Last year was great for horror fans. From Terrifier 2 to Smile and from X to Orphan: First Kill, yes, horror ruled 2022. Because of that popularity more directors choose that genre, and Will Klipstine (The Evolution of Andrew Andrews) is no exception. Klipstine's The Curse of Rosalie, originally called The Harbinger, tells the story of a young girl having evil powers and causing havoc. Is a story like that unique and scary enough to keep horror fans satisfied? Yes and no.
No worries for those of you who don't know what a harbinger is. The movie opens with a dictionary quote so you get to know all about it. The fact that the scene right after is a man who hung himself, heightens the importance and darkness of that quote even more. We skip to the funeral of the dead man and get to know the Snyder family: Parents Theresa (Amanda MacDonald) and Daniel (Klipstine himself) and their daughter Rosalie (Madeleine McGraw). When the widow mentions that her late husband is still watching over them, Rosalie says she sees him burning in hell. The family is completely in shock! Rosalie used to be a happy kid who loved playing football and making cupcakes, or at least according to the flashbacks.
Now, she's everything but that. Theresa and Daniel think that the death and funeral took a toll on Rosalie, so they decide to move to another city. However, it seems that wherever the Snyders go, darkness, death, and funerals follow, and they realize there might be something wrong with Rosalie. When people start dying the day after the Snyders arrive, their new neighbours are understandably not welcoming them with open arms. The longer they stay in town, the more people are dying. The situation is spiralling out of control, and therefore the parents seek the assistance of an Indigenous American seer (Irene Bedard). She might be able to help out their daughter, but that comes with a deadly price…
Klipstine and co-writer Amy Mills (The Evolution of Andrew Andrews) clearly took some inspiration from old-school noir films and horror movies. The script and the overall structure are filled with mystery, intrigue and a web of plots. Sadly, that web is a bit too big and complicated, as even the writers can't avoid the cliches and the too-many subplots we see these days. If they had only cut some scenes, left out some subplots and compacted the information they wanted to give, the hour and fifty-four minutes runtime would feel less dragging.
What gives this movie the necessary (dark) soul is a stunning McGraw. After appearing in The Black Phone, she certainly shows she can stand her ground in a horror movie. With her minimalistic but highly effective portrayal, she certainly heightens the disturbing vibe of this movie. No matter how weird her line is, she can say it with the perfect darkness and strength.
When watching this movie, it's clear that set designers and choreographers had a lot of fun! Whether it's filling the backyard with many dead animals, a demon jumping into the couple's bed or re-creating the many death scenes, they certainly know how to create eerie moments. It's a shame that the score undermines that eeriness because it's not always on point. Yes, sometimes the score makes the scenes even more gripping or dark, but sometimes it also feels disconnected from what is happening on screen. Therefore you feel like you're going in and out of the film.
Despite the rushing of the many subplots, you still should give a B-movie like The Curse of Rosalie, a chance. It certainly has great ideas, dark scenes, a great lead performance and a stunning set design; therefore, it has enough for you to enjoy.
The Curse of Rosalie is now available on the Icon channel and will be released in UK cinemas on the 14th April.
