Cursed Films is a five part documentary series which explores the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood's notoriously cursed horror film productions. Filmmaker Jay Cheel explores the facts, myths and mysterious surrounding iconic films and franchises whose casts and crews have been struck by misfortune and tragedy.
The release of The Exorcist was surrounded by controversy, as reports of fainting theatre-goers and mysterious on-set accidents raised questions as to whether or not the film itself was evil.

The film examines strange shapes of the universe, such as the 'Eye of God', the hexagon on Saturn, and the 'face' on Mars. One of Saturn's moons is a Star Wars lookalike. Could the strange patterns of the universe now solve mysteries that have haunted mankind since ancient times?

It is 1918 and the end of WWI. Millions have died, and the world is exhausted by war. But soon a new horror is sweeping the world, a terrifying virus that will kill more than fifty million people - the Spanish flu. Using dramatic reconstruction and eyewitness testimony from doctors, soldiers, civilians and politicians, this one-off special brings to life the onslaught of the disease, the horrors of those who lived through it and the efforts of the pioneering scientists desperately looking for the cure.
Narrated by Christopher Eccleston, the film also asks whether, a century later, the lessons learnt in 1918 might help us fight a future global flu pandemic.

At a powderkeg moment in American policing, 'The Force' goes deep inside the embattled Oakland Police Department as it struggles to reform itself amid growing local controversy. Filmmaker Peter Nicks embedded with the department over the course of two years to follow its serial efforts to recast itself. The film focuses on the new chief brought in to effect reform at the very moment the Black Lives Matter movement emerges to demand police accountability and racial justice both in Oakland and across the nation.
'The Force' goes inside an embattled urban police department struggling to rebuild trust in one of America's most violent yet promising cities.

The film follows the story of Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value detainee subjected to the CIA's program, of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs), later identified as torture by those outside the agency. Having never been charged with a crime or allowed to challenge his detention, Zubaydah remains imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay in Kafkaesque limbo, in direct contravention of America’s own ideals of justice and due process.
Twenty years on, The Forever Prisoner reveals the origins of the clandestine operations that led the United States, in the 'War on Terror,' on a path of cruelty, deceit, and self-deception. With first-hand accounts from the two interrogators to question Abu Zubaydah, a shocking interview with the chief architect of EITs, and an interview with Daniel Jones, former Senate Investigator, the film uncovers the incompetent and deceptive practices that the U.S. government followed in order to expedite and legalize EITs in the aftermath of 9/11. As a result, torture as a government policy was authorized by the United States for the first time in history.

In the extraordinary final chapter, viewers are taken on a global journey to review regions renowned for their extreme longevity. From picturesque Sardinia to the serene landscapes of Okinawa and the vibrant community in Loma Linda, the film uncovers the secrets behind these remarkable Blue Zones. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the unique lifestyles and community dynamics that contribute to the residents' exceptional health and long lives, leaving viewers intrigued by the possibilities of enhancing their own well-being.
The film doesn't stop at showcasing these remarkable places; it also delves into innovative approaches to improve public health. By highlighting initiatives like Singapore's Proximity Housing Grant and the transformative Blue Zones project, the episode encourages viewers to reflect on the impact of environment and policy on individual health. Ultimately, it leaves audiences pondering how they can adapt these life-enhancing principles to enrich their own lives.