A deeply unsettling fusion of Fielder and Safdie’s distinctive styles, The Curse has a few darkly amusing moments and boasts a standout performance from Emma Stone, but it’s a tough watch, too. So it makes sense that when Fielder and Safdie team up for Showtime’s new dramedy - premiering this Sunday at 10/9c and streaming this Friday on Paramount+ I’ve seen the first four episodes - the result is almost unbearably uncomfortable. Nathan Fielder is known for uncomfortably awkward prank comedies like Nathan For You and The Rehearsal, and Benny Safdie, along with his brother Josh, is known for uncomfortably tense crime dramas like Uncut Gems and Good Time.
The Curse is like a clash of the cringe titans.