CHERRY FALLS (2000)
Section of the cinematic cemetery: Actually clever, sexually sassy Scream off-shoots
Cause of (premature) death: This slasher, which follows a virgin-targeting psycho killer, clashed something fierce with the MPAA. It had to be cut five times before landing an R-rating and then was denied a US theatrical release. When it finally did come out (on VHS), it got a hell of a lot of bad reviews, most of which found it to be just another attempt to cash in on the then newly-revived slasher craze.
What its tombstone would read: The first time when not having a first time in a horror movie guaranteed you the exact opposite of a fast pass to final girl-dom.
Why it should be revived: Ridiculously punny name aside (or you know, not), Cherry Falls has so many things going for it. Not only does it have a intriguingly original gimmick (which, naturally, culminates in one big, bloody, abandoned mansion-set orgy), this dark and dastardly funny genre satire features some solid performances from Brittany Murphy (R.I.P.!) and Jay Mohr, who play the main, V-cardholding lead and her English teacher respectively, and one of the best twists, I think, since Sleepover Camp. In a 2001 video review, EW writer Doug Brod called it “the wittiest, most subversive teen thriller since Heathers,” and said it was what he imagined a David Lynch-penned slasher would be like. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but if you like highly stylized on-screen kills and nearly-90s nostalgia, I doubt you’ll regret popping your Cherry Falls cherry.
I remember when this came out! We also had copies (on VHS of course) at the video store I worked at in college. Now I'm kind of sad I never actually watched it.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's so difficult to track down now! (Unless you buy it.)
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