The Cursed Ending Explained: What the Werewolf Curse Really Means

The Cursed (released in 2022 after premiering as Eight for Silver) is a gothic horror film that reinvents classic werewolf mythology through a bleak tale of revenge and generational guilt. Directed by Sean Ellis, the movie follows pathologist John McBride as he investigates a string of brutal killings in a remote French village during the late 19th century. What begins as a mysterious animal attack gradually evolves into a horrifying supernatural curse rooted in violence committed years earlier.

Unlike many modern horror films, The Cursed favors atmospheric storytelling over constant jump scares. Its ending ties together the mystery surrounding the beast while revealing that the true horror lies not only in the monster itself but also in humanity’s cruelty. Here’s what the ending means and how the werewolf curse ultimately comes to an end.

The Curse Finally Comes Full Circle

As McBride uncovers the truth, he learns that the Laurent family’s suffering began after Seamus Laurent brutally massacred a Romani clan to seize their land. Before dying, one of the Romani elders created a cursed silver artifact that unleashed a supernatural vengeance upon everyone connected to the massacre. The curse spreads through silver shards lodged inside victims, slowly transforming them into monstrous werewolf-like creatures.

The film’s climax reveals that Edward Laurent has become the latest victim of the curse after being infected by one of the silver fragments. Determined to stop the bloodshed, McBride confronts the transformed Edward during a violent final battle. Realizing there is no way to reverse the curse once the transformation is complete, McBride is forced to kill Edward with a silver bullet, ending the immediate threat to the village.

The film introduces a unique interpretation of werewolf lore centered on cursed silver and ancient vengeance (Image via LD Entertainment)

Although the monster is defeated, the ending makes it clear that the curse was never simply about a supernatural beast. Every tragedy stems from Seamus Laurent’s greed and brutality toward the Romani people years earlier. The werewolf becomes a physical manifestation of guilt and vengeance, illustrating how violence continues to haunt future generations long after the original crime has been committed.

The final scenes reinforce this idea by showing that evil cannot simply be erased with the death of a single creature. While McBride survives and the killings stop, the emotional scars remain for everyone affected by the Laurent family’s actions. Rather than offering a triumphant conclusion, The Cursed ends as a tragic cautionary tale about the lasting consequences of hatred, colonial violence, and revenge, giving its unique take on werewolf folklore a deeper emotional impact.