re:mote voices

Title: Cursed
Cast: Christina Ricci, Shannon Elizabeth, Portia de Rossi, Michael Rosenbaum, Scott Foley, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Joshua Jackson, Mya
Director: Wes Craven

Cursed is the latest film from the Scream team. And it shows. In terms of style and development Cursed just screams Scream. Though with that, one wonders how much of the thinking behind Cursed comes from the success of the Canadian film Ginger Snaps? Being a Scream team production these is of course more of a tongue in cheek approach, certain parts feeling like they might owe reference to Teen Wolf.

At the heart of Cursed are Ellie (Ricci - The Opposite Of Sex, Miranda, Pecker, Buffalo 66) and Jimmy (Eisenberg -The Village, Roger Dodger) - a brother and sister who are living together after the death of their parents. While they are troubled, Ellie at least feels that she might have found Mr. Right with Jake (Jackson - Gossip, Cruel Intentions, Urban Legend). However after a fight with him, she picks up her brother and the pair get into an accident with another car. As they try to pull a woman from her car they are attacked. The woman is torn apart, and the brother and sister are both scratched or bitten. But what was the killer animal? Surely not a werewolf?

This is a big budget werewolf film, so we get a good look at the beast earlier than is often the case with this type of film. Transformation is held back, but with readily available CGI this is a lingering and full on change. The team behind Cursed have a clear track record, something that can be seen by the production values used on this film and the budget that suggests. However, Cursed exhibits the symptoms of what seems to be a consistent trend in the bulk of current American cinema. Which is to say that there is something “safe” about this film. Despite a 15 rating in the UK, Cursed consciously avoids the gore and splatter one might expect from the genre.

There are actually only two real “attack” scenes, which conveniently make use of “celebrity” cameos (Shannon Elizabeth and Mya) before pulling away to avoid offending anyone’s sensibilities. The rest of the scenes tend towards what could be classed as “chase” or “action” than actual “attack” - safer options in most casts. To compliment the toned down approach it has to be said that there are no surprises in Cursed. It may have decent, if clichéd, dialogue and decent performances, but the plot is pretty transparent. What might be intended as twists are in fact pretty obvious developments.