Cursed

Declawed: Gore-free werewolf flick Cursed wimps out

By Bob Grimm

Wes Craven tackling a werewolf movie sounded cool. Craven is the guy responsible for such horror treats as A Nightmare on Elm Street and that Meryl Streep violin thing, so it would seem he'd be a good bet to make the first decent werewolf flick since An American Werewolf in London. The fact that he enlisted that film's make-up man, Rick Baker, to assist on Cursed was further reason for excitement.

Then the studio started calling for a PG-13 movie with massive re-shoots and everything went to blazes. The result is a clichéd mess with goofy-looking werewolves.

Christina Ricci plays a production assistant on the set of "The Craig Kilborn Show." While riding with her geeky brother (Jesse Eisenberg) they have an accident, forcing actress Shannon Elizabeth's character off the road. Shannon is then eaten by a werewolf, PG-13-style with minimal blood, while Ricci and Eisenberg receive minor injuries. These minor injuries result in them being cursed, and while they never really turn into werewolves they get real close, causing (gasp) changes in their lifestyles.

Knock it off with these PG-13 horror movies that wimp out on the scares and gore. Also, for the record, I was looking forward to seeing Corey Feldman (who ended up on the cutting-room floor, a victim of the reshoots) in a werewolf movie, so boo to Craven for cutting him out. Corey Haim got to be in Silver Bullet, so I thought it was time for the Feldster to get his due. Alas, I was wrong.