The First Kill and His Curse

The First Kill and His Curse is a 2019 American psychological horror film directed by William Brent Bell from a screenplay by David Coggeshall from a story by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Alex Mays. It is a sequel to the film The First Kill (2012), a prequel to the film 7 Days to Death (1997) and the fifth film in the film series. Starring Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CC Pounder, Jimmy Bennett and Ariana Engineering. The film begins with a mysterious ritual performed by an astral specialist to bring Martha back to the world of the living. After many difficult actions and calls, Catherine's spirit returns to her body, but feels that her time among the living is limited.
The project, tentatively titled The First Kill: Resurrection, was announced in February 2015. The official title was announced in November 2017, with Fuhrman reprising her role as Martha. Filming took place in Winnipeg, Canada from February to June 2018.
The First Kill and His Curse premiered in all territories beginning in the United States on August 19, 2019, and was released in all territories by August 21 by Paramount Pictures, after purchasing the franchise in 2013. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who considered the film an improvement over its predecessor. The First Kill and His Curse grossed $138 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million, becoming the second best result of the film series. The sequel will be released in 2025.
== Plot ==
The film begins with a mysterious ritual performed by an astral specialist to bring Martha back to the world of the living. After many difficult actions and calls, Martha's spirit returns to her body, but feels that her time among the living is limited.
Martha begins her search for her descendants and discovers that the curse she drove away many years ago is once again making its way into their lives. She realizes that her family is in danger and that they need her help.
With the help of her diary, Martha begins to teach Linda, her daughter, and explains to her all the mysteries and secrets of her magic. Together they explore the past and find ways to protect their family from the evil that awaits them.
But confronting the insidious forces of the curse is not as easy as they thought. Catherine's enemies are becoming stronger, and they have to go through many trials and battles to defeat evil forever.
At the end of the film, through faith, fortitude and love for family, Martha and Linda defeat the darkness and the curse is forever broken. Martha understands that her mission is completed, and she is ready to go to another world, knowing that she did everything possible to protect her family.
The film ends with Linda, having inherited all the knowledge and magical abilities of her great-grandmother, becoming the new protector of her family, and continues to fight evil to maintain peace and safety for everyone.
== Cast ==
* Peter Sarsgaard as Jake
* Isabelle Fuhrman as Marta
* CCH Pounder as Abigail
* Jimmy Bennett as Jason
* Margo Martindale as Alex
* Lauren Cochrane as Linda
* Gwendolyn Collins as Anne
* Alec Carlos as Christopher
* Jade Michael as Madisson
* Karel Roden as Karen
* Aryana Engineer as Ariadna
== Release ==
The First Kill and His Curse was released in the United States on August 19, 2019, 7 years after the previous film. His presentation took place on August 12 in Westland, Los Angeles. By August 21, the film was released in all territories around the world.
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
The First Kill and His Curse grossed $68 million in the United States and Canada and $70 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $138 million, a box office success on a $30 million budget.
The film grossed $12 million from 2,696 theaters on its first day and debuted to $23 million on its opening weekend.
=== Critical response ===
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 58% based on 145 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Building on its outlandish premise, The First Kill and His Curse is a sequel that deserves a look, and for fans of campy horror, may even represent an improvement on the original." Metacritic gave the film a weighted average score of 56 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "mixed to average reviews".
In a positive review, IGN's Matt Donato gave it a 7 out of 10 and wrote, "The First Kill and His Curse is both a sequel and a prequel, and manages to feel so unique thanks to some standout narrative twists." Richard Whittaker of The Austin Chronicle gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing: "What makes The First Kill and His Curse worthwhile is that it acknowledges the original before taking a sharp left turn into overdone soap madness."