Cherry Falls (2000)

Cherry Falls is a small town with some dirty secrets--secrets that come to light when a psychotic killer starts killing teenagers. Only the killer has an unusual criterion: only virgins are marked for death. Cherry Falls is a striking movie that never got released in theaters, probably because marketers didn't know what to do with it. It's not a winking, smirk-while-you-shriek twist on the genre like Scream, nor is it a broad parody like Scary Movie--instead, Cherry Falls tries to turn the clichés of slasher movies into something that will do more than make you jump in shock, and it largely succeeds. It's still scary; few things are creepier than wandering the empty hallways of a high school after hours, and Cherry Falls takes full advantage of that. It's also often funny, mostly because the mechanics of a slasher movie have become just a little too much and you can't help laughing. But it also makes you think twice about attitudes towards sex--moments such as parents breaking into a brawl while talking about their children's sex activity, or an "experienced" girl's pep talk to an assembly of girls eager to lose their virginity, are both funny and caustic. Brittany Murphy (Clueless, Girl, Interrupted) shines as the sheriff's daughter caught in the middle of it all; Michael Biehn (The Terminator, The Rock) is great as the earnest sheriff who knows more than he lets on; and Jay Mohr (Go, Jerry Maguire) smoothly handles the part of a teacher with an unhealthy interest in Murphy. Cherry Falls doesn't tell you when it's funny or scary, which makes many viewers uncomfortable. But if you're interested in watching a slippery, layered examination of sexual attitudes that is also a successful, spooky slasher flick, then this movie is for you. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

Very Good but not Great Shocker!!!

Blood and Rain
Blood for the Masses

Originally appeared in SavageNight E-zine

Cherry Falls

Starring Brittany Murphy
Michael Biehn and Jay Mohr

Reviewed by
B.L.Morgan

3 Stars

If you're one of those people who loved the Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer movies then you will probably think that Cherry Falls is a great film. I think that it was very good. Not great, but very good.

Cherry Falls has all the ingredients that successful teen slasher movies have exploited to draw audiences: Dark humor, gory tense murder scenes, and an attractive young cast just ready for the butchering. There is a difference with Cherry Falls however. In most teen slasher movies the teens most preyed upon are the promiscuous ones getting ready to do the wild thing. In Cherry Falls the serial killer is specifically targeting virgins.

This makes for some really hilarious situations where all the towns young people are desperately trying to lose their virginity to save themselves from the killer. There's even a huge sex party where everybody in High School is out to do the wild thing to dodge an early death.

The reason behind all of this frightened fornication is an event that took place some twenty years before. Of course the maniac is out to get some payback against youngsters who never did him any wrong in the first place.

Cherry Falls is a very amusing movie. It's not terribly frightening although it does have its moments. The main strength of this film is its black humor.

So if you are really needing to satisfy a fix for teen scream then check out Cherry Falls, an interesting twist on the teen slasher genre. August 19, 2008

Lackluster slasher flick with lame script.

The movie "Cherry Falls" is not very good, even for its type. The movie is about a psycho path killing virgins in Cherry Falls, Virginia, but there is more than meets the eye. The sheriff, played by Michael Biehn, harbors a dark secret which may have something to do with these killings. It actually sounds more interesting than it is, but the movie is really lacking in suspense. Also, I thought the acting was pretty bad to be frank, except for Michael Biehn, who did a pretty good job.

Like so many 90s and modern day horror flicks, "Cherry Falls" starts off fairly well, but fades quickly as the movie lacks a credible horror movie like atmosphere...the result is a generic slasher flick with an undeniable 90s feel and which is totally unconvincing and clearly lacking in substance and style...perhaps, this is due in part to the below average acting as well.

After the audience discovers the killer's identity, a very tiresome and boring scene ensues and "Cherry Falls" declines drastically from there to the pathetic ending. If you are looking for lost slasher movie classics, I recommend "The Burning", "He Knows You're Alone", "Madman" and "Just Before Dawn" as horror movie "diamonds in the rough" so to speak. June 21, 2005

Cherry Peaks Twin Falls ScreamI Know...wait...what the hell?

This is one of those yet again slasher teen pics gone into the waste disposal. This time its in a town called Cherry Falls, Virginia. A killer is on the loose and apparently killing virgins...hmm killing virgins in Virginia...get it? Anyway, it seems past secrets resurface to haunt the town. When the whole town finds this out..every single teenager in school goes and throws a sex party. This floppy non suspenseful movie proves again slasher movies can be kind of boring after awhile. I totally Saw Jay Mohr (Last Comic Standing, GO) as the killer coming a mile away...it's not hard to pick up the clues and get the character. Also starring Michael Biehn (Tv's Hawaii, Jade), Brittany Murphy (Just Married, Spun), Michael Weston (Wishcraft), Jesse Bradford (Swimfan, Bring It On), DJ Qualls (The New Guy, Road Trip), Candy Clark (Buffy The Vampire Slayer Movie), Gabriel Mann and Keram Malicki-Sanchez (Tv's Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Happy Campers). The beginning was a total Twin Peaks rip off. August 25, 2004

SOMEONE IS KILLING THE VIRGINS OF CHERRY FALLS, VIRGINIA...

I caught this straight to video movie on the Independent Films Channel. A slasher film with a decent enough cast, Michael Biehn, Brittany Murphy, and Jay Mohr, it is scary, campy, and funny. It has all the makings of a future cult classic.

The plot is simple. Someone is killing the virgins of Cherry Falls, Virginia, so the film centers around its high school and its resident teens. Brittany Murphy capably and engagingly plays the part of Jody, a teenage girl who has remained a virgin, despite some hot and heavy scenes with her hunky boyfriend of a year. She also has a special interest in one of her young teachers (Jay Mohr).

When the killing begins, Jody's father (Michael Biehn), the town's sheriff, goes into action to try and discover just who is killing off the virgins in his town. When his daughter is nearly the killer's next victim, it dawn on the sheriff that the answer may revolve around a twenty-seven year old mystery that he knows more about than he cares to say.

The teens come up with an interesting solution to the serial killer problem. Simply get rid of your virginity and ensure your safety. While this is going on, however, the killer goes about his bloody business. Just who is the killer, and why are the town's virgins being killed? Watch the film and find out. If you are into horror films that are a bit campy, as well as funny, then this film is worth a rental.


August 8, 2004

Bloody Teenage Orgy

This film was sooooo wicked!!!!!!!
Iwatched i over and over.
The plot is sheer brilliance.
It's a must see for anybody who hasn't seen this cult classic. July 1, 2004

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