Cry Wolf (2005) |
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Cry Wolf (2005) |
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| BUY IT |
| General | Extras | ||
| Category | Horror |
Main Menu Audio & Animation Menu Audio Interviews-Cast Short Film-Manual Labor Featurette-Wolves, Sheep And Shepherds Theatrical Trailer |
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| Rating |
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| Year Of Production | 2005 | ||
| Running Time | 86:45 (Case: 90) | ||
| RSDL / Flipper | Dual Layered | Cast & Crew | |
| Start Up | Ads Then Menu | ||
| Region Coding | 4 | Directed By | Jeff Wadlow |
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Studio
Distributor |
Rogue Pictures Universal Pictures Home Video |
Starring |
Julian Morris Lindy Booth Jared Padalecki Jesse Janzen Paul James Sandra McCoy Ethan Cohn Kristy Wu Anna Deavere Smith Gary Cole Jon Bon Jovi Erica Yates Jane Beard |
| Case | ? | ||
| RPI | $39.95 | Music |
Adema Michael Wandmacher |
| Video | Audio | ||
| Pan & Scan/Full Frame | None |
English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s) |
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| Widescreen Aspect Ratio | 2.40:1 | ||
| 16x9 Enhancement |
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| Video Format | 576i (PAL) | ||
| Original Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 | Miscellaneous | |
| Jacket Pictures | No | ||
| Subtitles | None | Smoking | No |
| Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
| Action In or After Credits | No | ||
Avoid suspicion. Manipulate your friends. Eliminate your enemies.
When a group of high-achieving students at the exclusive Westlake Preparatory Academy invent a lying game called “Wolf” they set off a chain of disastrous events. The rules allow for one of the participants to lie while the others must interrogate the one they think is the “wolf.” Bored with the game, Dodger (Lindy Booth) throws down a challenge to extend the game play out to the entire student population. So when a young woman is found murdered near the Academy, the group take advantage of the tragedy and use internet messaging to convince everyone there is a masked killer on campus.
It’s little wonder that filmmakers delight in using high schools as settings for their dark imaginings. One thousand hormonally charged teenagers desperate to fit in and crystallise individual identities is a breeding ground for the worst that human behaviour can offer. Psychological defenses are built and survival instincts are honed for the transition into adult society. While most of us get through the experience relatively unscathed others are not so fortunate, as the survivors of the Columbine High School massacre can surely attest.
In 1989 Michael Lehmann’s Heathers brilliantly satirised the plight of adolescence. It tapped into the microcosmic zeitgeist of a typical high school and cauterised teenage anxiety with the double-standards of the real world. With its tongue firmly implanted in Heathers’ cheek, Cry_Wolf attempts to galvanise a group of aware teens who are at the mercy of their sex glands, high intellect and self-importance. They struggle with the arrogance of privilege and psychologically tear each other apart to gain the edge over their ‘opponent’.
As a thriller, Cry_Wolf is a well-constructed whodunit, nourished by tension mounting plot devices that are methodically and satisfyingly unpacked at the end of the film. However, as a horror film it is far too clichéd and naively self-referential to resonate with horror fans. In fact, Cry_Wolf has more in common with the self-seeking cynicism of Cruel Intentions than the post-modern slasher films it’s trying to parody.
But unlike Cruel Intentions most of the young cast members on display here are for the most part, forgettable. Although Owen Matthews looks appealing, as a male lead he lacks the charisma and strength to bind the film together. It also doesn’t help that his strong English accent is difficult to understand and his dialogue delivery comes across like he’s reading his lines from a cue card. The other characters are presented as standard slasher fodder – the cocky capitalist, the pierced rebel, the quick-witted Asian chick, the cool, black dread-locked guy and the horny teacher (played by Jon Bon Jovi) never move beyond their stereotypical dimensions.
However, Lindy Booth (Dawn of the Dead, Wrong Turn) firmly establishes herself as an up-and-coming scream teen. The film showcases her talent as the sinister, yet vulnerable school b**** and if it wasn’t for her strong screen presence and emotional range Cry_Wolf would simply exist as a well-produced but mediocre horror outing rather than the above average thriller it turns out to be.
Cry_Wolf is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and is 16x9 enhanced. While the overall transfer is very good, the only real problem is a ghosting effect when the camera moves quickly. Slow pans are fine, but pick any scene where the camera makes a sudden move and it takes a second or so for the images to re-form.
Shadow detail is excellent even in the most under-lit sequences like when the students first introduce the “Wolf” game in the old chapel (8:10). Grain is not an issue at all. Black levels are deep and penetrating and show no signs of low level noise.
Warm autumnal colours such as yellow and orange dominate throughout. There’s a deliberate glowing, over-lit appearance to images which gives the film a highly appealing fantasy-like look and feel.
Unsurprisingly, the print used is clean, showing no evidence of wear or damage.
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The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix is loud, aggressive and does a great job enhancing the visuals and driving the narrative.
The opening sequence is a powerhouse of surround activity, leading to a crescendo in the form of a single gunshot. The accompanying throbbing score and evil, breathy musical arrangements are spirited around the room.
The soundtrack is filled with some cracking alternative rock/pop tunes from bands such as Low, Cake, Helio Sequence, Aeon Spoke, Alias and Rogue Wave which proudly pulse out through the front speakers.
The score itself is a constant and commanding presence, involving mood enhancing violin orchestrations reminiscent of Ginger Snaps, and sharp atonal flourishes designed to jangle the nerves.
The subwoofer is used sparingly, but exquisitely to augment bass levels – the blocks of ice being thrown into the swimming pool sound like bombs going off (28:10) and a message alert never sounded so menacing.
The front-centred dialogue is clearly audible and I detected no lip sync issues.
For those without surround set-ups, a very good 2.0 mix is also on offer. But, of course, it lacks the audio-spatial depth of the 5.1.
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A series of brief interviews with Actors Lindy Booth (Dodger), Julian Morris (Owen), Jared Padalecki (Tom), Sandra McCoy (Mercedes) and Kristy Wu (Regina) chatting about their characters and what the audience can expect if they decide to see the film. This is followed by Jeff Wadlow (Director) and Beau Bauman (Producer) giving their opinions of the characters and what they think audiences will like about the film.
Not much of interest here as it’s more a marketing piece probably shown on cable before the film was released in theatres across the US.
In this award winning short film by Director Jeff Wadlow, a young pregnant couple forget where they’ve parked their car in an undercover lot. When the woman’s water breaks her male partner flies into a frenzy. Not particularly thrilling, but compulsive viewing nevertheless as you want to know what’s going to happen next and how it will end up.
Raw audition footage for Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, Jesse Janzen (Randall), Paul James (Lewis) – James’ footage was lost but the Director talks about why he chose him - Sandra McCoy (Mercedes), Ethan Cohn (Graham) and Kristy Wu (Regina).
Lindy Booth is a stand-out, but the others struggle to impress. Unfortunately Region 4 audiences won’t know the reasons why the director chose the rest of the cast as the audition commentary wasn’t ported over to our edition from the Region 1.
Trailer (2:19) This fall the terror they created will finish the game they started…
There is censorship information available for this title. Click here to read it (a new window will open). WARNING: Often these entries contain MAJOR plot spoilers.
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
Man…we’ve really been stiffed on bonus features for our Region 4 release. In comparison to the Region 1 Unrated edition we miss out on:
• Director, Producer and Editor commentary track
• Three deleted scenes
• Alternate scene
• Optional commentary from the Director, Producer and Editor during the Wolves, Sheep and Shepherds audition footage
• Enter the Sinister Set featurette
• Tower of Babble short film by Director Jeff Wadlow
The Region 1 contains the same widescreen format and 5.1 mix as our Region 4. However, the additional bonus features make the Region 1 release the clear winner.
Although hardly original and slightly marred by an inexperienced cast of teens, Cry_Wolf is still an intelligent, sexy and engaging thriller sustained by a fantastic performance by young Canadian actor, Lindy Booth.
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| Review Equipment | |
| DVD | Yamaha DVR-S200 (it came free with the plasma), using S-Video output |
| Display | Yamaha 106cm Plasma. Calibrated with Sound & Home Theater Tune Up. This display device is 16x9 capable. |
| Audio Decoder | Built into amplifier. Calibrated with THX Optimizer. |
| Amplification | get a marshall stack, and crank it up. |
| Speakers | 2 x Bose Speakers and 4 NX-S200 Yamaha mini-speakers. |