Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Creepy imagery, violence in unoriginal horror tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Bridge Curse
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE BRIDGE CURSE, on February 29, 2016, a group of new college students, on a dare put forth by older students, took a "Courage Test" initiation and crossed a bridge at midnight that's rumored to be haunted by a female ghost. They were told not to look around as they climbed the steps of the bridge, and not to count the steps, because if they counted to 13, this would summon the ghost. Of course, these kids looked around and counted to 13, and soon their collegiate lark turned deadly. One by one, the students were pursued and then killed. Exactly four years later, an intrepid reporter seeks to uncover the truth behind the alleged curse of the "Female Ghost Bridge," even going so far as wanting to take the same "Courage Test" that the murdered or missing students took four years prior. Her research uncovers violent death, spurned lovers, and the frightening truth to what's really happening.
Is It Any Good?
This is an urban legend story that isn't all that legendary. The Bridge Curse, basically, is The Blair Witch Project with smartphones, with some herky-jerky demons from the The Grudge franchise thrown in. It's almost amusing to see the role Siri plays during a moment of impending doom for one of the characters, and the smartphone camera is an oft-used feature of the movie. Aside from this, it's a basic kill-by-numbers horror movie where teens go where they shouldn't and suffer the consequences. The characters are as stock as you can get: bookish kid with glasses; sensitive, good-looking boy; sweet girl now dating the sensitive, good-looking boy; mean girl who used to date the sensitive guy before she was dumped; etc. There's also the "intrepid investigative reporter" to make the story even more trite.
Indeed, plot points and settings get to be a little bit too convenient. Of course, the reporter must be at the bridge when it's time for the ghost to appear, and of course the ghost appears only on a leap year at midnight, because a typical Tuesday at 3 p.m. doesn't fit the busy schedule of your average apparition. Of course, the students end up in an abandoned dorm building with gray walls and spotty fluorescent lighting. Furthermore, there's an overreliance on jump scares that grows increasingly tiresome -- to the point where, instead of being scared when the actual pandemonium begins, it's a relief that it's nothing remotely suspenseful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about horror movies. How does The Bridge Curse compare to other horror movies you've seen? How does it try to build suspense -- through jump scares, music, sound effects?
Some horror movies rely on gore to provide the scares, and others rely more on building suspense. Where does this movie fall? Which type is scarier, and why?
Why do you think people watch horror movies? Why do some people like to feel scared or grossed out?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 27, 2020
- Cast : Ning Chang , Cheng Ko , J.C. Lin
- Director : Lester Shih
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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