Is The Curse Based on a True Story?

Showtime’s “The Curse” stars Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder as two newlyweds who try to launch a house-flipping HGTV collection within the city of Española, NM. Nevertheless, their present, and their efforts to start out a household, change into difficult by the presence of what would possibly simply be a curse.

The premise would possibly sound a bit absurd, nevertheless it additionally might ring just a few bells if you happen to’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 Home Nation” and “Dream Residence Makeover,” it is clear the general public has a endless urge for food for renovation and real-estate-related tv. In the meantime, Stone and Fielder’s characters themselves would possibly recall to mind one other well-known couple within the televised house enchancment enterprise — Chip and Joanna Gaines, who cohosted the HGTV present “Fixer Higher” from 2013 to 2018. From there, they launched their very own media firm known as Magnolia and debuted their very own cable channel in 2020. They’re nonetheless very lively, and in June, they took on a brand new problem and renovated a large dilapidated citadel.

The couple have additionally garnered some criticism right here and there through the years for varied causes. “Fixer Higher” 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 Worldwide Motion of Church buildings, who was overtly in opposition to homosexual marriage and supported conversion remedy. In addition they paid $40,000 to the EPA resulting from improper dealing with of lead paint in 2017. And never all of their house renovation exhibits have really made householders comfortable, in response to experiences. In 2022, a present on their community known as “Residence Work” was faraway from the air after householders complained of shoddy work. The Gainses denied that they had ever exploited purchasers in any manner, and reps for the couple didn’t instantly reply to POPSUGAR’s request for remark.

Nonetheless, all issues thought-about, “The Curse” is certainly not based mostly on a real 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 collection is something to go by. Nonetheless, the present does appear poised to the touch on very actual fears about gentrification, exploitation, and the hurt executed by many seemingly altruistic ventures which might be actually solely accomplished for the digital camera’s sake.