The Rope Curse (2018) Movie Review

 

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.

 
Synopsis The Rope Curse (2018):

Shu Yi (Kimi Hsia) was close friends with Li Yan during school. Their closeness was evident in the intensity of their interactions. However, Li Yan suddenly committed suicide, shocking the entire school. Ten years later, Shu Yi has moved on with her life and is about to get married.

On the other hand, Jia Wei (Jason Tsou), Shu Yi’s fiancé, along with his colleague A-Gwai, works as a content creator. To earn money for the wedding, he aims to get high viewership. They decide to do a live stream of a rope curse removal ritual, which happens to take place in Shu Yi’s hometown.

The process goes awry and leads to a terrifying ordeal. The terror results in the death of their presenter and also affects Shu Yi. Jia Wei and A-Gwai accidentally discover that the victims are connected to Shu Yi, who was her former schoolmate.

A-Gwai’s uncle, a paranormal expert, reveals that there’s a curse following Shu Yi that must be traced back to its source. They begin searching for Shu Yi’s old friends. Eventually, Shu Yi’s past is gradually uncovered.

Will they be able to break the curse?

 
Review The Rope Curse (2018):

The Rope Curse explores a unique theme rooted in Taiwanese legend or tradition. This tradition is linked to people who commit suicide by hanging. It is believed that the rope used in the suicide must be burned to eliminate the curse it carries.

Although many viewers found the film lacking in terms of delivering a full horror experience, the story representation is quite decent and still enjoyable. The main plot is clear, even if predictable. Admittedly, there are still many elements in the story and plot that could be further developed.

The film opens with a mysterious atmosphere that successfully grabs the viewer’s attention—a crucial aspect for any movie. The foundational buildup of the story is done fairly well.

It begins by introducing the main characters who are vital to the story, as well as a glimpse of the suicide incident. Then, the rope curse removal ritual is shown, which is also a key part of the plot. It is also explained how the curse originated from a botched ritual. The film clearly shows the connections between the victims. This buildup can be considered quite effective in helping the audience follow the storyline.

Next, conflict after conflict arises, beginning with the unraveling of secrets surrounding Li Yan—the spirit behind the curse. The various terrors presented are quite tense and well-delivered. There are not many jump scares or grotesque ghost appearances. The horror is conveyed more through the gloomy and suspenseful atmosphere, though this sometimes makes scenes hard to see due to overly dark visuals.

The story resolves quite well, with detailed explanations that help the audience understand what happened. There is a twist that is somewhat predictable but still enjoyable. The audience can feel the resentment harbored by the spirit. The film also explains the connection between all the characters and Li Yan.

The acting is quite good, especially from Kimi Hsia, who succeeds in making the film feel intense—she could be considered the backbone of the film. However, many character portrayals are lacking—for example, Jia Wei comes off as very annoying and slow to react, despite being introduced as a teaching assistant. It is never explained why he chose to become a streamer instead.

There are also several scenes and dialogues that are pointless or inconsistent. For instance, when A-Gwai meets the presenter and turns off his headlamp, but when the scene shifts to a road view from A-Gwai’s POV, it still appears lit. The paranormal character also seems confused when the spirit enters Shu Yi’s body, despite being portrayed earlier as an expert. The most frustrating scene is when Jia Wei is told to burn the rope but instead wastes time calling out to Shu Yi—even though he knows that burning the rope is the way to defeat the spirit. There are other scenes that seem to try adding dramatic effect but only end up being irritating. Haha.

The music and sound effects are quite good and help build the horror atmosphere in the story. The cinematography isn’t too bad, though it could still be improved. Continuity also needs to be paid attention to for a smoother narrative.

Overall, the film is still worth watching—especially for fans of Taiwanese horror.

 
Memorable Scene:

Shu Yi finds a box containing keepsakes from her time with Li Yan. Flashbacks of their past—both joyful and sorrowful—resurface. This scene shows the closeness they shared and how their relationship changed.

We often have friends who are extremely close to us. Circumstances may cause distance, but the memories remain safely tucked away in our minds.

 
Memorable Quote:

"All bad deeds can come back to affect us"

 

Ending:

Twist Ending

 
Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

 

(Aluna)