Cry Wolf (2005)

23% of critics liked it
(43 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(68,655 ratings)

A big lie told in fun has deadly consequences in this horror story. A group of students at an exclusive private school decide to have some fun by creating an urban legend and seeing how far it will spread. When a woman is murdered not far from the school's campus, the students create an elaborate… More A big lie told in fun has deadly consequences in this horror story. A group of students at an exclusive private school decide to have some fun by creating an urban legend and seeing how far it will spread. When a woman is murdered not far from the school's campus, the students create an elaborate mythology about a serial killer known as "the Wolf," whose motives and methods would make him a likely culprit for the recent crime. However, when other people begin dying at the hands of "the Wolf," the students are forced to admit to their lie in hopes of stopping the killings. But will anyone believe them? And how does the real-life killer know so much about the backstory of "the Wolf"? Cry_Wolf stars Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, Jon Bon Jovi, and Gary Cole. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Jeff Wadlow
Written By: Doug Liman, Beau Bauman
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Horror

In Theaters: Sep 16, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Dec 20, 2005
Studio: Rogue Pictures

Critic Reviews

Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly
Contains no actual wolves, but it does have some howlers.
Robert Dominguez, New York Daily News
A cut above the rest.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
Not only is it kind-of-sort-of-almost good, but it's also arguably the best horror movie in theaters right now -- thanks to a decent script with a couple of great twists.
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger
Cry_Wolf is not_scary.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
The movie consistently keeps us guessing, right up to its twisty, satisfying finish.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A clever teen thriller with intricate plotting, deft characterizations, sharp ensemble performances and a darkly ironic twist at the end.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
Cry Wolf is certainly an impressive calling card for its co-writer/director Jeff Wadlow, even if ultimately it is too derivative to qualify as something to howl about.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Mergulha nas velhas perseguições de sempre, sendo ainda mais prejudicado pelos diálogos pavorosamente ruins.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
To help suspend disbelief, here's a tip--try watching it through gauze.
Joe Utichi, FilmFocus
A fine attempt, and fine entertainment, but not one for the ages.
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
Cry_Wolf mainly suffers from the pitfalls of thinking it's smarter than its audience. It plays like a made for TV after-school special.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Unfortunately, the 12A rating means that the film lacks the two most essential ingredients for a teen horror flick: sex and gore.
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic
Aside from leading lady Lindy Booth and a directorial style that screams for a smarter screenplay, there's very little here that'll thrill the horror hounds and/or the gore gourmets.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Nothing about the plot has any real spark, besides the gimmicky set-up.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
A tedious throwaway horror film without a logical marble in its head.
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
At times a compelling mystery and suspense thriller - but it's never really a horror film and sags in several spots.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

This was a thriller, okay one at best disguised as a horror movie which it wasnt in any sense. A decent story idea keeps this a float.
Nicki M

Have just rewatched this one. Don't know how my original rating was 4. Hmmm... It is an okay horror with an abrupt ending. The real star here is Lindy Booth as Dodger. I don't know how this girl didn't go on to have a more successful career, as she is quite… More
Have just rewatched this one. Don't know how my original rating was 4. Hmmm... It is an okay horror with an abrupt ending. The real star here is Lindy Booth as Dodger. I don't know how this girl didn't go on to have a more successful career, as she is quite interesting on screen. (Or maybe she has and I just haven't seen the type of movies she stars in these days, will have to check that out). Jared Padalecki is not in it all that much, and he's pretty much an oaf here. Obviously this one was before he became well known on Supernatural. The rest of the cast I think were no names, apart from Jon Bon Jovi, and the less said about that the better (although in all fairness he is okay. He plays a sleazy teacher, so it's probably ideal casting for him).
Kylie B

I had very low expectations of this film given the reviews I had read, but it was actually okay. It's certainly not the standard slasher film I thought it would be, though I can't say it was a jewel of modern cinema either. Jon Bon Jovi does make a hot teacher though.
Lady D

Cry Wolf has all the ingredients of a typical teen Horror, the not so great acting, cheesy lines, usual predictability, however the storyline is actually a pretty good one, with an enjoyable ending and had this been acted better, I think this is one that could have been one of the… More
Cry Wolf has all the ingredients of a typical teen Horror, the not so great acting, cheesy lines, usual predictability, however the storyline is actually a pretty good one, with an enjoyable ending and had this been acted better, I think this is one that could have been one of the more memorable teen horrors. More intensity needed possibly more gore, but definitely lacking in jump out of your seat moments.
Robert C

They tried...they REALLY did try. They tried to be creative and 'cutting edge" and clever, but alas it is (ultimately) just your avergae horror film. I'd almost rather a film just be bad. It's always more frustrating to me when I can see the potential for a… More
They tried...they REALLY did try. They tried to be creative and 'cutting edge" and clever, but alas it is (ultimately) just your avergae horror film. I'd almost rather a film just be bad. It's always more frustrating to me when I can see the potential for a good story over run by stereotypical plot lines and cliche "twists".
E.J. B

Too much tease and no pay off.
Dean !

Not sure how I stumbled across this film but I am glad I did. Not very well known but considering the cast includes Jared Padalecki (Sam from Supernatural), Lindy Booth and even Jon Bon Jovi amongst others, as well as being made fairly recently it deserves better publicity! It has a… More
Not sure how I stumbled across this film but I am glad I did. Not very well known but considering the cast includes Jared Padalecki (Sam from Supernatural), Lindy Booth and even Jon Bon Jovi amongst others, as well as being made fairly recently it deserves better publicity! It has a good plot, good acting and a good twist to. It's not that scary to be honest and won't satisfy gore fans but otherwise an allround enjoyable film. Similar to Urban Legend, Scream and another slasher but I won't name it as it'll give twist away!
Lafe F

A wreck of a movie. I expected a clever school slasher film, but it's tedious and silly. I wanted to like this movie very much after hearing its description.
Kevin M

A decent slasher flick.
Mouhannad S

"Cry Wolf" this was a really awesome movie great story you had no idea that it would have ended like it did, but it just wasn't scary enough so that didn't make the ending seem so shocking like it should have been. for instants the saw films were intense throughout… More
"Cry Wolf" this was a really awesome movie great story you had no idea that it would have ended like it did, but it just wasn't scary enough so that didn't make the ending seem so shocking like it should have been. for instants the saw films were intense throughout the hole movie so the ending as like holy s**t did that really happen?? but this was lacking the intensity through out the hole thing so the ending was like i would have never guessed but wasn't like oh my gosh thats so freaking shocking. but overall this was good i liked the characters i liked the scenes and i liked the costume ha ha.
Todd S

This was a REALLY good movie, very entertaining, and just when you think the end was obvious and you figured it out a long time ago, they throw you a curve.
Laurence C

Hollow and toothless wannabe slasher fare, rescued by one crucial element : a suavely manipulative script that effectively ratchets up the dramatic tension as it goes along, instead of deflating like most dead teen movie third acts. It's not particularly inspired nor is it very… More
Hollow and toothless wannabe slasher fare, rescued by one crucial element : a suavely manipulative script that effectively ratchets up the dramatic tension as it goes along, instead of deflating like most dead teen movie third acts. It's not particularly inspired nor is it very frightening, but the slick direction (impressive for a film budgeted at 1M$), decent performances and curious where-is-this-going vibe make it a fun diversion for the lovers of the genre.
Nicky M

only barely ok...nothing original or particually well made about it
Christopher B

Mediocre, half hearted story about a bunch of unlikable high school kids who want to create a murder, capitalizing on a real murder victim. That alone should make anyone loathe the cast of characters, but that's the least of their unlikable attributes. They constantly eff each… More
Mediocre, half hearted story about a bunch of unlikable high school kids who want to create a murder, capitalizing on a real murder victim. That alone should make anyone loathe the cast of characters, but that's the least of their unlikable attributes. They constantly eff each other over and talk behind the others back with nary a positive quality amongst them. Still, wasn't bored or too peeved by it, and I did watch it after viewing a real piece of poop called The Illusionist, which makes this seem Shakespeare in comparison.
Robert F

Very boring and unscary. Only see if you like a good laugh, if you like being disappointed by bad endings, or if you like Lindy Booth.