Cherry Falls **½ (2000, Brittany Murphy, Michael Biehn, Jay Mohr, Jesse Bradford, Gabriel Mann) – Classic Movie Review 2154

I know what the teens of Horror High did last summer. They held an orgy to get rid of their virginity so that they would survive a psychotic serial killer of virgins. This daft idea is executed with great venom and much tongue-in-cheek gallows humour, though precious little style in director Geoffrey Wright’s 2000 horror movie.

The plot centres on the main characters of the local sheriff Brent Marken (Michael Biehn) and his daughter Jody (Brittany Murphy). Biehn is on the case when a bloodthirsty serial killer stalks a quiet small town- and all of his victims are virgins (hence the amusingly silly punning title!) at the local high school.

It is more Scream than American Pie as the kids on killer’s list attempt to become ex-virgins fast. This is a slick, flashy and nasty but only partially successful slasher movie, with a very improbable yarn by screenwriter Ken Selden that, unfortunately, seems as though we are meant to take it seriously.

Those who think it’s funny that it’s set in small town of Cherry Falls, Virginia, will laugh as well as scream as the all-too-obvious killer stalks and slashes to the chaotic final reel. Within its limitations, though, it is well crafted and decently acted, and it looks good too in Anthony B Richmond’s fine cinematography.

Jay Mohr, Gabriel Mann and Jesse Bradford also star. Also in the cast are Candy Clark (as Marge Marken), Amanda Anka (Deputy), Joe Inscoe (as the Principal), Natalie Ramsey, Douglas Spain, Bre Blair, Kristen Miller and Michael Weston.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2154

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