Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Song Lyric of the Day:

One flesh one bone / One true religion / One race one hope / One real decision

Queen / “One Vision”

11:09PM.
I meant to update yesterday, but I couldn’t find the time or motivation. Tuesday morning I drove Mom to the Resthaven Pet Cemetery so we could bury our cat, Jade. It was bittersweet in that I didn’t expect Jade to be the first of my late cat’s kittens to go, but we were able to bury her next to her mother, Mittens. I keep coming back to the fact that Jade died on my grandmother’s anniversary. I guess Abuela Tulita wanted a cat to keep her company. In life, she was a klepto of sorts, taking things that weren’t hers, so it seems fitting in a weird kind of way.

Yesterday I met Jonathan and Curry at Mom’s movie theater to see the new horror movie, “Cry Wolf.” While entertained, I think we were all a bit disappointed in that it turned out the movie was really just a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Characters and events point to it being a classic horror/slasher movie, but it turns out to be a thriller. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

A young woman is running through the woods at night, chased by an unseen predator. She manages to hide in the dark, but her pursuer finds her by calling her cell phone. The girl tearfully glances up and is shot dead. Change of scenery to the picturesque, seemingly empty, campus of Westlake Academy. Owen (Julian Morris), a new transfer student, runs into Dodger (Lindy Booth) as she is sneaking out of the auditorium where the entire student body is being lectured on personal safety in light of the young woman’s murder. Owen is instantly smitten with the pretty redhead. He then finds his way to his dorm room and meets his roommate, Tom (Jared Padalecki). We soon discover that Owen has a questionable past and his father has sent him to Westlake as a last resort. After enrolling in a journalism course and starting an on-campus janitorial job, Owen settles in to his new life. Late one night, he is initiated into Dodger and Tom’s mutual circle of friends. They play “The Lying Game,” where Dodger selects one person to be the wolf and the others have to guess who it is. Players are eliminated when they falsely accuse someone of being the wolf or are wrongly accused of being the wolf. Owen handily wins his first game, alienating almost everyone in the group. He and Dodger soon decide to step the game up by playing with the whole campus. They create a killer called “The Wolf” in a fake newspaper story, which they then email to everyone on campus. Soon enough, the story seems to start coming true, with kids going missing and turning up dead in the order in which the story laid out. To make matters worse, The Wolf is setting Owen up to take the fall. There are a few decent scares, and we had fun guessing who the real killer was.

Jonathan, Curry, and I favored the teacher Rich Walker (Jon Bon Jovi) to be the killer, since it gave us the opportunity to use Bon Jovi songs as theories. You know–the kids are livin’ on a prayer if they think they’re going to survive. Oh, they’re halfway there–just run a bit farther! A love scene with a student? Here’s hoping it doesn’t get too slippery when wet. The killer’s after you? I’ll be there for you–these five words I swear to you. I’ll survive–it’s my life. You get the drift. (Happy, Jonnie? Happy?!?) Once the movie reached its conclusion, it made enough sense, but we felt let down in that it wasn’t a true horror movie, but a thriller. I won’t give the ending away, but I think it would have worked better if one of the pivotal actors had been better cast. The actor just wasn’t convincing enough for me to believe that they were capable of pulling off such a complicated scheme. If you’re in the mood for a slasher-type flick (horror lite), I’d recommend seeing this as a matinee so at least you’re not being gouged with evening ticket prices.

Jonathan, Curry, and I were the only ones in the auditorium during the matinee showing we attended. There are perks to seeing movies for free in the middle of the day–you luck out in being the only ones in the theater and can discuss theories, mock characters, and yell at the movie without having to worry about anyone complaining. Which makes a so-so movie so much more fun.

Before I sign off tonight, I’d like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our special little man, Caleb. Our beloved pit bull turned three years old today. Rich and I can’t imagine our lives without him. (I know our cats can, but they treat him pretty well, considering). He keeps Snoops young and manages to entertain us without even trying. Caleb has brought so much joy into our lives and continues to charm everyone who meets him. Here’s to many more wonderful years with him.

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One Response to Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

  1. Anonymous

    We need to see “Flightplan” this weekend before I have to go out of town!!! I don’t have as many pithy comments to make about Jodie Foster during the movie, though..
    Darn you Jon Bon Jovi for being such a pop-culture touchstone /easy target!!!DARN YOU…seeya -JONNIE-

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