Cry of the Owl

Maybe I’m expecting too much but I have this notion that a thriller should contain, I don’t know, a few thrills somewhere along the line. In a lot of films of late that boast they are part of that genre there seems to be not only a lack of thrills but some confusion as to the establishing criteria that defines this type of film frequently confusing it with horror and bad horror at that. Of course having been brought up on films in this genre made by master directors like Alfred Hitchcock the bar has been set especially high. One movie that makes an honest, whole hearted attempt to return to the foundation of the genre is ‘Cry of the Owl’. Now this is not to say the film is exception; it has its share of missteps, but the talented people on both sides of the camera give it a sincere go at providing the audience with an entertaining thriller. Towards that goal they do succeed, the movie is fun to watch and is able to hold the interest of the audience. That is not intended as faint praise it is something few movies seem to be able to accomplish. The film can lay claim to a strong script, solid direction and far better acting than this type of film has seen in quite a long time. I usually hear about films long before I get a chance to review them but this one caught me as a very pleasant surprise. I was in the mood for an old fashion thriller and ‘Cry of the Owl’ fit the bill very well. Paramount Pictures has released the film to DVD making it easy to get to know a film worth watching for a movie night at home. So pop it in the player, turn down the lights and prepare to have an enjoyable time.

This film is the second transcription of the novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith to the screen; the first was released in 2002. One reason why this film has a touch of the old school to it most likely is at least in part attributed to basing it on a novel by Ms Highsmith. She was an author of note for about half a century best known for her ‘Ripley’ series which gave rise to ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ and, of course her most famous book, ‘Strangers on a Train ‘that was made into an iconic film of the genre by Hitchcock. This kind of experience shows in how carefully constructed the story is; pulling the audience slowly into it. A fresh approach is given to the story by Jamie Thraves who makes his initial foray into writing and directing a feature film with this outing. This sort of movie is difficult to get right from a technical standpoint but Thraves is well on his way to mastering the arduous art of the thriller. It takes a lot for a new film maker to kick off this significant part of his career with a story crafted by a master especially one that has previously been made into a film. Thraves certainly has earned extra points for being willing to takes such an artistic risk.

With a thriller it is vitally important to establish the mood immediately. Thraves does this with a dark, night shot of a car on a lonely country road, its headlights barley breaking the darkness. It is a situation familiar enough to allow the audience to begin to identify with what is about to be depicted. Robert Forrester (Paddy Considine) gets out of the car standing in the night. He watches intently as a pretty young woman, Jenny Thierolf (Julia Stiles) as she dries dishes in front of her kitchen window not realizing she is being observed. He waits for her to finish and turn off the light before he leaves the side of the road. The audience cannot help but wonder what kind of sick person Robert must be. He looks normal enough the next morning going to his cubical at work. When introduced to some visiting clients he reveals a bit of social awkwardness with an inappropriate attempt at humor. That night after work he’s back looking in Jenny’s window only this time she catches a glimpse of him and goes to investigate. Just then her ex-boyfriend, Greg Wyncoop (James Gilbert) and storms outside shouting when she tells him that she thought she heard something. He seems to have a bit of an anger management issue. Later when she does come face to face with him she unexpectedly invites him in. he isn’t really a creep, just a divorced man who enjoys seeing Jenny happy. Soon Jenny turns the tables on him when she pops up near his home or in the parking lot at work. Robert is also saddled with the constant whining and ‘woe is me’ attitude of his ex-wife Nickie (Caroline Dhavernas). When a murder occurs and life quickly slides off the deep end for Robert things do take a predictable turn; he gets evicted and laid off for instance. With this story it’s the moody character study that propels it not the realism of the plot. As a character driven film this is very much an examination conflicting personalities through the juxtaposition of polar opposites. Jenny is quite, reserved almost to the point of being unreadable. Nickie is over the top, hyper expressive doubting whether she wants to go through with the divorce. She needs to be the center of attention, showing up late for a meeting with their lawyers making it a point to want to speak to Robert alone. The actresses select to play these two young women are perfectly suited to their roles. On screen and off Stiles seems to be a studious, serious type. You never see her in the tabloids and she is prone to take roles that further her skills without being splashy. I fan been a big fan of Ms Dhavernas since her incredibly quirky television series ‘Wonderfalls’ she seems to shows up in pivotal parts that showcase her range. Another contrast that works is between the quick to anger Greg and the quite guy in the corner Robert. Considine does an excellent job portraying Robert in a slow steady fashion. This is in keeping with the overall style and pacing of the movie. Thraves permits the story to simmer well, building slowly towards the conclusion. This is a worthy first effort leaving me anxious for his next project.

Posted 06/03/2010