Cursed (2005)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Wes Craven

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Williamson (written by)

Release Date:

25 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Plot:

A werewolf loose in Los Angeles changes the lives of three young adults, who, after being mauled by the beast, learn they must kill their attacker if they hope to change their fate to avoid becoming werewolves too.

Plot Keywords:

Werewolf | Car Accident | Lycanthropy | Obscene Finger Gesture | Cult Favorite

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mya	...	Jenny Tate
Shannon Elizabeth	...	Becky Morton
Portia de Rossi	...	Zela
Kristina Anapau	...	Brooke
Daniel Edward Mora	...	Jose (as Daniel Mora)
Solar	...	Zipper
Jesse Eisenberg	...	Jimmy Myers
Milo Ventimiglia	...	Bo
Jonny Acker	...	Earl
Eric Ladin	...	Louie
Christina Ricci	...	Ellie Hudson
Joshua Jackson	...	Jake Taylor
Derek Mears	...	Werewolf
Nick Offerman	...	Officer
Ken Rudulph	...	Newscaster

Also Known As:

Verflucht (Germany)
Wes Craven's Cursed (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for horror violence/terror, some sexual references, nudity, language and a brief drug reference. (edited version)

Runtime:

97 min | Canada:99 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #41126) | New Zealand:R13 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Canada:14A (British Columbia) (edited for re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) (original rating) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (original rating) | USA:Unrated (DVD version) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Germany:16 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

The original plot line had three strangers brought together by a car accident in the Hollywood Hills and the subsequent attack of a werewolf. The three characters were named Ellie Hudson (Christina Ricci), Vince Winston (Skeet Ulrich) and Jimmy Myers (Jesse Eisenberg). When the script was re-written, the plot changed and focused on two estranged siblings who had to fight a curse after a werewolf attack. Skeet Ulrich's character was totally re-written and renamed Jake. Since Ellie and Jimmy became brother and sister, Ellie's surname was deleted and became Myers.

Goofs:

Continuity: The pentagrams on many characters' hands appear and disappear with each camera angle change.

Quotes:

Joanie: [Jimmy has just asked to fight one-one-one with Joanie, but Joanie sends him flying] Fair fight? This is Hollywood!

Movie Connections:

References The Wolf Man (1941)

Soundtrack:

If You Don't Jump (You Are English)

Remember, Werewolf movies are almost never scary...

I've been waiting to see Cursed for a very long time, probably more than a year, since the first time I heard about it. I expected a great movie, with Wes Craven at the helm why wouldn't it be a great film? I went to the opening day matinée showing and this is how I sum it up.

Cursed fails to capture the audience's attention for a few main reasons. First and foremost, it follows too much standardized formula and fails to think outside the box. Watching Cursed, you can almost predict exactly what will happen and when it will happen. The script could have been improved with a few minor changes which would have changed the entire direction of the film. Instead you have an A-Typical werewolf film with the protagonists fighting to save them selves from the "curse". Sorry folks, this story has been done in other horror films more times than I can count, and not just in werewolf films!

One element I didn't care for was when the brother, Jimmy, suggests being a werewolf could be cool. This is exactly where the story should have gone from that point onwards. But as quickly as he says being a werewolf could be cool, he falls back to the standard "gotta kill the head werewolf and end this curse" attitude. The movie would have been better if Jimmy had welcomed his "curse". Had that one change in plot occurred the story could have gone off in several darker and more interesting plot lines.

I can't fault the CGI effects for a change. I am strong opponent of CGI technology as the effects usually look awful.In Cursed the effects are better than normal, although they are still no where near the traditional "An American Werewolf in London" make-up and prosthetics quality.

I did enjoy the humor in the film. Cursed does offer several very funny moments and a few corny ones too. Without the humor the movie would have been an utter waste of time. The humor helps detract from the poor plot line which you can tell was attempting to be clever like Scream, but failing miserably.

I wonder if Wes Craven was even on the set when this film was made. It seemed to lack of the trademark qualities of a Craven film. Whatever the case may be it is obvious he did not do his research in what makes a great werewolf film.

Werewolf films, to be effective, must have several good transformation scenes, graphic mauling and mutilations and an innocent protagonist who is seduced by the curse. Cursed really has none of these qualities.

Overall I did enjoy the film, but I also expected the movie would fail to "wow me", which it did. It seems to me that the problems with Cursed were mostly script and plot related. Don't expect to be scared, but try to have a little fun with what it is.

Remember, werewolf movies are almost never scary...especially if they throw in a happy ending!