curse-breaking

His films consistently feature protagonists breaking supernatural curses and cycles of violence through love and compassion, most notably in 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Shape of Water'.

Central to his work is the breaking of curses through understanding and compassion, exemplified by 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke' where characters transcend hexes via emotional growth.

His horror films explore how characters become trapped in inherited curses and family cycles, examining whether breaking free is possible, as seen in 'Hereditary' and 'Midsommar'.