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Michael Biehn, Brittany Murphy, Jay Mohr, Gabriel Mann, Joe Inscoe ... see more see more... , Keram Malicki-Sánchez , Natalie Ramsey , Candy Clark , Amanda Anka , Clementine Ford , Jesse Bradford , D.J. Qualls , Caroline Perreyclear

A serial killer with a difference is on the prowl in a small Virginia town in this darkly comic horror story. Brent Marken (Michael Biehn) is the sheriff of the city of Cherry Falls, a quiet community... read more read more... that suddenly has a big-city problem to contend with when Marken discovers a murderer is on the loose. The killer is targeting teenage girls who attend the local high school -- and his victims are all virgins. This causes no small amount of anxiety for Brent's teenage daughter Jody (Brittany Murphy), who is not as ready for intimacy as her boyfriend Kenny (Gabriel Mann). Brent has personal problems of his own to deal with; his relationship with his wife Marge (Candy Clark) has hit an impasse, and he shares a dark secret with Tom Sisler (Joe Inscoe), the principal of the high school. Cherry Falls marked the American directorial debut for Australian filmmaker Geoffrey Wright; the cast also includes Jay Mohr, Caroline Perreyclear, and Rick Forrester. Cherry Falls enjoyed its first theatrical engagements in the United Kingdom, several months after it was first slated to open in the United States, thanks in part to the difficulty the producers had with the MPAA in securing an R rating for the picture. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

34% liked it

10,690 ratings

Critics

46% liked it

13 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Geoffrey Wright

Release Date: October 1, 2000

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DVD Release Date: January 30, 2001

Stats: 494 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (494)

  • thefog1331
    May 3, 2010
    thefog1331
    Not bad for a post-Scream slasher with solid performaces through-out, a decent premise and just the right amount of humor. My biggest complaint is the lack of on-screen violence. Sure there's some slices and dices here and there but for the most part it plays it too safe.
  • matertenebraum
    December 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    A teenage couple is killed while making out by the lake in small town Cherry Falls. A further murder points the police to suspect that someone is killing virgins. While the towns' teenagers prepare for a sex party to protect themselves, the sheriff's daughter, Jody Marken, follow... read mores a clue that may unmask the killer and her motives.

    One of the spate of `knowing' teenage slasher movies, Cherry Falls got some publicity from it's twist on the usual horror cliché that `sex = death'. Pointed out in Scream, whenever you have sex in a horror movie you mark yourself out as a victim, however here the twist is that virgins will die and those having had sex will live. The film is quite enjoyable and has the odd tense moment, but quickly falls into line with every other horror cliché in the book ? right down to the big twist over the killer's identity and, true to Scream, it's a big leap!

    The film is a little modern ironic but doesn't get much mileage out of it. More interesting to me was the angle that, in this day of AIDS and STD's, those HAVING sex were actually protected while those saving themselves and being careful were actually risking death. I'm not sure if this angle was thought of when making the film but it didn't get any significant air time or comment ? I guess the film only wanted to be ironic or post modern if it didn't involve any thought or effort. That said it still sort of works, even if it doesn't really stand out from the rest of the teen slashers (but then, what does?).

    The cast are so-so. Murphy is OK in the lead and Biehn is a familiar face as her father. Jay Mohr has a small role but happily isn't awful. The rest of the teens tend to fall into high school stereotypes of jock, nerd, joker etc and only really serve to be victims rather than characters. There are no really gory moments but there are lots of quite cruel ones which happen just offscreen but are no less horrific for it.

    Overall the film is OK but can't really do anything intelligent with it's unique twist. I knew it was clever to do things like this, but the film gets no mileage out of the wider ideals (AIDS etc) and quickly falls into being a standard teen horror movie complete with shadows, twisty end and so on. Still worth a watch if you like this sort of stuff but it really could have been better than this.
  • kiriyamakazou
    August 21, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    Maybe it's because this film is now 9 years old, but I really loved it. It's not perfect, by any means, but with 9 years of slashers and remakes this does stand out. It's smartest move is the killers MO. Having the killer target virgins, results in an interesting look at how the ... read morecommunity deal with the situation. Nothing too in depth, this is a slasher, and a short one at that. But it's enough to make the film acceptably unique. The film also has a fantastic sense of humour, which plays out well throughout. The quick cuts of engravings on the school "Cherry Falls", "Virginia" and "Erected" were a nice touch and scenes such as the "CLASS DISMISSED" orgy runaway, had me giggling a treat. The film has been severely edited, which is too noticeable. What I can say is that, this is too short and could be expanded on further. Give Cherry Falls a chance and you may have a good time.
  • newvogueravyn
    June 11, 2007
    newvogueravyn
    You've got to love a psychotic English teacher.
  • Deano78
    April 11, 2007
    Deano78
    A slighty different twist on the slasher genre.It's ok, far from great!
  • superclerk25
    February 26, 2007
    superclerk25
    A little silly.
  • vierasesine
    July 8, 2006
    vierasesine
    Could this move be any more predictable?
  • snakegeek1
    October 8, 2010
    snakegeek1
    Well, it's a step up from my last one, but it really doesn't reach the level of scream or Black Christmas or anything like that.

    Acting: They have some decent actors in here. I am always a fan of Michael Biehn after Terminator and Aliens. The late-who-knows-if-she-could-have-... read morebeen-really-great Brittany Murphy is in here too. The acting is not too horrible. At the very least, it goes beyond the typical "I'm gonna scream and wait for the rapidly approaching killer to get me" stuff. It's always nice to have a break from that. The teenagers in this one have a little personality to them and some of them you actually grow to like. That is rare for a film like this. it wasn't too horrible. It wasn't fantastic either but it was alright. 6.5/10

    Plot: Now, this is one of the most original plots I have seen out of a slasher film. I know, there is still the underlying "killer kills everyone he/she/it gets his/her/its hands on" thing but the film doesn't rely solely on that like films such as Halloween 2. Granted, it was a plot that, in its very basic form, was going to be done sooner or later but it is still an original one. Glad another original plot exists to be honest. It wasn't perfect but it was decent. 7/10

    Screenplay: Not too good. As with most films it is the weakest aspect of the film. But I suppose that it was alright. There were some good lines there were some bad ones. nothing that's going to make you cringe or that you're going to include on a list of top 100 movie quotes but eeh. whatever. 6/10

    Likableness: I kinda liked it. It was an entertaining way to spend 1 1/2 hours or so. It wasn't a perfect film but it is better than the average piece of slasher film trash. 7.5/10

    Final Score: 27/40 67% (D)


    TRIVIA TIME: 1. Stephen Lang was originally offered the role of Sheriff Marken, but scheduling conflicts prevented him from being in the film. He later admitted that the only reason he wanted to do the part was to work with Brittany Murphy again. Ted Levine was also considered for the role of the Sheriff as well. The role eventually went to Michael Biehn. Ironically, Biehn was an early favorite for a military role in James Cameron's Avatar, but Lang ended up getting the part

    2. The film was troubled by censor disapproval. It had to be submitted to the MPAA a total of five times before censors finally approved a cut.
  • stormcrowdark
    April 5, 2008
    stormcrowdark
    In a twist that no doubt looked better on paper it is the virgins who get it in this horror slasher in the Scream tradition. If only the movie had have been a little better crafted and the writing had of been a little less predictable. They use the "Kiss the Girls" formula for wh... read moreo the serial killer is: ie the actor you probably recognize who doesn't seem to be doing much.
    I did like Brittany Murphy though, especially the way she would rabidly try to bite the killer.
  • ilive4discus
    February 21, 2007
    ilive4discus
    Jay Mohr is sooooo creepy in this!

View All Cherry Falls Reviews

Critic Reviews

Blake Davis
January 16, 2003
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News

A clever idea done with grimy flair. But not for horror movie virgins.

Chris Parcellin
December 8, 2002
Chris Parcellin, Film Threat

It aspires to be another Heathers or Rivers Edge, but doesn't make it. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
October 10, 2001
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

The slasher movie where it PAYS to be promiscuous! Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp
February 20, 2001
Jeremiah Kipp, Filmcritic.com

Cherry Falls sticks to the tried and true formula, bringing to mind words like adequate or functional. Full Review

Cheryl DeWolfe
February 14, 2001
Cheryl DeWolfe, Apollo Guide

Written for people who prefer their sex and violence with a side order of intelligence. Full Review

William Gallagher
January 1, 2000
William Gallagher, BBC

It becomes a balance between gory and very silly. Full Review

Mark Dinning
January 1, 2000
Mark Dinning, Empire Magazine

The disappointment is in an ultimately anaemic feel. Full Review

Dustin Putman
January 1, 2000
Dustin Putman, DustinPutman.com

Stylish, suspenseful, and unusually intelligent for a genre movie, Cherry Falls is an excellent example of how to make a horror movie right. Full Review

Ian Waldron-Mantgani
January 1, 2000
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic

A stylish and forthright slasher pic that knows what it wants, knows how to get it, and gets us hooting in the aisles like the bloodthirsty fiends we really are.

Derek Elley
June 5, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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Cherry Falls Trivia

  • What movie is about a serial killer who kills teen virgins, name this movie?  Answer »
  • Which Actress Was: -Molly Gunn In Uptown Girls -Shellie In Sin City -Alex In 8 Mile -Jody Marken In Cherry Falls -Daisy Randone In Girl, Interrupted  Answer »
  • Name The Actress that has starred in all these Movies? Cherry Falls, Happy Feet, 8 Mile, Just Married.  Answer »
  • Which actress connects the films Clueless and Cherry Falls?  Answer »
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