Is The Curse Based on a True Story?

Showtime’s “The Curse” stars Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder as two newlyweds who try and launch a house-flipping HGTV sequence within the city of Española, NM. However, their present, and their efforts to begin a household, turn into sophisticated by the presence of what may simply be a curse.

The premise may sound a bit absurd, however it additionally might ring a few bells should you’ve ever seen any of tv’s many, many house-flipping and residential renovation exhibits. From HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” and “Property Brothers” to Netflix’s “Tiny House Nation” and “Dream Home Makeover,” it is clear the general public has a unending urge for food for renovation and real-estate-related tv. Meanwhile, Stone and Fielder’s characters themselves may recall to mind one other well-known couple within the televised house enchancment enterprise — Chip and Joanna Gaines, who cohosted the HGTV present “Fixer Upper” from 2013 to 2018. From there, they launched their very own media firm referred to as Magnolia and debuted their very own cable channel in 2020. They’re nonetheless very energetic, and in June, they took on a new problem and renovated a large dilapidated fortress.

The couple have additionally garnered some criticism right here and there through the years for numerous causes. “Fixer Upper” by no means included any same-sex {couples} or queer folks in any respect, and the Gainses have been additionally criticized in 2016 for showing in a video with their pastor Jimmy Seibert of the Antioch International Movement of Churches, who was brazenly towards homosexual marriage and supported conversion remedy. They additionally paid $40,000 to the EPA because of improper dealing with of lead paint in 2017. And not all of their house renovation exhibits have really made householders glad, in keeping with experiences. In 2022, a present on their community referred to as “Home Work” was faraway from the air after householders complained of shoddy work. The Gainses denied they’d ever exploited shoppers in any method, and reps for the couple didn’t instantly reply to POPSUGAR’s request for remark.

Still, all issues thought of, “The Curse” is certainly not based mostly on a true story, and it looks as if Stone and Fielder’s characters will face way more chaos and catastrophe than Chip and Joanna ever have, if the trailer for the sequence is something to go by. Still, the present does appear poised to the touch on very actual fears about gentrification, exploitation, and the hurt performed by many seemingly altruistic ventures which might be actually solely accomplished for the digicam’s sake.