The Cursed Tapes

The Cursed Tapes is a supernatural horror film directed by Johannes Grenzfurthner, a critically acclaimed Austrian filmmaker known for his bold storytelling style and social commentary. Based on the Austrian art collective monochrom and published book of the same name, the film offers a unique blend of found-footage horror, personal tragedy, and a hint of mystery. The story follows our unnamed protagonist, who has just lost his father, a recluse who had lived a reclusive life within the walls of their house. As our hero navigates the grief-stricken period that follows his father's passing, he stumbles upon an old box of VHS tapes, which has been locked away for years, likely since the father's death. The protagonist soon discovers that his father, who had seemed like an ordinary man on the surface, had led a secret life. The film is structured around the VHS tapes, each containing footage from the father's past. As our protagonist begins to watch the tapes, he finds himself unraveling the mystery of his father's life. The tapes show the father as a young man, struggling to come to terms with a traumatic event from his childhood. It turns out that the father had been involved in an incident that led to the death of a mysterious creature, later to be referred to as a beast. The father, filled with guilt and a sense of responsibility, locks the creature away in their house, and for decades, the creature remained trapped, living in the depths of the house. As the protagonist continues to watch the tapes, he begins to piece together the history of the house and the mysterious creature that his father had kept secret. One of the central themes of the film is the nature of family and the secrets we keep within our households. Our protagonist is forced to confront the reality that his father had kept a part of himself hidden from him, and the guilt and shame that followed. The film also raises questions about the consequences of our actions and the impact they have on those around us. Throughout the film, Grenzfurthner employs a range of visual and narrative techniques to create an atmosphere of tension and unease. The use of VHS tapes as a medium adds to the sense of age and authenticity, making the film feel like an intimate, found-footage experience. The camerawork is often shaky and amateurish, which adds to the sense of realism and immediacy. As the protagonist delves deeper into the mystery of the creature and his father's past, the tension builds, and the stakes grow higher. The creature, which is a key part of the protagonist's discovery, is presented as a monstrous, otherworldly being that is both fascinating and terrifying. The film's climax is both unsettling and haunting, as our protagonist finally confronts the creature and the truth about his father's past. The resolution is not a neat or tidy one, but rather a complex and messy conclusion that leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. The Cursed Tapes is a film that challenges its viewers to grapple with the complexities of family life and the secrets we keep from each other. It is a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking experience that lingers long after the credits roll.