The Rope Curse (2018) Review: A Dark Taiwanese Legend Where the Past Refuses to Stay Buried

 

The Rope Curse (Original title: Zong Xie) | 2018 | 1h 46m
Genre: Horror | Country: Taiwan
Director: Shih-Han Liao | Writers: Keng-Ming Chang
Cast: Kimi Hsia, Jason Tsou, Bor-Jeng Chen
IMDB: 5.2
My Rate: 7/10

Live streaming of a rope curse removal ritual ends in disaster for A-Gwai, Jia Wei, and Shu Yi. Shu Yi must dig into her past to uncover the reason behind the spirit’s anger and find a way to break the curse.

Warning:

Contains scenes of suicide, violence, and strong language.

Some friendships leave memories that we treasure, while others leave wounds we do not fully understand until it is too late. The Rope Curse (2018), a Taiwanese horror film directed by Shih-Han Liao, builds its supernatural story around a traditional belief about ropes used in suicide rituals. What begins as a livestream intended to attract viewers soon becomes a terrifying encounter with a past that refuses to remain buried.

Shu Yi (Kimi Hsia) once shared a close friendship with Li Yan, a schoolmate whose unexpected suicide shocked everyone around them. Ten years later, Shu Yi appears to have moved on and is preparing to get married. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, Jia Wei (Jason Tsou), and his colleague A-Gwai work as content creators. Hoping to earn money for the wedding, they decide to livestream a ritual intended to remove the curse associated with a rope used in hanging.

The ritual goes terribly wrong, resulting in the death of their presenter and a series of frightening disturbances that also affect Shu Yi. Jia Wei and A-Gwai gradually discover that the victims are connected to Shu Yi through their shared school past. With help from A-Gwai's uncle, a paranormal expert, they learn that a curse continues to follow Shu Yi and that they must uncover its source. As details about Li Yan emerge, the group begins to understand that the haunting is connected to secrets that have remained unresolved for years.

One of the film's most interesting elements is its use of Taiwanese folklore. According to the belief presented in the story, a rope used by someone who dies by hanging must be burned to remove the curse attached to it. This tradition gives the horror a cultural foundation rather than relying entirely on supernatural imagery. The premise is distinctive, and the film establishes its mystery effectively from the opening scenes.

The story gradually introduces its main characters, the suicide that shaped their shared past, and the ritual that triggers the haunting. These elements connect clearly enough for viewers to follow the unfolding mystery. Although the eventual revelations may be predictable for experienced horror fans, the film maintains a recognizable thread throughout its narrative. Its central strength lies in how the past connects the characters and gradually exposes the source of their fear.

Rather than depending heavily on jump scares or grotesque ghost appearances, The Rope Curse builds tension through a gloomy atmosphere and the feeling that something terrible is approaching. This approach works reasonably well, although some scenes are so dark that it becomes difficult to see what is happening. The revelations about Li Yan add emotional weight to the haunting, allowing viewers to understand the resentment behind the spirit's actions. The ending explains the relationships between the characters and the source of the curse, with a twist that is not entirely unexpected but remains enjoyable.

Still, the film has weaknesses that prevent it from reaching its full potential. Some character decisions feel inconsistent, particularly Jia Wei's behavior. He is initially introduced as a teaching assistant, yet the film does not adequately explain why he has chosen to become a streamer. At times, he also seems remarkably slow to react to situations that should be obvious, making certain moments more frustrating than frightening.

Several scenes could have been handled more carefully. For example, after A-Gwai switches off the flashlight attached to his head, the subsequent point-of-view shot still appears to be illuminated by it. The paranormal expert also seems confused when the spirit possesses Shu Yi, despite having previously been presented as knowledgeable about supernatural matters. One especially frustrating moment occurs when Jia Wei is supposed to burn the cursed rope but instead keeps calling for Shu Yi, even though he knows that burning the rope is the way to defeat the spirit. These choices seem intended to heighten the drama, but they sometimes undermine the tension.

The performances are generally effective, especially Kimi Hsia, whose portrayal of Shu Yi helps sustain the film's emotional intensity. The music and sound effects also contribute to its unsettling atmosphere, while the cinematography serves the story adequately, even if the visual continuity could have been stronger. Overall, the film's strengths are its folklore-inspired premise, understandable narrative structure, and atmospheric approach to horror, while its inconsistent character decisions and occasional technical lapses hold it back.

My most memorable scene is when Shu Yi discovers a box containing keepsakes from her friendship with Li Yan. The objects bring back memories of their happier moments as well as the sadness that eventually changed their relationship. This scene adds a human dimension to the supernatural story, reminding us that the people who become distant from us were once part of our lives in ways we may not easily forget.

Many of us have experienced friendships that gradually change because of misunderstandings, personal struggles, or circumstances beyond our control. Even when people grow apart, the memories they created together do not simply disappear. Sometimes, we preserve those memories quietly, even when the relationship itself can no longer return to what it once was. The scene makes the horror more meaningful because it connects the haunting to the emotional history between two people.

The line, “All bad deeds can come back to affect us,” reinforces the idea that our actions may have consequences long after we have forgotten them. In a horror story, that idea can take the form of a curse, but in everyday life, the consequences may be less dramatic and more difficult to recognize. Words and decisions can leave wounds that remain with others long after the moment has passed.

I would rate The Rope Curse 7/10 and consider it worth watching, particularly for fans of Taiwanese horror and supernatural folklore. It may not deliver the most frightening experience, and some of its storytelling choices can be frustrating, but its central mystery remains engaging. Beneath the curse lies a reminder that the past does not always disappear simply because we stop talking about it. When our relationships change and old wounds remain unresolved, do we truly leave the past behind—or do we carry its consequences into the lives we build afterward?

(Aluna Uwie)

Previously published on Alunauwie.com

This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers.