Directed by: Wes CravenScreenplay by: Kevin Williamson
Running Time: 99 minutes
Rated: Not Rated
Main Characters: Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenburg, Joshua Jackson, Milo Ventimiglia, Judy Greer
Cursed brought together famed horror writer/producer, Wes Craven, and horror writer, Kevin Williamson, for the first time since the Scream Trilogy. This film went through a couple years of re-shoots, and a shit ton of editing. And by a shit ton, I mean at least 75% of the movie was scraped and re-shot, and major characters were cut from the movie completely. All because Dimension Films demanded that it have a PG-13 rating rather than the R rating Craven had originally planned for it. In its defense, somehow even with all the obstacles this production team faced, they managed to salvage what they had to work with and create a decent film from the wreckage.
Brother and sister, Jimmy (Jesse Eisenburg), and Ellie (Christina Ricci), who are already dealing with the loss of their parents, are involved in a car accident on their way home one night. While trying to help the driver of the other vehicle (Shannon Elizabeth) they are attacked and mauled by a large wolf-like creature. When they start to become more socially confident and sexually alluring, they begin to realize that something is changing. Jimmy connects the attack with werewolves, and they spend the rest of the movie trying to save themselves from turning into the beast completely.
Christina Ricci (Addams Family, Black Snake Moan), whom I’ve loved since childhood, was actually a bit awkward in the beginning of this movie. Once the more assertive Ellie came out after the attack, she warmed into her character. This wasn’t her best movie, to say the least, but I’m going to attribute that to the crap material she was given to work with. If it had been a less seasoned and talented actress in this role, it would have gone down the shitter, but she was able to pull it off and create a likable character.
Jesse Eisenburg (Adventureland, Zombieland), was probably my favorite character in this movie. He had some of the more bizarre storyline, especially the whole gay sub-plot, and he definitely held the humor in his hands in this one. This guy’s acting is reminiscent of Michael Cera, but Eisenburg has more personality. He takes awkward, and adds in a dash of smartass, with a pinch of character development.
Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, Shutter) plays Jake, Ellie’s elusive boyfriend. He’s the typical, “I don’t want to get close because it scares me,” pseudo-boyfriend. When she wants him he makes himself unavailable and when she decides she’s tired of it, he wants her back. I just sort of got the douche bag vibe from his character in this. I loved Jackson in Dawson’s Creek, and he’s done well in the movies he’s been in, but I think this guy’s forte is TV. Only time will tell.
Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), plays Bo, the boyfriend of Jimmy’s crush, and terribly hateful bully to him. This was obviously in his pre-Heroes acting career because, in my opinion, he way over acted the character. But, in his defense, he had quite the odd character to portray so maybe it called for a bit of overacting. Either way, he’s definitely matured as an actor since this movie.
Finally, Judy Greer (27 Dresses, 13 Going on 30) as Joanie, the bitchy, snide journalist who is in competition with Ellie over Jake. Personally, though her character was a bit out there sometimes, I thought she was a welcome distraction from the predictability the movie sometimes fell into. Greer is usually cast in a co-starring role, in which she excels! She had some moments in this film that just made me laugh.
I’m not sure if there was meant to be so much comedy in this movie in the beginning or if the PG-13 rating took it more in that direction. But, there were some scenes in this movie that brought out the deep down, gut laughing in me. Granted most of it was cheesy, but it still had me giggling. There was nothing scary about this movie in that it won’t have you hiding under the sheets, but there were a few scenes that made me jump. The werewolf transformation scene was obviously CGI and poorly done, at that. The werewolf itself had a decent look to it, and there was a very delightful twist involving the family dog that I rather enjoyed.
If your looking for hardcore werewolf movies, look elsewhere. But, if you’ve got a group of buddies and your down for a few frights and some corny laughter, then this is your movie! All in all, I’d recommend taking a look at this one.
Running Time: 99 minutes
Rated: Not Rated
Main Characters: Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenburg, Joshua Jackson, Milo Ventimiglia, Judy Greer
Cursed brought together famed horror writer/producer, Wes Craven, and horror writer, Kevin Williamson, for the first time since the Scream Trilogy. This film went through a couple years of re-shoots, and a shit ton of editing. And by a shit ton, I mean at least 75% of the movie was scraped and re-shot, and major characters were cut from the movie completely. All because Dimension Films demanded that it have a PG-13 rating rather than the R rating Craven had originally planned for it. In its defense, somehow even with all the obstacles this production team faced, they managed to salvage what they had to work with and create a decent film from the wreckage.
Brother and sister, Jimmy (Jesse Eisenburg), and Ellie (Christina Ricci), who are already dealing with the loss of their parents, are involved in a car accident on their way home one night. While trying to help the driver of the other vehicle (Shannon Elizabeth) they are attacked and mauled by a large wolf-like creature. When they start to become more socially confident and sexually alluring, they begin to realize that something is changing. Jimmy connects the attack with werewolves, and they spend the rest of the movie trying to save themselves from turning into the beast completely.
Christina Ricci (Addams Family, Black Snake Moan), whom I’ve loved since childhood, was actually a bit awkward in the beginning of this movie. Once the more assertive Ellie came out after the attack, she warmed into her character. This wasn’t her best movie, to say the least, but I’m going to attribute that to the crap material she was given to work with. If it had been a less seasoned and talented actress in this role, it would have gone down the shitter, but she was able to pull it off and create a likable character.
Jesse Eisenburg (Adventureland, Zombieland), was probably my favorite character in this movie. He had some of the more bizarre storyline, especially the whole gay sub-plot, and he definitely held the humor in his hands in this one. This guy’s acting is reminiscent of Michael Cera, but Eisenburg has more personality. He takes awkward, and adds in a dash of smartass, with a pinch of character development.
Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, Shutter) plays Jake, Ellie’s elusive boyfriend. He’s the typical, “I don’t want to get close because it scares me,” pseudo-boyfriend. When she wants him he makes himself unavailable and when she decides she’s tired of it, he wants her back. I just sort of got the douche bag vibe from his character in this. I loved Jackson in Dawson’s Creek, and he’s done well in the movies he’s been in, but I think this guy’s forte is TV. Only time will tell.
Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), plays Bo, the boyfriend of Jimmy’s crush, and terribly hateful bully to him. This was obviously in his pre-Heroes acting career because, in my opinion, he way over acted the character. But, in his defense, he had quite the odd character to portray so maybe it called for a bit of overacting. Either way, he’s definitely matured as an actor since this movie.
Finally, Judy Greer (27 Dresses, 13 Going on 30) as Joanie, the bitchy, snide journalist who is in competition with Ellie over Jake. Personally, though her character was a bit out there sometimes, I thought she was a welcome distraction from the predictability the movie sometimes fell into. Greer is usually cast in a co-starring role, in which she excels! She had some moments in this film that just made me laugh.
I’m not sure if there was meant to be so much comedy in this movie in the beginning or if the PG-13 rating took it more in that direction. But, there were some scenes in this movie that brought out the deep down, gut laughing in me. Granted most of it was cheesy, but it still had me giggling. There was nothing scary about this movie in that it won’t have you hiding under the sheets, but there were a few scenes that made me jump. The werewolf transformation scene was obviously CGI and poorly done, at that. The werewolf itself had a decent look to it, and there was a very delightful twist involving the family dog that I rather enjoyed.
If your looking for hardcore werewolf movies, look elsewhere. But, if you’ve got a group of buddies and your down for a few frights and some corny laughter, then this is your movie! All in all, I’d recommend taking a look at this one.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment