The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

• Comedy
• Crime
• Romance

Set against the backdrop of 1940s New York City, *The Curse of the Jade Scorpion* playfully subverts the conventions of both the crime and romantic comedy genres through the unlikely connection forged by shared hypnotic suggestion. Insurance investigator CW Briggs and meticulous office newcomer Betty Ann Fitzgerald initially clash, their antagonism masking a burgeoning attraction only unlocked after being unwittingly hypnotized during an office outing. The film isn’t driven by a complex heist but by the bizarre compulsion both experience to commit petty thefts influenced by their subconscious desires, mirroring each other’s actions in a whimsical, escalating game of one-upmanship. This creates a surprisingly tender, screwball dynamic where professional rivalry and a deeply peculiar form of shared obsession blossom into an unconventional love story, exploring themes of hidden impulses and the liberating absurdity of losing control.