The Curse of Sleeping Beauty

'THE CURSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Another B-horror flick based on a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. This one is a dark modern update of 'Sleeping Beauty' (written by the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault); it deals with an art painter, who inherits an ancient curse (which involves dreams of a 'sleeping beauty'). The film was directed by Pearry Reginald Teo; and it was scripted by Teo and first time feature film writer Josh Nadler (based on the comic book by Everette Hartsoe). It stars India Eisley, Ethan Peck, Natalie Hall and Bruce Davison. The movie received harshly negative reviews from critics, and a large percentage of viewers as well. I hated it at first; but then I grew to enjoy it more, as it went on.

The story centers around an art painter, named Thomas Kaiser (Peck), who keeps having dreams of a beautiful sleeping woman (Eisley). He continuously tries to wake her, but is unsuccessful. Thomas later learns of his uncle's suicide, and the mansion he left him; which had been in his family for generations. While investigating the property, for appraisal reasons, Thomas also learns of an ancient curse there, and his role as the 'protector'. He must keep the demons in his new home imprisoned there, while also trying to awake the sleeping beauty. He finds help from a friendly realtor (Hall), and a paranormal investigator (Davison).

For the first 45-minutes of the movie, I was completely bored (and falling asleep). The acting and writing were atrocious; and the film was really repetitive, and uninvolving. Then, about halfway through the movie, it got a lot more interesting, and entertaining. Once it got to the story, it became filled with more tense, and very gruesome, imagery (and stunningly beautiful women). At that point, I enjoyed it a lot more. It's still mostly a bore, and a misfire, but a sequel could be a lot better (which the end is completely set up for).

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I was more than intrigued by this take on Sleeping Beauty, and it showed a lot of promise. It wasn't fancy or big budget, and the acting had some not-so-great moments, but I still highly enjoyed it. Until the end. It doesn't end, it just stops. It sets up for a sequel, but you can do that without having such an unsatisfying ending. And if no sequel is planned that makes it even worse. There is no resolution, no conclusion...it just stops. And leaves you angry. I liked it otherwise, but I just can't get past the end.

Okay let me level with you - this movie caters to a particular taste and style of film for certain people. If you're expecting Harry Potter then no, it's not for you. If you're expecting a gory gritty horror movie, no not for you. If you like "Beautiful Creatures"or "Pan's Labrinth" this IS for you and I suggest you give it a shot. There is a scene in the end that haunts me still, the costume and makeup was OUTSTANDING! I really must give props. And Gregory Peck's grandson reminds you of him the whole time - looks like him, sounds like him, and he was a good actor. The Director had a great sense of humor or perhaps the screenwriter as the dialogue was well written and there was some natural laughs. I liked the mystery of it - it really was a mystery. The ending is messed up but not predictable and reminds you that you signed up for a horror movie so that's what you're getting.

Why would I choose to watch this? The visionary and aesthetic pleasure of fantasy elements in the trailer, along with the take on a classic fairy tale peaked my interest.

The editing was very clunky and slow. Those SURPRISE and WATCH OUT moments were hidden by the lack of fast cutting and a fairly monotone performance by Ethan Peck. All of this in the opening sequence and then continued it's theme through out the film which ultimately led to a dull storyline. So what's left?

The most disappointing aspect was the aesthetic pleasures. This 'perfect' sleeping princess looked like a child in fancy dress. Her scenes were designed too flat. Her extravagant garments lacked UMFF as there was no lighting or exceptional colours on the background nor her dress. I was watching it, shouting at the colour correcter asking him/her why didn't they enhance the colour blue!

This film lacked depth in plot, acting and mise-en-scene. I'd say it's probably an entertaining film for younger teens, 13/14years.. but not for anyone else.

Given the title of the movie, then I must admit that I didn't really have much of any expectations for the movie. Believing it to be another mass produced low budget movie.

But it turned out that the 2016 "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" from director Pearry Reginald Teo was actually surprisingly good. Just goes to prove that the cover, and by that I mean the title, of a movie doesn't necessarily reflect the contents of the actual movie.

I like this twist on the classic faerie tale, and I liked the fact that the movie wasn't all rosy red and happy days ever after. That was definitely a nice thing that the writers put into the storyline.

Ethan Peck, playing Thomas, actually carried the movie quite well with his performance. And I must admit that seeing Bruce Davison and Zack Ward on the cast list also did excite me somewhat. Bruce Davison was of course a very nice addition to the movie, just a shame that he didn't have a bigger role. And Zack Ward, well he was hardly there, which I think was a shame.

The movie actually had pretty good special effects and CGI, which definitely helped to carry the movie and added to the atmosphere very nicely. And speaking of the atmosphere, then director Pearry Reginald Teo did a phenomenal job of building up suspence and this was nicely accompanied by the dark and rundown atmosphere that the movie had, given the old house. The movie was nicely layered by adding more and more suspense and creepiness to it, and that was something that I tremendously enjoyed throughout the movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty", and the twist to the tale was really nice. So I can warmly recommend that you take the time to sit down and watch the 2016 movie "The Curse of Sleeping Beauty" if you haven't already seen it. My rating for the movie is six stars out of ten.