Product Details

• Actors: Christina Ricci, Joshua Jackson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: June 21, 2005
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (212 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009ETDAU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,619 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When you consider its unfortunate production history, Cursed turned out surprisingly well as a werewolf thriller that horror buffs will appreciate. It's hardly the disaster critics made it out to be, but extensive rewriting, reshooting, recasting, and lengthy delays in production and release (including the elimination of R-rated gore to earn a PG-13 rating) clearly took their toll. The result is a fun but flawed monster-show that begins when a young talk-show producer (Christina Ricci) and her teenaged brother (Jesse Eisenberg) are bitten by a werewolf, setting the stage for a horror-in-Hollywood scenario that reunites director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson, creators of the Scream franchise. What could have been a classic horror comedy is instead a fairly solid, if unremarkable, exercise in Los Angeles lycanthropy, featuring werewolf makeup by Rick Baker (combined with CGI transformation effects, of course) and some of Williamson's snappy dialogue and trademark pop-culture references. The title of Cursed doubles as a description of this movie's ultimate fate, but in a market filled with straight-to-video horror fodder, it's anything but a lost cause. The supporting cast includes Shannon Elizabeth, Portia de Rossi and Joshua Jackson, so genre aficionados should definitely check it out. --Jeff Shannon

Staci Layne Wilson, HORROR.COM

"A howlin' good time!"

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Werewolves of L.A., July 23, 2005

By 

bonsai chicken (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cursed (Unrated Version) (DVD)

CURSED is the story of a brother and sister who are attacked by a werewolf and become infected. Prior to this incident, Ellie's (Christina Ricci) biggest problems were an emotionally distant boyfriend and a snotty PR representative at her company, while Jimmy (Jesse Eisenberg) mostly had to put up with the homophobic bullies at his high school. I guess sometimes we just don't know when we have it good. Jimmy, a comic book geek, is quick to accept the possibility of what has happened to them and begins research immediately, while Ellie remains skeptical until the physical evidence becomes irrefutable.

With Wes Craven's track record (even his lesser films at least dealt with more original subject matter) one had to wonder why he wanted to make such a formulaic movie about such a well-worn concept. [Edit: I have since learned that this movie was a result of contractual obligation.] The first act of the movie felt quite tired, with dozens of unimaginative scares that have been seen time and time again. A dream sequence in particular is a real groaner. However, it actually does get better as it goes on. While it still retains an air of predictability, it did surprise me at times. I really thought it was obvious who the lycanthropic antagonist was. I wasn't completely wrong, but I wasn't exactly right, either.

In the end, CURSED is a passably entertaining movie made so primarily by the cast, which also includes Joshua Jackson (THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS) and Judy Greer (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT). Portia de Rossi (also ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) appears in a small role, and Scott Baio appears as himself. As a bonus, we get to see Shannon Elizabeth (JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK) get ripped in half. Always a treat.

The unrated DVD contains a number of featurettes: a making-of with cast interview clips, one on effects, one on editing, and a humorous short film on "making a werewolf." There is also effects commentary for certain scenes.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Craven's Campy "Cursed", February 24, 2005

By 

Daryl B (Nashville, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews

I thought this movie was a lot of fun. We have all seen the same old werewolf movies but this one doesn't take itself so seriously and just has a lot of fun.

The story centers around a sister (played by Cristina Ricci)and her younger brother, who are involved in an accident with an unknown animal and both are bitten by the unseen monster. Soon both realize that something is not right as they begin to exhibit the signs of a human who has bitten by a werewolf.

There are twists and turns and Craven makes you think the villian is one person or the next. The other actors (Joshua Jackson plays Ricci's love interest) have fun with their roles. There are also funny cameos by Scott Baio and Craig Kilborn.

If you are looking for a gory, spine tingling thrill fest, you may be disappointed. This is a campy film that gives you some quick scares but mainly plays for a lot of laughs. Go into it with it with a carefree attitude and I think you will enjoy it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cool hip werewolf movie, October 7, 2007

By 

C. gotski "moviemakerrr" (oswego, il United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cursed (Unrated Version) (DVD)

After hearing all the problems they had making this movie it turned out to be a really cool flick. Wes craven did a great job with it! I really enjoyed this movie. People who thrash this flick just don't know how to let go an enjoy it for what it is, popcorn entertainment. Sure there are better flicks but come on I've seen ALOT worse. So just sit back and enjoy!!!

Moviemakerr