Cry_Wolf (Unrated 2005 film)

 

Could one of these be the killer?  Or are they all the prey?

It's a lying game.  The object: avoid suspicion, manipulate your friends, eliminate your enemies. - Dodger

A little late on this posting, I know, but had to do some unforeseen maintenance on my keyboard.  But, it's up and running now, so I'll be doing a twofer soon, two articles in one day.  For now, though, let's take a look at Cry_Wolf!

Sometimes it's hard for me to go into a review of a film without spoiling too much.  April Fool's Day was like that, and so is this one.  Both films also feature groups of somewhat well-off teens with alot of time on their hands.  I'll do what I can to not get too much into detail.

We start the film with a blonde, Becky, being chased through the woods at night.  She tries hiding in the shadows of the trees when her pursuer pulls out a cellphone and dials her number, causing her cell to ring and pinpoint her location.  Before the scene changes, Becky's stalker shoots her down.

We cut to a fall day as a young man, Owen, crosses a large school campus that seems to be abandoned.  Finally, he located the lovely Dodger sitting on a step.  Striking up a conversation with her, he discovers the student body's in an assembly regarding safety after Becky's disappearance.  A teacher suddenly comes through the doors and begins to question Dodger over her inattendance of the assembly when Owen speaks up for her.  After assuaging the teacher, and suddenly being swept up in the flow of students exiting the building, Owen turns to see Dodger has vanished.

That night, Dodger has Owen's roommate, Tom, bring him to the old chapel on campus for a game called Cry Wolf, where one player is the wolf and the others have to figure him (or her) out before the end.  After Owen wins, Dodger comes up with a new game the next day: create a serial killer based around Becky's death and reveal him to the school via a forwarded email.  After Dodger and Owen create the killer, Owen starts getting mysterious IMs from someone claiming to be the Wolf.  With the full moon and Halloween approaching, can Owen uncover the truth before he and his friends become wolf bait?

This film was interesting, but a bit slow in places.  The movie revels in the build to the finale, so there's very little blood or death scenes.  Some might find this fact dull and boring, but I actually did enjoy it.  Julian Morris (Owen) did a great job in the film as our protagonist.  He was also in 2009's Sorority Row remake, as well as Something Wicked, Brittany Murphy's last film.  Lindy Booth (Dodger) was really good here.  She was also in Wrong Turn, the Dawn of the Dead remake and Kick-Ass 2.  Jared Padalecki (Tom) was really good, I enjoyed his interactions with Owen.  He was also in the House of Wax remake, House of Fears, the Friday the 13th remake, and is probably best known for playing Sam Winchester on the TV series Supernatural.  Singer Jon Bon Jovi (Rich Walker, the journalism teacher) did a pretty good job, as well.  He also starred in Vampires: Los Muertos, one of the sequels to John Carpenter's Vampires.

All in all, an okay film, although one I enjoyed a little more on my first viewing.  I'm rating this one a 3 out of 5.  Tune in next time for a Sarah Michelle Gellar film that isn't The Grudge or Scream 2!  Until then, this is Red Hawk signing out!

Student Bodies (1981 film)

"I didn't do it!  I didn't do it!  I never do it!" - Toby

So, my first horror comedy review!  I came across this one a couple of years ago and picked it up on Amazon.  I had an idea to do a month of horror comedies even then, but it never came to pass, really, until now.  This film was billed as the first comedy horror film (though Young Frankenstein predates it by 7 years).  It is the first film to spoof the then-burgeoning slasher genre.  So, how does it stack up?

The film opens with a card that reads, "This motion picture is based on an actual incident.  Last year 26 horror films were released... None of them lost money."  After that, we fade in on a view of a suburban house.  After the opening credits, a caption tells us it's Halloween... accompanied by a turkey's gobble.  The screen fades out, then fades back in with "Friday the 13th".  Another fade set brings us closer to the door with "Jamie Lee Curtis's Birthday" on the screen this time.  From here, we take on the viewpoint of the killer, aka The Breather, who creeps up to the house's glass door and peeks in through the mail slot.  We switch to the babysitter, Judy, who's talking to her girlfriend, Toby, on the phone.  Toby warns her not to be irresponsible but she just laughs it off.

Finishing their talk, Judy hangs up, only for the phone to ring again.  This starts a series of phone gags that work pretty well, if go on a little long.  Her boyfriend shows up and as they head upstairs for sex, the Breather sneaks over to a rolltop desk and, after perusing a variety of weapons, picks... a paperclip.  Surely, someone's dying horrifically!

The film was interesting, to say the least.  It does successfully lampoon the slasher films of the time pretty well, with a running on-screen body count, the hidden killer who we only hear his breathing and has a preference for unorthodox weapons, not to mention a victim pool of horny teenagers who are never quite prepared.  The film also throws in more twists than M. Night Shyamalan could think of!

When I researched this film, I was surprised to find that many of the cast did not go on to other things.  Kristen Riter, who plays good girl heroine Toby, only has one other credit: the music video for the J. Geils Band song Centerfold.  Playing the Breather was head writer (uncredited due to union rules) Jerry Belson, going under the name Richard Brando.  He was also a writer on Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again, a film I'll be covering this month, as well.  Cullen G. Chambers had a minor role as blind student Charles Ray, who's introduced with his seeing eye dog driving his car.  He's also been in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Deep Impact, and he has an uncredited role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as Secretary of Defense.  Playing Malvert, the creepy janitor, is a double-jointed comedian who was known as The Stick.  He gave an interesting performance here, and I'd like to see what his stage act was like.

I give this film a 3 out of 5.  It could have been a bit better, but it could have been a lot worse, as well.  I just felt that it didn't deliver on all the cylinders it could've, but it was still fun to see.  Thanks for joining me for this, and I hope you enjoy all I plan on bringing you this month.  Until next time, take care, and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990 film on Blu-Ray)

I want to kill somebody. - Otis

So, I know this is getting posted a bit late tonight, but better late than never!  This is another film I was sent to watch (this time on Blu-Ray) but didn't get a chance to because of other obligations popping up.  However, I like to try to fulfill my word that I'll get it covered, so here's my review of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.

The film is loosely based on the life of Henry Lee Lucas, an infamous serial killer from the late 1970s to early 1980s.  We follow Henry as he kills a few people (in the beginning, it goes from him observing people on the street to a scene of their death, not getting overly graphic in the details until later).  We also meet his roommate, Otis, who met him in prison.  Otis's sister, Becky, moves in with the two in the beginning and starts falling for Henry.  As the film goes along, Henry's habit for killing starts to rub off on Otis, who takes to it really well.  But cracks begin to form in the partnership as time goes on...

This was an interesting movie, and definitely a bloody one.  It was shot for $110,000 and very loosely follows part of the life of Henry Lee Lucas.  The director/screenwriter got the idea from an episode of 20/20 focusing on Lucas.  This film is not for the faint of heart.  Michael Rooker, the actor playing Henry, really got into his part (so much so that he stayed in character even off camera until the filming was over), and he definitely nailed the role.  I'll have more about him in my traditional cast section.  The budget was so low that the filmmakers had to use people they knew for extras or in scenes (one actress played three different murder victims!).  The results really paid off, though.

The cast was really good in this.  As stated above, Michael Rooker really dove into his part.  He's been in a lot of movies, including The 6th Day, Mallrats, Cliffhanger, and the TV series The Walking Dead.  Tom Towles played Henry's friend and sidekick Otis with a seriously creepy vibe.  He also played in the 1990 Night of the Living Dead remake, House of 1000 Corpses and its sequel The Devil's Rejects, as well as having a cameo in Rob Zombie's "Werewolf Women of the S.S." trailer in Grindhouse.  Tracy Arnold plays the innocent Becky, Otis's sister, who's drawn into things against her will.  She was also in 1991's The Borrower (along with Tom Towles again, and Rae Dawn Chong).

I did enjoy this movie, but it was also highly disturbing.  There's some subject matter in here that can get pretty extreme, and I'm not just meaning the killings.  With that, I will give this film a 5 out of 5, but definitely give out a caveat with it: watch at your risk.  This was an interesting one, and I was glad to be able to bring it to you.  Tomorrow starts 1981 Week on my site!  I promise to post the next article a lot earlier than this one was!  Until then, take care, and this is Red Hawk signing out!