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Sci-fi horror film

The Cured (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Cured (2018) movie poster

The Cured is a 2018 sci-fi horror film directed by David Freyne, starring Sam Keeley as Senan, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Stuart Graham. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $323,776 worldwide. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10.

IMDb rating
5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$323.8K
Echo Score
68
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The Cured (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
David Freyne
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Cured About?

The premise of The Cured without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When a cure is discovered for a zombie-like virus that ravaged the nation, former infected individuals are released back into society. Among them is Senan, who must grapple with the atrocities he committed while under the virus's control. As these “cured” people attempt to rebuild their lives, they face widespread fear and prejudice, forcing them to confront the deep-seated societal anxieties that arose during the crisis and question whether true redemption is possible.

The Cured Themes & Keywords

· 29 tags
  • zombie horror
  • disease
  • infection
  • military
  • uncle nephew relationship
  • flashback
  • pack
  • nightmares
  • terrorist
  • quarantine
  • conspiracy
  • bite
+17 more
  • blood
  • guilty conscience
  • mother son relationship
  • molotov cocktail
  • recidivism
  • social drama
  • cure
  • infected
  • zombie
  • survival
  • zombie cure
  • lesbianism
  • brother kills brother
  • brother in law
  • learning the truth
  • murder
  • female female kiss
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Cast & crew

The Cured Cast & Characters

Sam Keeley leads the cast as Senan, with Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Conor and Stuart Graham as Cantor. Directed by David Freyne; 17 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

The Cured Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Cured 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in story & flow (55).

68 /100

The Cured Echo Score Breakdown

The Cured delivers a thoughtful horror experience marked by strong conceptual ambition but uneven execution. Its inventive premise and thematic resonance are frequently praised, yet critics note a plodding final act and uneven thematic juggling. User feedback echoes this split, praising emotional stakes and performances while criticizing pretension and pacing lapses. Despite the sporadic narrative drag, the film’s atmospheric tension and social allegory provide compelling moments. Overall, The Cured offers an intriguing but imperfect entry in the zombie genre.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art direction, The Cured exhibits a measured visual style that underscores its unsettling atmosphere. Critics note the film’s disciplined framing and shadowy compositions, while some point to inconsistent execution in key sequences. The editing occasionally contributes to tension but also highlights moments of uneven rhythm. Overall, the craft supports the film’s mood with moderate success.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character development, The Cured balances compelling performances with limited depth in some roles. The lead actors deliver nuanced portrayals that convey guilt and empathy, and supporting figures contribute to emotional stakes. However, critics observe that certain characters remain undeveloped and thematic ambitions sometimes outpace personal arcs. Net effect: moderately engaging character work.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, The Cured offers an original premise exploring post-cure tensions but suffers from uneven pacing and predictability. Observers praise the allegorical ambition and sustained tension, yet many note a plodding final act and thematic overload. The narrative coherence sometimes falters under its multiple ideas. Overall, the plot remains partially engaging.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When it comes to sensory experience, The Cured establishes a tense and moody audio-visual palette. The sound design accentuates unsettling atmospherics, and the musical score underpins moments of dread. Critics highlight the film’s restrained visual cohesion, though some sequences lack stylistic consistency. Ultimately, the movie’s sensory elements enhance its suspense with moderate effectiveness.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch value, The Cured delivers intermittent appeal but uneven engagement on subsequent viewings. Viewers may appreciate additional thematic layers and character moments with fresh perspective, though pacing lulls and narrative excess can limit repeat enjoyment. The film’s compelling premise offers some longevity, but its overall unevenness tempers lasting replay appeal.

Plot

The Cured Plot Summary

What happens in The Cured from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the Maze Virus continued to cast its dark shadow over Europe, the impact was particularly devastating in Ireland, where the crisis reached its peak. While a cure was eventually developed and successfully administered to 75% of the infected, the remaining 25% remained stubbornly resistant, leading to a tense division between the vaccinated, known as the Cured, and those who could not be healed, referred to as the Resistant.

Full summary

The whole story of The Cured, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Cured Box Office

The Cured grossed $323,776 worldwide. $26,630 came from the US and Canada and $297,146 (92%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$323.8K

US & Canada
$26.6K
International
$297.1K
US & Canada 8% Rest of the world 92%
Videos

The Cured Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Cured.

The Cured - Official Trailer I HD I IFC Films
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Cured?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What virus is central to the plot of 'The Cured'?

Details

The Cured Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “The Third Wave” and “The Cured - Infiziert Geheilt Verstossen”.

Also known as
  • The Third Wave
  • The Cured - Infiziert Geheilt Verstossen
  • Третья волна зомби
  • Os Curados
  • Третя хвиля зомбі
  • İyileşenler
  • Izlečeni
  • The Cured: Infiziert. Geheilt. Verstoßen.
  • 더 큐어드
  • Изцелените
  • 第三波
  • 喪屍病狂
+11 more
  • A Gyógyultak
  • Το τρίτο κύμα
  • המתרפאים
  • La troisième vague
  • Wyleczeni
  • 喪屍3/4
  • Vyléčení
  • Los curados
  • CURED キュアード
  • Xác Sống
  • ซอมบี้กำเริบคลั่ง

Seen The Cured?

FAQ

The Cured FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Cured, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Cured?

The Cured runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was The Cured released?

The Cured was released on February 23, 2018.

Who directed The Cured?

The Cured was directed by David Freyne.

More films by David Freyne

Who is in the cast of The Cured?

The Cured stars Sam Keeley as Senan, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Conor and Stuart Graham as Cantor, among 17 credited actors.

How much did The Cured make at the box office?

The Cured grossed $323,776 worldwide ($26,630 domestic, $297,146 international).

How is The Cured rated?

The Cured has 5.6/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic and 55% on TMDB.

Does The Cured have a post-credit scene?

No. The Cured has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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