Cursed starring Christina Ricci, Joshua Jackson & Jesse Eisenberg
Ellie (Christina Ricci) is working for a TV show & living with her high school student younger brother Jimmy (Jesse Eisenberg). They have lost their parents a while back.
Ellie’s main problem is her boyfriend, Jake (Joshua Jackson), who used to be a player and she is afraid he may not want to commit.
Jimmy has the typical geek problem – the girl he likes is not even aware he exists. Moreover, she is dating a jerk who loves giving Jimmy a hard time.
However, none of these problems however will hold a candle to what happens one night on Mulholland Drive- they get attacked by what seems like a werewolf. Jimmy is sure of it, but Ellie is skeptical. What are the odds, right?
From then on, they go through changes – heightened senses, more strength, blood appeal and more. Jimmy is enjoying his new found confidence although Ellie is freaking out. Because, as it turns out, there is a werewolf on the loose killing people. Who the hell is that?
**
Cursed is as fluff as horror/comedies go. It is better taken as a parody and let go of the horror/thriller label completely as the movie is more amusing than chilling. OK, it is not chilling at all. A little gross at parts, but that’s it.
Frankly, I never really got the horror/comedy concept as what scares me typically doesn’t make me laugh and vice versa. The only successful example of this hybrid genre I recall is The Frighteners with Michael J. Fox. It was creepy and funny enough. This piece by Kevin Williamson works as a comedy but it is troubling if Williamson attempted to frighten us out at all.
As I said, fluff. It is better watched, multi-tasked with some other activity.
*Stuff I liked:
– Portia de Rossi as a fortune teller
– Jesse Eisenberg’s later haircut and his wrestling scene
– Joshua Jackson’s looks
– Michael Rosenbaum’s nice, uncomplicated role. It is different than his Lex Luthor in Smallville.
* Stuff I didn’t like – potential spoilers:
– The giant werewolves. A couple of years ago, my friends and I shot a mock horror flick, with a giant evil teddy bear as the villain. This movie’s werewolves looked just as scary as our scary bear. Yes, I am disappointed given that the effects were done by Rick Baker and he is better than that.
– The twists and turns with Joshua Jackson’s character Jake. I mean really? First, he acts like a guy who seems just not that into Ellie, then a misunderstood romantic, then a concerned boyfriend, and then….come on…Don’t make me spell out the last part. You know Kevin Williamson.
The point is a curse is not enough to explain Jake’s actions. I think Jake has MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder).
Written by Kevin Williamson, directed by Wes Craven. 4.8 on IMDB.
Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec (co-producer here) are better when they are writing The Vampire Diaries episodes together. At least Vampire Diaries have nice shapeshifters and not “wolf-men” with ridiculous make-up.
My favorite wolf movie is still Wolf starring Jack Nicholson, James Spader & Michelle Pfeiffer.
**
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