“The Curse” movie thrills with a Filipina scene-stealer, the occult & the Kentex fire

From the moment Filipina actress Chai Fonacier first knocks on Bond Girl Eva Green’s door in the movie “The Curse”, she steals every scene she’s in.

With her innocent, wide-eyed look, her Bisaya accent and a confident, unnerving smile, her performance hints at something sinister.

Unlike the typical meek, subservient, eyes-looking-down portrayal of a Filipino housekeeper, Fonacier’s interpretation of her role is one of full confidence.

She walks into the house like she’s the CEO, a boss merely observing her underlings, her gaze noting details of the house for a future unknown purpose.

The movie’s synopsis, available on Prime video, states that “a fashion designer (Eva Green) is suffering from a mysterious illness that puzzles her doctors and frustrates her husband (Mark Strong).

Help arrives in the form of a mysterious caregiver (Chai Fonacier) who uses traditional folk healing, but the results unleash an unthinkable horror.”

Her performance is delightful, especially when she’s the one in charge.

Even when she knows very well she isn’t wanted, she is unperturbed, unshakeable in her goal to “heal” Green’s character.

We won’t know the reason why, or even how she showed up mysteriously at the door until almost the very disturbing ending.

Tying Filipino superstitious beliefs, an actual Kentex rubber factory fire in Manila, and mental illness in one gory package of horror, the movie touches on consequences of one’s actions and company greed.

The Kentex fire in 2015 killed 74 factory workers, trapping them in a building with barred windows.

Later in the movie, Fonacier stares down Green’s husband—the intimidating Mark Strong who played Merlin in the Kingsman series and Dr. Shivana in Shazam.

Fonacier stood her ground, unflinching, refusing to back down, even with the threat of an eviction.

And why should she be intimidated by Strong’s character?

Not only does Fonacier know that she has Green wrapped around her little finger, she also has hidden supernatural powers, and she knows how to wield it.

“Be careful on the stairs,” she coldly says, and of course, something does happen on the stairs.

Fonacier explains in the movie that she is an ongo—a Filipino faith healer—and we see flashbacks of how she received that power. Hint: it’s disturbing.

In the movie, the successful transfer of the faith healer’s power was made when, as a child, she witnessed an old ongo’s death.

The gory act was manifested by swallowing a shriveled, wrinkly, tiny, bird-like creature.

In Filipino mythology, an ongo’s power can be transferred merely by staring at someone, contaminating someone’s food with secretions, or by directly touching someone minutes before their death.

You won’t soon forget an image of Fonacier flying effortlessly in the air and the meaning behind it.

Filipino occult, faith healers and mantras

Green’s character repeats a mantra in her head whenever she needs an extra boost of confidence, or luck.

Referencing the movie “The Wizard of Oz”, with Dorothy’s red shoes, Green wears red stilletos and whispers “Lucky shoes, lucky shoes, make me win and never lose” before an important meeting.

In the Philippines, it’s not uncommon to hear people say “puwera usog” (meaning go away, curse), or to whisper “tabi tabi po” (step aside) when trying to warn unseen supernatural beings that you’re coming through, so you don’t accidentally step on them.

There are many accounts of faith healers with remedies for mysterious illnesses, sores, and maladies that traditional medicine can’t cure.

By shining a spotlight on Filipino faith healers, the Kentex fire, and with an unforgettable performance by Chai Fonacier, this movie gave me thrills a-plenty.

A very enthusiastic thumbs up.