The Curse

The Curse

Year: 1987

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: David Keith

HorrorHorror

Religious farmer Nathan Hayes fights to keep his land and family as a real‑estate developer tries to buy farms, hoping the Tennessee Valley Authority will select the town for a dam. During a violent storm, a mysterious glowing object crashes onto Hayes' property, unleashing a curse that threatens his family and the entire community.

The Curse (1987) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Curse (1987) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the rolling hills of Tellico Plains, Tennessee, a line of weather‑worn farms clings to a future that feels as fragile as the soil beneath them. A looming real‑estate development promises progress, while the Tennessee Valley Authority whispers of a dam that could flood the valley forever. The tension between stubborn tradition and relentless modernization forms the quiet heart of the story, a place where the land itself seems to hold its breath.

At the center of that struggle stands Nathan Hayes, a devout farmer whose faith and family are his only anchors. He tends to his crops with a reverence that borders on ritual, and his love for his wife and children fuels his resistance to any outside force that threatens their way of life. Opposite him is Charlie Davidson, a charismatic developer whose ambitions for the region are wrapped in the language of opportunity and growth. Their uneasy dance is watched by a close‑knit community that worries about losing both heritage and home.

Everything changes one storm‑laden night when a mysterious, luminescent object crashes onto Nathan’s property. The sudden, otherworldly glow becomes a silent catalyst, hinting at a force that does not belong to the world the residents know. As the farm’s ordinary rhythms begin to shift in subtle, unsettling ways, an unseen curse seems to seep into the soil, stirring questions about what is truly at stake.

The film unfolds in a moody, atmospheric style, blending the rustic charm of Appalachian life with a creeping, almost palpable dread. It invites the viewer to feel the weight of an inevitable clash—between faith and greed, between the familiar and the inexplicable—while the land itself holds a secret that could reshape the entire community.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:37

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Cosmic and body horror movies like The Curse

Stories where an otherworldly contagion grotesquely transforms people and reality.If you enjoyed The Curse's grotesque transformations and oppressive atmosphere, explore more movies that feature body horror and cosmic dread. These films share a focus on physical decay, contamination, and a bleak, inescapable threat.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a linear descent into chaos, typically starting with an unexplained infection or presence that causes horrific physical changes. The characters struggle to contain or understand the threat as their bodies and sanity are consumed.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared foundation in body horror and existential dread, creating a viewing experience defined by grotesque visuals and the fear of a fundamentally hostile universe.

Rural isolation horror films similar to The Curse

Tales of terror where isolated families are besieged by supernatural and human greed.For fans of The Curse's story of a family farm under supernatural and corporate siege, this thread features more horror movies where isolated rural life becomes a nightmare of supernatural forces and human corruption.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an isolated family or community battling to protect their land and way of life. They are caught between a mysterious, often ancient or alien evil and the greed of outside forces, resulting in a bleak battle for survival.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the oppressive atmosphere of rural isolation, the theme of land and family under threat, and a blend of supernatural horror with real-world conflict.

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The Curse Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Curse

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Curse

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