Cry_Wolf (2005)

Please don't spend money on this.

Don't Believe the Hype

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

For those of you who only read the first line - WATCH THIS MOVIE if you haven't yet.Just as the game in the story is all about deception, manipulation and off-throwing - so is the movie! It starts off just like any other teen-horror film. All the indicators are present. Small esoteric isolated town, typical gang of friends, even some minorities (not to be racist or anything, that's just the way it is), a nerd, a jerk, and even a Prom Queen-New Guy affair to top off the clichés. What could go right, huh?The dialogs unfortunately appeared to to be out-of-character and really hurt my suspension of disbelief. The high level vocabulary (while always a nice surprise in such films) should not have been used by the "idiot"/"jerk" of the gang...Then, suddenly - the audience who have been expecting nothing more than another mediocre McDonalds apple pie, get a gourmet chocolate soufflé. It begins with the brilliant shooting (i.e. enactments of the scenes described by the dialogs, the Email being written as the information in it is verbalized, etc.) While not all that original, I think the director has managed to renovate and upgrade the technique.However, the absolute best part (and the main reason I've given this film 9/10) is the game. As corny as it might sound - while the kids are playing their pranks on each other, the real prank victims are us. At first, like 27 minutes into the film, I snapped my fingers and "called" who the killer was. "I have too long a history of whodunits", I said to myself, "this has been a disappointingly easy guess". Was I ever wrong... Towards the end - so many twists, changes, confusions, half truths and lies... I dare you to guess the ending halfway through! If at first we were accomplices to the gang's pranks, by the end we were taken out of the picture completely, just like the actual victims.It's not the sort of film like Saw IV where you have to rewind and re- watch in order to understand what happened. By the end of "Cry_Wolf", all questions are asked, and answered.Genius story! A little more work on the dialog and the acting of some of the teenagers, and I'd have given it 10/10. Like I've said at the beginning - WATCH this film. The BEST teen-horror/twist film I've ever seen! The genre has obviously come a long way since Scream & I Know What You Did Last Summer.

When this movie first came out, I remember many mixed feelings about it. It wasn't until several years later that I actually got to see it, and I have to say this really surprised me. It's like a hidden gem in a way because you really don't expect it to be anything besides your typical teen slasher, but it turns out it's anything but. Unfortunately many people don't seem to appreciate the movie for what it is; a mystery-thriller with elements of a slashler. I know some people have compared it to Urban Legend (1998), and I definitely noticed the similarity also along with some elements of Final Exam (1981) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). However, while Cry Wolf shares some similarities, it is very original and surprising. It's more like the start of an urban legend and shows just how fast it can spread with social networking.It starts off pretty simple, guy with troubled past meets mysterious girl. They flirt, she introduces him into a private group where they play mind games, and he impresses her. Then they decide to create the ultimate game in light of a recent murder in town; start a rumor that the same thing has happened in other schools and have the student body questioning everyone. Everything seems fine until they start getting strange instant messages and are being stalked by someone dressed as the made up killer.It's definitely more than that and hopefully will surprise you. Now I'm not saying this movie is pure cinematic gold, but it's definitely not just some ordinary-generic horror movie. I consider myself a true horror fan and genuinely enjoyed the movie. If you like edgy horror movies with twists and turns, I highly recommend seeing Cry Wolf.

"This is high school. Nothing's for real."Spoilers galore. Cry_Wolf was made and released at a peculiar time in horror. 2005 was kind of a bridge between the Scream phase of "safe" horror in regards to the lack of violence on screen, as not permitted if you market the film to a larger audience (yet, following the mold of "who is the killer?" and satirizing the slasher genre), and the "grindhouse", blood and guts of Zombie and Eli Roth. The problem with this film is that the lead "final guy" is pretty gullible and easily manipulated. Anyone could see that red-headed hottie, Dodger (Lindy Booth) is *forbidden fruit*. She just doesn't look trustworthy, and I think anyone somewhat together can see Dodger might be the culprit arranging the whole scenario that is the genesis of the movie's stalk-n-slash formula. I dig the look of the "killer", though, and think he's menacing in appearance. The orange ski mask, the hunting knife, camouflage jacket, and the imposing build, I think the person known under the created moniker "The Wolf" is quite an impressive sight. I think one might consider Cry_Wolf the Scream Generation's "April Fool's Day". You see how everyone in the film's little group are puppets on a string and just guess who the puppeteer is? I think many of us can see who that is and yet Owen, and those of the Dodger gang, is jerked around with relative ease.The plot concerns a prank where the proponent is who has the superior skill of lying. A murder outside of a prestigious high school is the inspiration for a spread rumor that the Wolf could be among them. Dodger motivates Owen to spread it, and the two of them detail the killer. Soon, it appears that a real killer, dressed exactly as described by The Wolf, is hunting Dodger's band of preppies. We follow Owen, a Brit who has caused so much mischief he is on probation with this new school being his possible last resort, not to mention his businessman father won't even return his calls, as he tries to unearth the killer and stop him/her. But could appearances be deceiving? I just kept wondering how Owen could be so stupid, but he sure is played like a fiddle. The reason behind the initial murder and all of the shenanigans involving The Wolf (there is an actual ulterior motive regarding teacher Bon Jovi) will come to fruition. Cry_Wolf uses Saw as a model in regards to a particular character pulling the strings behind all that takes place while also informing us of how it all took place. I guess whether or not this is successful to you depends on if the outcome and all that it took to get to it wash. I had a hard time seeing how Owen (and others) could be so manipulated, but the film's point is that the game has a victor and to the victor are the spoils.Before hitting it big on the show Supernatural, Jared Padalecki has parts in movies like this and the House of Wax remake. Julian Morris has plenty of vulnerability and arrogance in equal measure, the perfect foil for a delectable female con artist.

I just finished watching this and I thought it was absolutely amazing. The ending was perfect as was the entire story line. I think this movie really should be more famous. At first i though the movie was going to be another one of those cheesy teen slashers but after i watched it i realized that it is not even close. no regular teen movie could have had such a complex ending and interesting plot throughout that constantly kept you guessing, also with the relationship between Owen and Dodger being crushed by her relationship with Mr. Walker was equally as enticing. definitely worth a watch if your tired of regular teen horror movies and want something more well thought out.