Customer Reviews

Cry Wolf (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

It's a little hard to believe that a group of high-school students get off on playing a childish game like the one at the beginning of this movie, but since I learned the similar game in college, I guess that lends an air of credibility. And I suppose the REAL thrill is sneaking out of their dorms late at night and meeting together and perhaps rich kids at prep schools like stroking their intellects by trying to outwit each other (I thought only college students did that?) Nevertheless, the atmosphere of this movie is so steeped in small-town ambience, the locations are so gorgeous, and the cast are so capable that honestly, no matter how silly or contrived anything in this movie gets, I ate it up. If you don't think you'd be swayed by those things, you'll probably pick out every flaw in this movie and you'll probably hate it and you probably shouldn't watch it. But if you're like me, the flaws will coast right over your head and you'll love every second of this movie even as you watch it over and over and over again.

First off, I appreciated how these "teens" actually looked young. They're not the 30-something teens we see in many movies today. And their plights are laced with actual emotion. I cared about Dodger (Lindy Booth) and her familial situation and her teen girl angst, caught between selfish concerns and caring about others. I cared about Julian Morris's character, his absentee father who didn't deign to take his son's calls, and his desire to impress the girl he likes with arrogant displays of his intelligence. Every character here, from the token ethnic guy and his sweetly slutty girlfriend to the "bad boy" with the piercings, to the oafish roommate who's a slacker, felt real because they felt true. They didn't toe the line of the stereotypes they'd fit into if this were a grown-up slasher film. For instance, the "slut" flirts a lot but she doesn't actually put out, and she giggles with a sense of timid experimentation that rings true (she seems like an actual teenage girl going through actual teenage existence, she's not just a stock character). Plus she's an FX buff and she knows a lot about costumes and makeup-which is both why her friends consult her for help with costumes for the Halloween dance and why they don't immediately run to the authorities when blood starts showing up everywhere-it could conceivably just be a trick...couldn't it? I mean, she knows about makeup, one of them is an actor, the other is known for playing elaborate pranks, and they're ALL a bunch of liars. Everything is set up so it's hard to believe anything that happens, and it all takes place over the course of a few days, so there's no time to pause for reflection. There are tiny little nuances to every character that make the performances fun to watch and they also help further the plot. It's nice to see a story that fits together so well, where the filmmakers didn't get bored and decide to give up halfway through, which seems to be the case with a lot of movies.

That's all in the beginning, though, and it lays the groundwork for something much bigger. Once the plot starts to thicken, the kids are shy at first then more and more daring as they contrive their plot. It becomes impossible to trust anything you see or hear, anything the characters say or do, because it seems that everyone could be lying about anything at any moment. That's the thing about this movie...every event seems layered, as though it could become connected to something else at some point in the story, and it makes you feel like you should be taking notes so you don't miss anything. There's a mystery within a mystery within a mystery and so many twists and twisted events that it had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. It's not that I was fooled by any of the twists because I refused to believe ANY of them, and withheld my judgment until the very end. And what an ending! Everything is tied up, there are no loose ends, and the conclusion doesn't suck ass like it did with certain OTHER movies (*cough*Hide and Seek*cough*).

The Bottom Line: So I loved the performances, cared about the story (what happened) AND the plot (why it happened-the deeper meaning running beneath everything), and I wasn't let down by the ending. The scenery and setting were gorgeous, the old buildings added a sense of foreboding, I didn't trust any of the characters, there's a sleazy performance by John Bon Jovi who actually does a good turn as a teacher with a secret...what can I say? I watched it over and over again, and it holds up. It's fun. Judging by all the negative reviews, no one ELSE liked it, but I did.

Overall: Oh yes, there won't be blood (it's Pg-13, duh) but there WILL be fun. 9/10

Cry_Wolf isn't another one of your typical teen horror movies and it's not just another slasher flick. I was kind of worried (after seeing House of Wax) that this movie would be another gruesome, pointless waste of my time, but that's not the case. I initially only wanted to see this movie because I've played the online game so many times (which might have helped me understand the story) still, after watching it I was so surprised with its quality. The twists and turns to the plot were so surprising that I was left staring at my television in shock, with my mouth wide open.

Don't be fooled because the thing that really almost turned me completely away from the movie was the trailers.. if you've seen them they're very misleading. The scene with the girl getting murdered in the bathroom in her underwear makes the movie look like an ordinary teenage thriller, but really it's a mind boggling mystery for the viewer to solve. I thought the casting was nearly perfect. Most of the stars are new to the movie scene, but two particularly stood out in my mind: Jared Padalecki and Jon Bon Jovi (who knew he could act?!). The other newcomers are also worthy of recognition for making the story believable. The script might have had some flaws, but the final twists in the plot overrule everything else. So, if you haven't seen the movie yet I highly recommend you go do so.

Cry Wolf is a movie about several teens who attend prestigious Westlake Academy. They have a rather difficult to understand game they play to pass time during the evenings. At night time they sneak to the chapel to play "Cry Wolf." They sit in a circle and identify who in the circle bears the wolf marking on their chest. It's basically a game about lying and trying to figure out who is the wolf, it's a bit strange but these rich kids love this game. At the beginning of the film a young woman is murdered in the woods. To spice up their evening game a pretty redhead named Dodger and the new kid Owen and the rest of the gang decide to make their game a bit more intriguing by getting the whole school involved in their fun. They send out an email message making the student body believe that there is a serial killer on the loose. It's all done in good fun, until people start dying in real life.

Cry Wolf is a decent teen horror film. It's not quite as clear as teen horror films Joy Ride and Jeepers Creeper. Cry Wolf is more of a murder mystery and viewers will find themselves guessing who the murderer is until the very end.

Stars of the film include Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, Jared Padalecki, and Jon Bon Jovi. It's a decent flick to check out on DVD.

This is one of those movies that got marketed the wrong way. It looks very very much like a teen slasher movie: but, rest assured, it is not. If you're looking for gross out deaths, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a lumbering serial killer who walks slowly after his victimes, look elsewhere. This is a teen suspense-thriller with a very tidy and very slick ending. Maybe you'll guess who the Big Bad is before the end, but the particulars of it should still impress you. Unfortunately for this film, it got marketed to the wrong audience and suffered poor theatrical attendance because of it. I would actually give this 4 STARS but I'm trying to even out all the 1 STAR reviews from the halfwits below who actually enjoyed the remakes of The Fog and When A Stranger Calls.

The ending of this movie was so shocking for me, from memory it holds up...I can't think of any holes, have to go back to be sure. No gore, but really well done suspense. It's been a while since there's been a good suspense film. You might think this might be like that flop of a horror (Dark Water) well it's not this is way better!

"Avoid suspicion, manipulate your friends, and eliminate your enemies." That's the line that best sums up "Cry Wolf."

This movie sly jibes at the typical teen slasher movies that were popular in the late nineties, with shrieking blondes, knife-wielding killers, and plenty of bodies. But it's not only a good satire, but a good movie in its own right -- it deceives you right up to the end, with a complex twist that suddenly pulls the whole movie into focus.

Owen (Julian Morris) has just arrived at the prestigious Westlake high school, and it doesn't take him long to get acquainted with his jock roommate Tom (Jared Padalecki), the sexy school queen Dodger (Lindy Booth) and their pals. The gang all gathers together at the school chapel at night, to play an elaborate lying game -- until Dodger suggests they use a recent murder as part of an elaborate prank.

The kids send out a mass email saying that a mythical killer called the Wolf is on campus, about to kill again. But soon the prank becomes a series of vindictive, dirty secrets are revealed, and Owen is sent a series of threatening IMs from "The Wolf." And then suddenly the fake deaths they dreamed up begin to come true -- but what is real, and what is a deadly prank?

Don't go into "Cry Wolf" expecting lots of shrieky, bloody teen horror, or you'll be disappointed. Not much gore, not even much violence. It's actually more like a murder mystery (both before and after the fact), disguised as a teen slasher flick. Certainly it's a lot smarter than your typical high-school movie.

The complexity doesn't really show up until the finale, when the seemingly simple plot turns around and pulls all its strings tight. Hardly a plot hole to be found. People you thought were dead aren't, and a childish prank turns out to be far more sinister. Writer/director Jeff Wadlow soaks the movie in a tongue-in-cheek atmosphere, and a sense of intellectual horror as well as visceral thrills.

It also takes a few minutes out to mock slasher flicks, like the "so cliche" idea of a killer hiding in the backseat. The cast seems like a typical slasher cast, but more realistic -- the slut is flirty but not actually slutty, like a girl who is still getting used to her own attractiveness. The brainiac doesn't flaunt her intelligence, the chubby kid isn't funny, and the jock isn't a lunkhead.

Julian Morris gives a subtle, understated portrayal of a troubled young boy with a checkered past. Owen is essentially a good kid, but led into trouble by that classic downfall -- he's trying to impress the hot girl with his intelligence. Morris's finest acting comes in the final scenes on the movie, where his expressive eyes show terror, desperation, numbness, and finally frustrated horror.

"Cry Wolf" is a far smarter, creepier movie than most satires, and it also manages to be a clever flick in its own right. Solidly acted, wonderfully written.

Well, Amazon.com reviewer didn't like this movie, but I think it's one of the best slasher flicks in recent years. Director Jeff Wadlow uses his camera quite effectively and I found its plot twists rather convincing and intriguing. A newcomer (British Julian Morris) to a prep school finds himself involved in a game with fellow students led by the sultry Dodger (Lindy Booth in a slinky, ominous performance). When a young "townie" girl is found murdered in the woods, the kids decide to send an e-mail creating a hoax killer called the Wolf. Things spiral out of control when it seems the killer is real and is targeting the game players for extinction. The script features a lot of red herrings and the mood is creepy throughout. Jon Bon Jovi plays the journalism teacher and Gary Cole has a brief role as Owen's insensitive, but wealthy, father. While the movie has some of the cliches expected in a slasher movie, its execution is refreshingly original and the acting is above average. So if you like a good slasher film, this is one of the best new ones.

Cry Wolf was not at all what I expected. Based on the cover art, the young (and somewhat attractive) actors, and the blurb on back, it seemed your run-of-the mill slasher flick.

However, that's not really what this movie ends up being about. It's more a whodunit in Agatha Christie style, updated for 2005. Notes are replaced with text messaging and the blood might just be "corn syrup" as one character admits.

So, if you're looking to rent an incredibly gruesome, slightly predictable serial killer movie (as I was), this isn't it. Despite that, it's still interesting and worth an hour and a half of your time. Just don't be surprised when there's more talk than action.

There is one rather jarring note, however. The actors playing the roles (for the most part) look more like 20-somethings than high-schoolers. But that's typical for most movies, and other than that the cast does quite well, with Jared Padalecki and (surprise! he can act) Jon Bon Jovi as the standout performances.

I'll start off by saying that most of this movie is typical horror genre accept for the 2 twists at the end. I actually figured the ending out about halfway through but when I orininally told the person I was watching the movie with I was actually joking at the time but ended up being right. If you watch this movie and figure out the ending early in the movie you have watched too many horror movies just like me. I liked the premise of this movie from the first time I saw the trailer and spots on tv. Ok now for the reason most people read these things, If you are a fan of the Horror or Suspense genres this movie will not let you down its a very enjoyable time investment go rent it and see for yourself.

I am so sick of the teen slasher movie. It seems there is a new one every other month, and combine them with all the other clieched horror films that flood the market on a constant basis, there is just no need to sit through another movie about a bunch of kids who get picked off one by one by a masked killer while making all the usual mistakes.

So I had no desire to see "cry_wolf," which presented itself proudly as a movie that was as simplistic as I just described (kids, masked killer, lots of running and screaming). I do however believe that it is possible to make a good movie from the scraps of lesser, and/or overdone ones. If "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" could attempt a take on a genre pioneered by the high standard of horror films - "The Exorcist" (and then exploited to death by 20 years of knock-offs) - without not only not embaressing itself, but actually making a thoughtfull, even intersting film (instead of just an attempt to scare and shock audiences) than anything's possible.

"cry_wolf" may still be just yet another lazy attempt by a studio to cash in by squeezing every last drop of pocket change from this type of movie's key demographic, but the filmmakersat least aspired to craft a clever film. Even if it's no classic and clever often means pile on plot twists, at least it trys to keep you guessing, rather than just fill the screen with blood and grizzly death scenes. While the twist ending has been getting a workout since "The Sixth Sense," at least here it contributes to the best part of this slasher flick, which is to question if it is actually a slasher flick at all.

In 2005, it is surprising it took this long to make a teen-horror movie that incorporates Instand Messaging, Text Messaging, Camera Phones, and other communication technology to figure so prominantly into its plot. But it's nice someone has decided to do it. You almost wonder why, when the lead actor is listening to his walkman while moping the floor, the prop department didn't think to give him an i-pod (esspecially considering the age of the cast, they all probably had their own sitting in their dressing rooms).

The biggest surprise may be, in a great bit of absurdist casting, Jon Bon Jovi as an english teacher. An even better surprise is how solid a screen presence he is and that, rather than being just a glorified rock star cameo thrown in for laughs, he has a substantsial part that figures prominantly into the film. Good for him. The rest of the cast, too, works out nicely. There may be no breakout stars here for sure, but I would not be suprised to see a few of these kids in the future.

Fans of the Jason/Freddy-style flicks this movie looked to be in its previews will probably be disapointed by the lack of gore, nudity, and relatively few killings. It aspires to be more of a mystery. Even if it only half succeeds, at least its something different and unexpected. I'm not really sure why there is an unrated version of this (actually, I am: $$$), because there is no nudity, f-bombs, and the violence is minimal and would pass for PG-13, so it is a bit of an insulting cheat to slap unrated across the box, but this is becoming increasingly common in the DVD world. To get down on this movie for it would hardly be fair since you'd have to knock points off for nearly every movie now-a-days.

"cry_wolf" is not great, it is hardly original, but it kept me far more interested and entertained than I ever imagined it would. If you're thinking the same way I was, give it a chance. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.