knew he needed to step up his writing game if he expected to continue to get free music to listen to. He writes regularly here and at Cinapse, as well as contributing to a few other sites on occasion. He likes music, film, the Philadelphia Eagles, the 76ers, talking about Criminal Justice, reading Intelligence Report, and his family. not in that order. His beautiful wife is far more talented than he is and his kids far more adorable. and crazy.
CURSE OF AURORE (aka Pærish: The Curse of Aurore Gagnon) (2020) - Three filmmaker friends (Lena - Llana Barron, Aaron - Lex Wilson & Kevin - Jordan Kaplan) travel to rural Quebec, where one grew up, to brainstorm and gather information/inspiration for a horror film based a dark event in history: the child martyr Aurore, murdered by her own parents in the 1920s. But the strange actions of the locals, and the discovery that their video footage hides hidden spirit manifestations, intimate that something weird is still going on.
They are deeply superstitious, attributing any misfortune or tragedy that befalls them to the curse. This belief has led to a sense of resignation and helplessness among the villagers, who believe that their fate is predetermined and cannot be changed. The curse of Aurore has had a profound impact on the village, psychologically and socially. It has created a pervasive atmosphere of gloom and despair, where hope is a scarce commodity. The villagers are hesitant to form close bonds or make plans for the future, as they believe that any happiness or success will be snatched away by the curse. This has led to a stagnation in the development of the village, as the people are paralyzed by fear. Despite the curse's grip on Aurore, there are some who refuse to accept their fate. These courageous individuals strive to break free from the chains of superstition and forge their own paths, determined to prove that the curse has no power over them. They challenge the prevailing mindset and seek to bring about change, offering a glimmer of hope to the people of Aurore. Perhaps through their actions, the curse of Aurore may one day be broken, and the village can finally break free from the shadow of fear and misfortune..
Reviews for "Surviving Aurore's Curse: Stories of Resilience"
1. Mark - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Curse of Aurore". The storyline was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow along. The characters were poorly developed, and I didn't feel any connection to them. The acting was subpar, with some cringe-worthy moments that took me out of the film. Overall, I was hoping for a thrilling horror movie, but instead, I got a messy and forgettable experience.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I can't believe I wasted my time watching "Curse of Aurore". The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The scares were cheap and relied too heavily on jump scares. The dialogue was cheesy, and the acting was atrocious. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the whole movie. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars
"Curse of Aurore" had potential, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with boring and slow moments that dragged on. The scares were not effective, and I was never truly frightened. The plot twist at the end was weak and underwhelming, making the entire movie feel like a waste of time. Overall, it had some promising aspects, but it failed to deliver a satisfying horror experience.
4. Melissa - 1.5 stars
I was excited to watch "Curse of Aurore" based on the trailer, but it turned out to be a major letdown. The storyline was confusing and poorly executed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The cinematography was lackluster, and the special effects looked cheap. I was hoping for a suspenseful and terrifying film, but I found myself bored and unimpressed. I wouldn't recommend this movie to any horror fan.
5. Jonathan - 2 stars
"Curse of Aurore" had potential, but it failed to deliver on its promises. The scares were predictable and lacked originality. The acting was average at best, with some performances feeling forced and unnatural. The plot felt rushed and poorly developed. Overall, it had all the ingredients for a good horror movie, but it failed to bring them together cohesively. It's a forgettable film that I wouldn't recommend spending your time on.