Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unoriginal teen horror has elitism, language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cry Wolf
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
CRY WOLF follows a group of teens at an elite boarding school whose murder-mystery prank gets out of hand.
Is It Any Good?
One of the glut of forgettable post-Scream slasher movies, this teen horror movie isn't so much a "whodunit?" as a "who's doing it?" Cry Wolf's interchangeable cast of students at an elite boarding school should, in theory, be bonded together as their lie about a campus serial killer turns into a reality. But the characters are all so cliched and self-regarding that it's hard to care or remember who's getting bumped off by a masked fictional murderer who's mysteriously come to life.
The central pairing of Owen (Julian Morris) and Dodger (Lindy Booth) are effectively a couple of fish out of water. But the script keeps their emotional connection in the shallow end throughout. Exposition and backstory also get hacked through along the way, leaving us none the wiser about what this cast might've done with a plot that had some originality. The closest we get to a real surprise is seeing Jon Bon Jovi giving love a bad name by playing a predatory journalism teacher, swapping his rock star denim and leather for spectacles and a sweater vest. So, despite occasionally mustering some intrigue, Cry Wolf remains a howling disappointment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Cry Wolf. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Was it shocking or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Did you think the movie was scary? What was most scary about it? Did it remind you of any other movies? What's the appeal of horror movies?
Discuss Owen and Dodger's relationship. How was this hindered by their lack of trust in one another? Why is it important to be honest with people?
Talk about the characters' use of technology, such as email and IM. How would the movie be different nowadays, with modern smartphones and mobile devices?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 16, 2005
- On DVD or streaming : December 20, 2005
- Cast : Julian Morris , Lindy Booth , Jared Padalecki
- Director : Jeff Wadlow
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, terror, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a brief drug reference
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate