Emma Stone’s 10/10 Psychological Thriller Is The Best Show You’ve Never Heard Of

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Emma Stone is a major movie star, but many people missed her critically acclaimed series, The Curse. Often called the “millennial Meryl Streep,” the 37-year-old actress has already received seven Academy Award nominations – making her the youngest woman ever to reach that number – and has won two. Her most recent nomination is for Bugonia, which is her fourth film with director Yorgo Lanthimos.

Emma Stone has a fantastic body of work in film, and she’s equally brilliant on television, though her TV roles don’t get nearly enough attention. For example, she starred alongside Jonah Hill in the 2018 Netflix series Maniac, but it didn’t attract a large audience. This happened again with her even stronger 2023 series, The Curse.

What Is The Curse About?

Created by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, The Curse is a 10-part series following a wealthy millennial couple, Asher (Fielder) and Whitney Siegel (Emma Stone), as they renovate homes in Española, New Mexico. They’re filming the process for their TV show, Fliplanthropy, and Whitney is determined to get it picked up by HGTV.

If the name “Fliplanthropy” feels uncomfortable, that’s a sign of what’s to come. Nathan Fielder, known for his awkward comedy style in “Nathan for You,” brings that same energy to “The Curse.” The show quickly reveals that the characters, Asher and Whitney, aren’t genuinely charitable – their efforts are all for show. They’re not only disconnected from the diverse community they’re trying to help, but their actions actually make things worse.

Okay, so “The Curse” isn’t just a darkly funny satire; it’s got this really unsettling psychological edge to it, and it all stems from something seemingly small. Early on, we see Asher do something genuinely awful – he snatches back a hundred-dollar bill from a little girl after giving it to her for a filmed moment. And, well, she understandably ‘curses’ him. It’s this act, and the fallout from it, that really sets the show’s creepy tone and drives the psychological tension. It’s a brilliant, if disturbing, setup.

Okay, so at first, what this couple says seems a little silly and over the top, but it genuinely freaks Asher out. And that’s when everything starts falling apart – not just with the show they’re doing, but also with their attempts to have a baby. Honestly, each episode gets more and more tense and awkward – it’s almost too much to watch, but in a strangely captivating way. Asher and Whitney are a complete mess, a total disaster, but you just can’t help but keep watching to see what happens next!

The Curse’s Weirdness Is What Makes It So Great

Be prepared – The Curse is a truly strange show. It feels odd visually, from the unattractive, mirrored design of Asher and Whitney’s eco-friendly “passive homes,” to its unique filming style. The cameras are often placed behind glass, making the viewer feel like a secret observer of private, unguarded moments.

The show features intensely awkward and uncomfortable scenes – making even Curb Your Enthusiasm feel relaxing by comparison. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, The Curse pushes further, and makes you watch it unfold for an extended time. This can be off-putting, but if you can stomach the discomfort and understand the show’s intent, it can be a surprisingly satisfying experience.

The show also explores the unsettling question of whether the central “curse” is actually real. Asher’s fear of the young girl could stem from his own biases and privilege, or perhaps something genuinely supernatural is happening – or maybe his biases are causing the supernatural events. All of this culminates in a wildly memorable and unforgettable ending, considered one of the best in television history.

Where To Watch The Curse

You can watch The Curse, a Showtime original series, on Paramount+, which now has all of Showtime’s shows and movies. With ten episodes, it’s a great show to watch all at once over a weekend.

The ending of The Curse was intentionally confusing, leaving viewers with lots of unanswered questions and hoping for a second season. While HBO hasn’t officially announced a season 2, and the actors are now working on different projects – it’s been over two years since the first season ended – a continuation isn’t completely off the table.

Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone recently told The Hollywood Reporter that a second season of The Curse is a possibility. Fielder has even planned out storylines beyond the first season, though he’s keeping details secret to avoid spoilers. The big question now is whether audiences are ready for more of this unique show.

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2026-02-18 22:18