(no subject)
CURSED (2005)
Directed by Wes Craven
Written by Kevin Williamson
Starring Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenberg, Joshua Jackson, Milo Ventimiglia, Shannon Elizabeth and Judy Greer
This film is a major disappointment from director Craven and writer Williamson who both did one of the most influential horror films of the 1990s, "Scream" (1996). The story is set in present day Los Angeles, where Ellie (Ricci) has been taking care of her younger brother Jimmy (Eisenberg) ever since their parent’s death. One night Ellie, who has a high-flying and glamorous career in television, is picking up high school student Jimmy, when they are involved in a traffic accident on Mulholland Drive. While trying to help an injured young woman, they are attacked and bitten by a strange wolf-like creature. Over the next few days they notice strange changes taking place, and Jimmy comes to believe that they have been attacked and “cursed” by a werewolf. The only way to break the curse and avoid becoming full werewolves themselves is to find and kill the creature that attacked them. That is, if it doesn’t find them first.
Werewolf movies never seem to have had nearly the popularity of vampire movies, and they’re popularity seemed to peak in the early to mid 1980s, when for some reason there seemed to be a rash of them. This film was beset by problems with the production and the script, the release was delayed for over a year, and over half the film ended up being re-shot, often with different actors. This may account for the messy feel of the film. The script lacks the wit and intelligence of "Scream" or even Williamson’s television series "Dawson’s Creek" (1998-2003), and both the script and the actors seem unsure whether the film is supposed to be serious or comic, and it keeps wavering between the two. Occasionally however it does spark to life, however briefly and there are some good lines (“there’s no such thing as safe sex with a werewolf”). Wes Craven’s direction is adequate, but no more. The acting is good for the most part, with Ricci and Eisenberg making likeable leads. Fans of the TV series "Happy Days" (1974-1984) may be interested to know that Scott Baio (Chachi) has a brief cameo as himself. One of the worst aspects of the film is the unconvincing computer-generated creature effects, which are so fake looking that they might only just have passed muster in 1995 never mind 2005.
Two out of ten.
Directed by Wes Craven
Written by Kevin Williamson
Starring Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenberg, Joshua Jackson, Milo Ventimiglia, Shannon Elizabeth and Judy Greer
This film is a major disappointment from director Craven and writer Williamson who both did one of the most influential horror films of the 1990s, "Scream" (1996). The story is set in present day Los Angeles, where Ellie (Ricci) has been taking care of her younger brother Jimmy (Eisenberg) ever since their parent’s death. One night Ellie, who has a high-flying and glamorous career in television, is picking up high school student Jimmy, when they are involved in a traffic accident on Mulholland Drive. While trying to help an injured young woman, they are attacked and bitten by a strange wolf-like creature. Over the next few days they notice strange changes taking place, and Jimmy comes to believe that they have been attacked and “cursed” by a werewolf. The only way to break the curse and avoid becoming full werewolves themselves is to find and kill the creature that attacked them. That is, if it doesn’t find them first.
Werewolf movies never seem to have had nearly the popularity of vampire movies, and they’re popularity seemed to peak in the early to mid 1980s, when for some reason there seemed to be a rash of them. This film was beset by problems with the production and the script, the release was delayed for over a year, and over half the film ended up being re-shot, often with different actors. This may account for the messy feel of the film. The script lacks the wit and intelligence of "Scream" or even Williamson’s television series "Dawson’s Creek" (1998-2003), and both the script and the actors seem unsure whether the film is supposed to be serious or comic, and it keeps wavering between the two. Occasionally however it does spark to life, however briefly and there are some good lines (“there’s no such thing as safe sex with a werewolf”). Wes Craven’s direction is adequate, but no more. The acting is good for the most part, with Ricci and Eisenberg making likeable leads. Fans of the TV series "Happy Days" (1974-1984) may be interested to know that Scott Baio (Chachi) has a brief cameo as himself. One of the worst aspects of the film is the unconvincing computer-generated creature effects, which are so fake looking that they might only just have passed muster in 1995 never mind 2005.
Two out of ten.