The Cry of the Owl

2010 "What would you do if someone was watching you?"
5.9| 1h41m| R| en| More Info
Released: 12 March 2010 Released
Producted By: BBC Film
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Fleeing New York City, a failed marriage and a fragile mental history, artist Robert Forrester moves to small-town Pennsylvania. There he becomes fascinated with the simple domesticity of a beautiful neighbor, watching her through the windows of her home --- until she invites him in for coffee. He is drawn into a relationship with the young woman whose boyfriend goes missing; Robert becomes a murder suspect, gradually sensing he is the target of a larger plot.

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Reviews

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
SnoopyStyle Robert Forrester (Paddy Considine) is struggling to divorce his vengeful wife Nickie (Caroline Dhavernas), and he starts peeping in on the simple isolated life of Jenny Thierolf (Julia Stiles). Then she catches him one night, but she invites him in. The stalker becomes the stalkee as Jenny breaks up with her fiancé Greg. Greg decides to fight Robert one night. Robert wins and leaves a drunken unconscious Greg by the side of a river. Soon after, Greg is reported missing and Robert is a suspect.It's a good idea of dysfunctional people finding each other. Director Jamie Thraves just doesn't have the skills to elevate the tension and the drama. There is a lack of moody atmosphere that this movie desperately needs. I love all the actors involved especially Paddy. Dhavernas may be miscast as the bitch. That role needs a darker tougher chick. The potential is there, but the execution is lacking.
mpurvismattp Saw this movie on TV the other day and was really impressed with it. I'm becoming a Paddy Considine fan after seeing some of his other movies and I was not let down by his performance in this. He portrays Robert Forster, a quiet and melancholy man sneaking a peek (quite literally) into a world in which he sees some peace, happiness and a lil escape from his otherwise tortured existence. Julia Stiles, which I had seen but was more familiar with her teen movie career was very surprising. Not only because I hadn't seen her in anything for a while but seeing her in something like this was not what I had expected. Her performance was great and had me convinced that she was in fact as mysterious (and possibly unbalanced) as Forster. This film was well directed, well acted and had a pace that had me interested and wondering what was going to happen next. It had the feel of a Hitchcock film and is a top notch thriller in my book. Some may not have the patience for a film like this because it's not riddled with action or CGI but there's a good story in there, and I'll take a movie with a story to tell any day.
Claudio Carvalho The depressed and needy designer Robert Forrester (Paddy Considine) has just moved from New York to work in the Lavigne Aeronautics in a small town. Robert is under pressure and stalking Jenny Thierolf (Julia Stiles), sneaking around the woods every night to see the happiness of the young woman that lives alone in an isolated house. Robert is divorcing from his manipulative and cynical wife Nickie Grace (Caroline Dhavernas)in New York and is not interested in another relationship at that moment. When Jenny sees Robert snooping her, he introduces himself and she surprisingly invites him to talk to her and drink a coffee. When Jenny's boyfriend Greg Wyncoop (James Gilbert) proposes her, she realizes that she does not love him and breaks up with Greg. Then Jenny falls in love with Robert and pursues him everywhere; however Robert does not want to commit with her. Robert is loathed by Greg's friends and one day, Greg forces Robert's car off the road and attacks Robert, but Robert hits him in self-defense and leaves Greg unconscious nearby a river. When Greg goes missing, Robert becomes the prime-suspect of the police. He loses his promotion; he is suspended from his job; his friend Jack Neilson (Gord Rand) leaves him; his landlord asks his house back; and Jenny commits suicide. When Robert is shot on the street, he is sure that the responsible is Greg, but nobody believes in his words."The Cry of the Owl" is a melancholic thriller based on a novel of Patricia Highsmith and a remake of a Claude Chabrol's film of 1987 that unfortunately I have not had the chance to see yet. The story is engaging and sad and the performances are top-notch. The beauty of Caroline Dhavernas' eyes and face is impressive and her character Nickie Grace is a real bitch. The jinx of Robert Forrester is credible despite some stupid attitudes. The conclusion is open to interpretations and I Intend to compare with Chabrol's film. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "O Vôo da Coruja" ("The Flight of the Owl")
clint_hamilton_1 I recently watched the film The Cry Of The Owl and found it quite thought provoking. I did fear it was going to be a case of a slow, dull film with an empty conclusion, but was very surprised. It is a film that begs to be discussed as no doubt everyone would have a different thought on it. But is that actually a bad thing as some previous reviews seem to think? Not everyone wants to be spoon fed a story.The main question you are asked at the start of the film is why is the main character Robert, a seemingly popular friendly man with a good job obsessed with watching Jenny in the window? The film delivers what i think is a very satisfying and intriguing answer by the end. The closing shot also, makes the film feel complete.I have read previous reviews of the film and some people have found fault with the plot by saying its not true to life and these events would be unlikely in the real world. I think others may argue against that but really, they are missing the point. This is a story with questions embroiled in the human psyche and a plot closer in essence to a Shakespearian tragedy then a true to life story. This is not a 'Imagine if this happened to you film' nor is it a Hollywood thriller/slasher movie with a nice neat ending.The black comedy came from the realisation that the character of Robert, despite his past history of mental illness and recently suffering a breakdown, was, compared to the other characters the most sane. Maybe that says something about the world we live in.