Cursed (Unrated Version)
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Movie Reviews of Cursed (Unrated Version)
Movie Review: No more PG-13 horror movies!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
When I first heard that Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson were teaming up again, I was thrilled. Then I heard it was going to be on a werewolf movie and I was even more thrilled. With Christina Ricci as the lead character, I was beyond words with excitement. When I saw the movie trailer and learned it was going to be PG-13, I was floored. The creative team behind Scream 1 and 2 involved in a PG-13 horror movie? PLEASE NO! I decided to wait until the unrated version of the movie came out on DVD instead of perpetuating the idea that there should be more watered-down horror movies.
What I saw wasn't bad, but more of a let-down. The tension that was created in the first two Screams was gone, as was the clever dialogue. It's a standard horror movie that probably would have done better at the box office if Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson's names weren't attached. With their genuises put together, you're expecting a great movie that "Cursed" doesn't deliver. It's not that the idea of the movie isn't great, but you can tell there was some major tinkering by the studio on how it could be more viewer-friendly to appeal to a mass audience. The actors do the best they can with the material, though more should have been done with Portia di Rossi's psychic character and more fleshing out of Joshua Jackson's boyfriend character to give a greater emotional impact to the conclusion of the movie.
In the first two Scream movies, the funny parts helped throw off the audience as to keep them off-guard when the creepy parts jumped in. With "Cursed," the mixing isn't there. Granted I did jump with the beginning introduction of Shannon Elizabeth's character being attacked and her gruesome final scene. After that, it didn't really keep up the intensity. Plus the inconsistencies in the plot knocked it off course. One of the other characters in the movie doesn't know her friend just died even though it's been flashed all over the television? Why do some characters turn into werewolves on a full moon but others who were infected don't?
It is more disappointing that there was a possibility of a great movie in "Cursed." As far as what I saw in the unrated version, there weren't too many gory scenes that deemed to be trimmed to fit a PG-13 audience. Off the top of my head, the beginning death scene and the final death scene were the only parts of the movie that felt R-rated. There weren't any sex scenes. There weren't any Scream-like torture scenes that resulted in death. It just seemed that the studio wanted a "Sixth Sense" or "The Ring" size box office and felt the only way to achieve that type of monetary gain was to make it PG-13. Wes Craven's resume should speak for itself and the next movie he makes should be left up to his creative control. If you're looking for a movie that will scare you, but not linger in your mind for too long, try out the unrated version of "Cursed." If you're a fan of horror movies, just check out one of Wes Craven's previous efforts.
Movie Review: Don't be fooled!
Summary: 3 Stars
Having enjoyed Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson's first collaboration in Scream, I was hoping for Cursed to be just as exciting, fun and scary. I've been watching the progress of Cursed (which was supposed to have been released almost 2 years ago but went through countless changes, casting decisions, etc) and so wasn't expecting too much when I went in. Overall, the movie was good but not Wes Craven great.
But do not be fooled with this Unrated version! I originally thought that maybe the theatrical cut was missing scenes or depth that would change my feelings about the movie. However, I've read from a couple reliable sources that the unrated movie only adds about 1-2 minutes to the run time. And those 1-2 minutes is probably a splash of blood here, a splash there. I seriously doubt it will do much to change the film. Therefore, if you are under the impression that the unrated version will be a million times better than the theatrical cut, I think you'll be disappointed.
It was also pretty interesting to see a modern take on the classic werewolf legend and wolf man movies. So, in that aspect it was interesting. Was it scary? Not really. There were a couple of classic jump out moments but I think I jumped maybe twice. It also, of course, wasn't bloody at all, but really does 2 minutes more gore really change much?
Also another problem, IMO, is that the movie keeps the standard horror movie cliches that Scream made fun of and twisted. Here you have characters doing stupid things, running upstairs when they shouldn't (or riding in an elevator, for instance), you have plenty of red herrings as to who is the "master werewolf" and you have the music cues (that seem ripped straight from Scream) to indicate that you should be scared right....now.
All of this aside, it was an entertaining movie. MUCH better than some recent horror movies (Alone in the Dark and Boogeyman, I'm looking at you). It just didn't get over that last bar. It fell short of being a 4 or so rating. However, if you like horror movies, like Wes Craven and really want to see a horror movie in the theatre, then I would definitely recommend this one over the current crap fest. It should entertain you in the way that Scream did, only not as well. And if you enjoyed the movie in the theatre, then you would definitely want to pick this version up over the PG-13 one. But, with only about 2 minutes added to the running time, don't expect a huge difference.
Movie Review: Werewolves and Craig Kilborn. 44 out of 100.
Summary: 3 Stars
Cursed is a story about a brother and sister living in Hollywood who, after a car accident, find that they have been cursed by a werewolf. Changes begin to happen in their life, and it is here that the story begins.
While Cursed had some weak spots, overall it was fun to watch. The acting wasn't bad, and there was nothing fancy with the script, plot, music, special effects or visuals, but overall it was a satisfying package.
Jesse Eisenberg carries the film as Jimmy, and Portia de Rossi does a good job as Jimmy's sister, Zela. Zela, at times, had weak spots but overall held her performance together without going off into over-acting land. There were some mediocre actors in the film, and some that just looked flat or like they had no clue what was going on.
One of the annoying aspects of the film for me was the use of Scott Baio as Scott Baio, and Craig Kilborn as Craig Kilborn. I dislike being pulled out of a movie and back to reality, and Cursed did that to me numerous times by using so many real people. Zela was employed by the Craig Kilborn show, and we see a ton of scenes with her at the office. It was a little over the top.
Cursed is the type of film that generally won't leave people passionate one way or the other. It is entertaining, fun, and somewhat immersive, but not something that most people will remember, talk about, or rush out to buy.
See it and enjoy it for what it is: a fun 2 hour diversion in the world of werewolves.
A note on the "unrated" version: there was no point to this label. The unrated version contains very little gore at all, as the movie really isn't violent, and no nudity or anything else excessive. For Cursed, the unrated tag is more of a marketing ploy than anything. Get the unrated version, but don't expect much.
Total Score (out of 100) = 44
25 (out of 50). Enjoyment. A rating based on my overall enjoyment of the film.
5 (out of 10). Acting. How good was the acting?
5 (out of 10). Immersion. Did the movie suck me into the story?
4 (out of 10). Intangibles. Special effects. Movie pace. Is the movie forgettable, or something you will talk about and remember for weeks? Years?
4 (out of 10). Must see. Is this movie worth seeing/renting?
1 (out of 10). Must buy. Is this movie a must buy/purchase?
Movie Review: Serious Werewolf movie not even! But it is quite funny IN IT'S CHEAP HIGHSCHOOL DRAMA CLASS WAY its ONLY redeeming virtue!
Summary: 3 Stars
Cursed in some ways does not even attempt to be a serious Werewolf Movie so I can not grade it harshly for being weakly written. Cursed has a Movie of the Week feel to it. Curse is bubble gum for the eyes fare for those like me who are old enough to Remember weak lame but always good for a laugh old Network Movies of the week. The special effects are oh so average, the script is oh so predictable. The good part about this movie is it is done in a way that is oh so funny. While Cursed does try to take itself seriously on the surface it is almost a spoof on werewolf movies in general.
If you want some really good werewolf fare buy. Underworld the first installment. All the werewolves went lame in Underworld 2 which is not worth buying in my humble opinion. An extremely good werewolf movie is also, Wolf by Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, and Kate Nelligan. Wolf movie rocked my werewolf flick world but good. I collect Werewolf movies and this one while weak in many ways is at least worthy of its place in my collection. Dog Soldiers is another great werewolf DVD.
If you buy this movie expecting grearness you will be disappointed. I havew lived long enough to know few studios \ producers \ directors do the background work needed to pull off a really great werewolf movie. To do a great werewolf movie you have to immerse yourself in the world of Lycantrophy and be willing to spend time feretting out the insightful details that make for interesting plot points. Good tight writing and interestingly well developed characters in some kind of conflict round out the mix in a well made werewolf movie. Most folks that truy love werewolf movies are real lycantrophiles and we don't warm to ready made werewolf junk thrown on film. Those who love a truely good werewolf movie would rate Cursed barely 1 star. Most Lycan lovers give Cursed 2 stars only because they were feeling unusually kind for a moment.
Cursed covers well worn old ground of werewolf fare and breaks no new ground at all. Cursed is good enough to be watched once easily. Best to reserve cursed for those times when an unruly group of your feral brain cells want to watch a movie while the rest of you is sleep or thinking of something worthwhile.
Movie Review: Not Scary: 'Cursed' Works Better as a Tongue-in-Cheek Parody with Scene-Stealing Judy Greer
Summary: 3 Stars
Very weak opening and prolonged conclusion betrays the troubled production history of `Cursed' directed by Wes Craven and penned by Kevin Williamson, golden duo behind the success of `Scream.' Though it is obviously no `Scream,' however, the film provides a certain amount of fun with tongue-in-cheek attitudes towards the horror films, this time were-wolves.
After the shaky opening, `Cursed' gets better when Ellie, Christina Ricci's character working for a TV station, and her geeky brother Jimmy (Jesse Eisenberg) are both bitten by an unidentified animal on the Mulholland Drive. And what would happen to them when the moon is shining bright at night? Ricci get sexier, and Eisenberg gets hunkier. No much can be found except the transformation of Christian Ricci, which is fun to see.
[SCARY? NOT EXACTLY...] But don't look for scares. The CGI/special make-ups are sometimes (probably intentioanally) cheesy and lack great impact. The film is in fact more about serial murders in LA, and as to the identity of the killer (or killers), Wes Craven certainly keeps us guessing the truths until the very end. But as a horror film `Cursed' is not as scary as his other horror films in the past though Craven gives one good sequence about the deadly chase between hunter and the hunted in the parking lot. `Cursed' is most entertaining when it parodies the rules of were-wolf films and teenage high-school dramas, and some intentionally silly dialogues exchanged between Jesse Eisenberg and Milo Ventimiglia are pretty funny.
But the film is most funny when scene-stealing Judy Greer appears on the screen. Actually, she is much better than any other actors in this film, knowing exactly what she should do in this kind of pop-corn film. Her knowingly campy acting is pure delight, and gives one reason not to miss this otherwise mediocre horror film that does not deserve the name of Wes Craven.
But doesn't it really? Perhaps without Wes Craven, `Cursed' would have been a real mess. It still looks messy as a horror with confusing and unnecessarily extended conclusion, but it is still entertaining in its own way. Not that it is good as genuine horror, but as entertainment it works up to a certain point.