--- title: "The Curse: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-curse/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-curse" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Curse (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 13 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews lean strongly positive. Most critics take the series as a satire of gentrification, white saviour complexes and the ethics of reality television, and most find that satire sharp rather than glib. The word that recurs is cringe: this is, by wide agreement, the most uncomfortable thing on television, and critics tend to mean it as a compliment. Emma Stone’s performance, swinging between do-gooder and narcissist, is the most consistently praised element, with Nathan Fielder’s scenarios and Benny Safdie’s tension-building credited for the creeping dread. The reservations are about stamina. Vulture argues the opening conceit gives way to repetitive tension and threads left undeveloped, while /Film thinks it does not quite stick the landing. The Guardian goes furthest, finding it almost uniquely unpleasant to watch even while admiring its ambition. The spread is wide, from outright dismissal to near-raves, but the great majority sit at the warm end. ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2023. The critic hails it as one of the best shows of the year, a genre-bending satire of performative philanthropy, reality TV cynicism and white saviour complexes. Emma Stone’s performance flipping between do-gooder and narcissist is singled out for praise alongside the show’s deadpan accuracy. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-curse-emma-stone-review-paramount-a24-nathan-fielder-b1118094.html) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2023. The critic calls it an exquisite, excruciating black comic wonder and a razor-sharp satire of gentrification, reality TV ethics, performative liberalism, and more, following a couple filming an HGTV-style show. They single out the shocking, boundary-pushing tone and strong performances for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-curse-review-emma-stone-nathan-fielder-series-1234923331/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2023. The year’s squirmiest new show, an exhilarating yet exhausting cringe comedy that is a ruthless evisceration of hollow progressive altruism and performative compassion. Stone and Fielder deliver standout performances amid the voyeuristic discomfort. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-curse-review-emma-stone-nathan-fielder-benny-safdie-1235636819/) ## Variety — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2023. The series is the most uncomfortable show of the year, an effective study of exploitation at all levels that is often painful to watch. It combines Fielder and Safdie’s sensibilities to reach new depths of discomfort, with Stone’s performance standing out. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/tv/tv-reviews/the-curse-review-emma-stone-nathan-fielder-benny-safdie-1235785132/) ## The i Paper — Marianne Levy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2023. The critic calls it one of the most excruciating comedies ever seen, a blistering social satire on wealth, race and gentrification that veers between Fargo and a demented Grand Designs. The three leads deliver awful yet wonderful performances that induce constant cringing. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-curse-paramount-review-2745766) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2023. The review calls it a strong contender for the weirdest show on television, praising its bonkers dark comedy about an unravelling marriage and gentrification. It highlights the unsettling humour and rising dread as impressive if not always easy to watch. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/11/11/the-curse-paramount-review-nathan-fielder-emma-stone/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2023. The series starts with a promising highwire conceit that creates overwhelming unease through its satire of white saviors and reality TV but quickly starts to dawdle and get stuck in repetitive tension. The critic singles out the initial setup, Stone’s performance, and sharp visual language for praise while complaining about underdeveloped threads and a lack of forward momentum. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-curse-showtime-review-nathan-fielder-benny-safdie-emma-stone.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2023. The critic describes the series as exquisitely cringe-worthy and almost uniquely unpleasant to watch, yet inventive, provocative and mesmerising in its ambition. It singles out the ultra-cringe moments and creeping dread arising from its satire of gentrification, white saviour complexes and reality TV. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/nov/11/emma-stone-nathan-fielder-the-curse-review-this-exquisitely-cringe-worthy-drama-is-like-nothing-else-on-tv) ## Consequence Rating A. 6 November 2023. A loaded, unsettling, and magnificent satire that is a career high for Fielder; it boldly physicalizes themes of class, gentrification, and ethics in a meta-TV format. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2023/11/the-curse-review/3/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating A-. 6 November 2023. It blends Fielder's cringey scenarios, Safdie's tension-building, and Stone's daring performance into a peculiar, confounding, and brilliant comedy that tackles white saviors, gentrification, and lack of introspection. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-curse-tv-show-review/) ## Paste — Brianna Zigler Rating 8.8. 6 November 2023. A biting satirization of white guilt as an exercise in emotional masochism; the show cultivates a revolting yet delicious discomfort through its portrayal of self-serving gentrifiers and an uneasy, evil atmosphere. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/showtime/the-curse-review-a24) ## The Ringer — Claire McNear Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2023. The critic praises the series as a vicious yet delicious parody of lefty do-gooderism and the house-flipping TV genre. She singles out the richly painted satire of the Siegels’ elaborate, hypocritical value system as they attempt to square their woke ideals with their self-interested actions. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2023/11/13/tv/the-curse-showtime-review-nathan-fielder-emma-stone-hgtv) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 8/10. 6 November 2023. The critic finds it an uncompromisingly weird and savage satire that defies description, praising the committed performances and unique commentary on modern culture while noting it doesn't quite stick the landing. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1437712/the-curse-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-curse.md