Netflix’s latest horror offering, helmed by Liao Shih-han, Rope Curse 3, follows in the footsteps of its predecessor. Starring the likes of Bor-Jeng Chen, Jou-Min Huang, Wilson Hsu, Jason Tsou, Shao-Hui Chen, and Li-Ting Hsu, the film follows the story of Kuan-Yu, an aspiring parkour influencer hailing from the family of Taoist master, who wards off evil spirits.
Kuan-Yu’s father doesn’t want his son to follow in his footsteps for some reason, but fate has different plans, and Kyun-Ru is roped into becoming a master when a Thai demon threatens the world.
Rope Curse 3 Plot Summary
The film’s foundation is laid in its two opening scenes. The first depicts the tragic death of a man’s entire family due to an evil spirit, while the second sees a group of people performing a ritual to thwart an ancient demon that surfaces every 7th lunar month. These ritual practitioners are known as Taoist masters, and Kuan-Yu’s father has established a respected career as one.
These Taoist masters often carry out a ritualistic drama, masquerading as Zhong Kui, to beguile the demon and stop it from emerging. Even though the Taoist masters are respected, Kuan-Yu is dissuaded from following in their footsteps because the role comes with many dangers and curses, as proven by Kuan-Yu’s sister’s death.
Why do Kuan-Yu and his friend arrive at the hotel?
During the 7th Lunar month at The Meihuang Hotel, a guest tragically hangs himself in his room. In an effort to get rid of any curses and bad odors, Kuan-Yu and his cameraman are called to perform a ritual in exchange for earning some good money. Wan-Hua, the hotel receptionist who discovered the body, is also involved. As Kuan-Yu and his friend try to purify the room, everything seems normal, but Thai inscriptions on the wall and disturbing videotapes tell different and eerie stories.
The situation takes a dark turn when Kuan-Yu’s friend is brutally murdered in the hotel by what appears to be a possessed child. Unfortunately, Kuan-Yu’s friend is not the only victim, as two more people lose their lives to the sinister spirit.
What happens to Jui-Jui?
From the beginning, Wan Hua seems to be harboring a dark secret. In reality, her son, Jui-Jui, whom we see racing in the hallway, isn’t alive but has been resurrected. Years ago, Jui-Jui lost his life in a car accident, and Wan Hua blamed herself for his death. In her pain and desperation, Wan Hua sought out macabre means to reunite with her son. An old shaman used black magic to place Jui-Jui’s spirit in a doll called Kuman Thong.
Unfortunately, during the 7th Lunar month, a Thai demon takes over the doll, replacing Jui-Jui’s spirit. Hwa, unaware of this, only discovers the truth when it’s too late. Now, the Thai demon plans to kill seven people to reincarnate in the human world and is exploiting Wan Hua’s love for her son to achieve their sinister goal. The demon forces Wan to commit murders.
The man who hangs himself at the film’s start is the first sacrifice, followed by Kuan-Yu’s friend, Wan Hua’s husband, and two middle-aged women. The old woman attempts to thwart the evil demon but ends up becoming one of the sacrifices as well. Kuan-Yu’s father, too, tries to lay waste to the evil demon’s plan, but he too loses his life. Despite Kuan-Yu’s father’s efforts to thwart the demon’s plan, he also succumbs to the sinister scheme and loses his life.
How does Kuan-Yu defeat the Thai demon?
After learning about the demon inhabiting the hotel, Jia Min arrives at the hotel to ward off the spirit. Jia Min reveals to Kuan-Yu that the demon is an ancient Thai spirit, once believed to be stopped by Zhong Kui. The demon has returned to claim seven lives for reincarnation. Together, they attempt to destroy the Kuman Thong and convince Wan Hua that the entity possessing the doll is not her son, Jui-jui, but an evil spirit.
However, Hwa, deeply broken and disheartened, is unable to understand anything. In the next scene, she intentionally stabs herself to fulfill the demon’s kill count. After all seven sacrifices are made, the demon becomes powerful and unleashes havoc on Kuan-Yu. It preys on Kuan-Yu’s mind, taunting him for not being able to save his sister from drowning.
When all hope seems lost, Kuan-Yu is met with a vision of his father, nudging him to defeat the demon using Zhong Kui’s steps. Kuan-Yu follows his father’s orders, challenges the demon to a fight, and successfully defeats it in its reddish world. With the demon defeated, the doll in the human world shatters into a million pieces.
Rope Curse 3 Post Credit Scene Explained
After the movie has ended, we’re presented with a post-credit scene. In an old restaurant, a woman walks in and finds the owner hanging by noose tied around his neck. At the same time, we also notice a creepy scene where a possessed woman is seen feasting on someone’s body. This hints that the ancient Thai demon might not be gone and is trying to come back by taking seven lives. Or, it is also possible that it could be a whole new demon for Kuan-Yu to deal with in the next movie.
Read More: The Rope Curse 3 Movie Review