Comments on: A Silver Bullet In the Foot

By: Joe Valdez

Joe Valdez — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:40:45 +0000

Sean: Thanks again for the background into what Cursed could have been. It reminds me that a lot of screenwriters are much more talented than they ever really get to show in the movies with their names on the credits. Pat: Your approbation of my film journalism techniques are definitely appreciated. I would not associate the word "brilliant" with this particular failure, but share your sentiment. If you check out any of these flicks, I would strongly recommend Heaven's Gate over the one where the werewolf is seen giving someone the finger. Peter: Your compliment means a lot coming from the guy who's writing the best analysis of '70s and '80s flicks sitting around waiting to be rediscovered. Miramax is like the Matty Walker of movie studios; you should know better than to get mixed up with her, but some things in life you just have to learn the hard way, I guess. Cursed is every bit the wreck William Hurt was at the end of Body Heat and there are many, many other examples. Jerichonut: Too bad Skeet's artistic radar was out of order during the making of Chill Factor. Thanks for commenting! Amanda: I have heard many people echo your sentiments about Ginger Snaps, but I found it to be unwatchable, personally. The look and tone of it was just so low grade and repellent, I couldn't get into the movie. And I love movies about werewolves and movies about teenage girls, so go figure. Thank you for the recommendation though!

By: AR

AR — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:19:41 +0000

I recall seeing this years ago in the video store and thinking it was probably awful. Didn’t read any reviews, but it would seem my instinct was correct. I feel bad for Christina Ricci. Given the right material, she can be wonderful, but too often she takes uninteresting roles in mediocre films. This seems like it could have potentially been interesting w/the right approach.

It actually reminds me of Ginger Snaps, which promises cheese on the cover, and while it is campy, it’s also smart, funny, and well written. Does a better job, I presume, of using the werewolf metamorphosis as a metaphor for adolescence. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend doing so!

By: Jerichonut

Jerichonut — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:08:18 +0000

Sooo glad Skeet got out of this before it was too late. He deserves better. I feel badly for all the others who were not so lucky.

By: Mr. Peel

Mr. Peel — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:55:54 +0000

Saw this in the theater when it came out. It’s a lousy, lame film which left my brain almost as soon as I left the theater and certainly wasn’t worth all the years these guys wound up working on it. But this was an excellent piece, giving a very good look at how things went so wrong. How much can a studio overthink something? This may be one of the best examples of that.

By: Piper

Piper — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:17:21 +0000

Joe, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You’re background to the movies enriches your reviews. This kind of came and went for me, but your behind the scenes makes me want to check it out. The ‘R’ rated version at least.

I’m strange, but it’s the brilliant failures that intrigue me the most.

Thanks

By: Sean Hood

Sean Hood — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:47:26 +0000

Kevin had a lot of ideas for Cursed and one of them was a supernatural element – a kind of creature that embodied the frenzy of addiction.

I suppose that for Bob W. and others at the studio, this translated to “werewolf.” Ultimately, all they wanted from Kevin was “Scream with Werewolves.” His deeper, more personal concept drawing the link between adiction and violence was too intelectual for them.

I wrote briefly about it on my blog earlier this year:

http://genrehacks.blogspot.com/2008/05/serial-killers-12-step-program.html

By: Joe Valdez

Joe Valdez — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:59:19 +0000

Jim: I love Judy Greer and the career she's carved out for herself as a character performer. She played a bearded lady on an episode of My Name Is Earl and I thought she was hilarious. As for Baio, if he is really a werewolf, and Willie Aames is really a werewolf, that raises the possibility of Phoebe Cates being a werewolf too, since she starred with Willie in Paradise. Suddenly my attraction to her makes perfect sense. Sean: Thanks for not only stopping by, but setting the record straight about your involvement with Cursed. The info I read indicated you came on to rewrite the film during its "hiatus". I've amended my article appropriately. The thriller you described actually sounds worlds away from the howler that ended up on screen. How did a werewolf find its way into an existential serial killer movie?

By: Sean Hood

Sean Hood — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:59:17 +0000

I actually wrote a very early draft of Cursed for Kevin Williamson and Dimension, based on his treatment, about a serial killer who finds victims in 12-step-groups. The main character was an alcoholic cop, and the story had the tone of a David Fincher film.

It was a completely different story, one that had very personal resonance for Kevin. It’s a shame that version never got made.

- Sean Hood

By: Moviezzz

Moviezzz — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:14:42 +0000

There is a movie with Judy Greer and Scott Baio that I haven’t seen?????

I hear what you are saying Joe, I remember all the talk when this was out, I know it is probably bad, but now, I HAVE to see this!!

If only they went with that original ending. Might make us look at CHARLES IN CHARGE in a different way. When Charles and Buddy go out at night, it isn’t to meet girls on campus. They are both secretly werewolves.