Leah Tilson (Sharon Stone) is a working mom who we're told spends about 90% of the time working, and 10% of the time being a mom. I thought that was incredible and must mean that Cold Creek Manorwas on its way to box office success. Ruby tells her sister, the sheriff, that she fell (instead of admitting that Dale punched her). The movie received negative reviews from critics. We see the point of view of someone approaching Cooper. Sheriff Ferguson is dedicated to keeping the peace, and becomes a refuge for the Tilsons when Dale turns the rest of the town against them. Why didn't he proceed to push down the husband? This house is going to need a lot of work. The movie is an anthology of cliches, not neglecting both the Talking Killer, who talks when he should be at work, and the reliable climax where both the villain and his victims go to a great deal of inconvenience to climb to a high place so that one of them can fall off. He only stops when the sheriff aims her gun at him. Sleep with a cop. [Spoiler Warning] Early on, Leah is propositioned by a business colleague to spend the night together. People describe a brutal method of killing sheep by using modified tools to inflict a sharp blow to the base of the skull that penetrates the brain. The scene where she claims she wasn't hit, she only fell, is the most perfunctory demonstration possible of the battered woman in denial. Instead of following some sort of plot from point A to B to C to D, for reasons unknown we jump from A to C leaving B out of the film and leaving the audience clueless as to what some characters are talking about, or why character relationships have changed. [6], Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle said, "As haunted-house thrillers go, Cold Creek Manor is more ludicrous than the average but at the same time more handsomely produced. His girlfriend, Ruby (JULIETTE LEWIS), tells Cooper to watch his back, but her sister, Sheriff Ferguson (DANA ESKELSON), doesn't initially seem able or willing to help. Moderate The key player this time is Ruby (Juliette Lewis), Dale's battered girlfriend, whose sister is Sheriff Annie Ferguson (Dana Eskelson). Leah's boss offers to give her a promotion if she spends the night with him while on a business trip. Especially the whole 'getting a dead horse into the pool while drunk' part. Wanting to escape city life for the saner, safer countryside, New Yorkers Cooper Tilson (Dennis Quaid), his wife Leah (Golden Globe winner Sharon Stone), and their two children move into a dilapidated old mansion still filled with the possessions of the previous family. {The following four categories are based on a Film Reel scale. 1996-2022 Screen It, Inc. Tense FamilyScenes Cold Creek Manor gets a 1 Reelrating. The previous owner, Dale Massie, convinces Cooper to hire him to help with repairs. He killed his wife and two children because they were going to leave him. All Rights Reserved, Rated R Yet in "Cold Creek Manor," a rather plain suspense film, I don't think there is even one thing that happens that I didn't foresee. He hits a deer with his car. If they're into suspense thrillers or are fans of someone in the cast, they just might. The site's consensus states: "The plot of Cold Creek Manor is too predictable and contrived to generate suspense". TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Cold Creek Manor is a 2003 American thriller film directed by Mike Figgis, and starring Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Stewart and Christopher Plummer. Not to mention that hitting an animal the size of a horse would cause far more damage to the vehicle than a broken headlight. If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. It holds a 12% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 111 reviews, with an average rating of 3.8/10. A babbling old man threatens to whip his son bloody. Cold Creek Manor is a 2003 American thriller film directed by Mike Figgis, and starring Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Stewart and Christopher Plummer. Guns/Weapons window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; We see an old drawing/picture of a man holding a knife to a child. He talks about Dales cigarettes, that they had intended him to be European, rolling his own cigarettes, but that preview audiences mistook his hand rolled cigs for joints (as did I) so he clarifies that they are tobacco, just so everybody knows that. Cooper secretly tapes Dale's father in a nursing home (to use in a documentary). It's the sort of movie that makes dumb guys like me feel smart. Its a real fixer-upper with a dark past. Heavy He had to drive up to the house, get out of the car, get the horse out of the stables, position it somewhere on the driveway, get back into the car, drive up to the horse and somehow hit it, and then drag the horse to the pool. *Moderate Cooper Tilson and his family decide to relocate from the big city to a small town away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis existence. Everything he does is after a look at the script, so that he appears, disappears, threatens, seems nice, looms, fades, pushes, doesn't push, all so that we in the audience can be frightened or, in my case, amused. [10], The film opened in 2,035 theaters in the United States on September 19, 2003, and grossed $8,190,574 in its opening weekend, ranking #5 at the box office, behind Underworld, Secondhand Lions, The Fighting Temptations and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Jesse makes a comment about a parental moment being "Miller Time." Cooper hears someone in his house, thinks he sees someone approaching on the other side of some hanging plastic, and punches that person (but it turns out to be Leah). We assume she rejected the proposal, but learn later that she had actually considered it until circumstances got in the way. But he has made a thriller that thrills us only if we abandon all common sense. It was hard to understand the motivations of the characters because the characters are paper thin. In their new home, which is beautiful but in need of work, the Tilsons find out that even though they are the new owners, the house has a story to it. Cooper (DENNIS QUAID) and Leah Tilson (SHARON STONE) have decided to give up the city life of New York for the countryside of Bellingham. 1996-2022 Screen It, Inc. DENNIS QUAID plays a documentary filmmaker who becomes somewhat obsessed with discovering the secret behind the manor and its former inhabitants. An extreme amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while some smoke and/or drink, some to the point of intoxication (two drive while drunk). We see video of a teenager in a bikini in a pool. Reviewed September 17, 2003 / Posted September 19, 2003 JUMP SCENES Realizing he needs to figure out what happened at the manor, Cooper goes to interview Dale's father (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER), who's in a nursing home, but all he gets out of him is something about the Devil's Throat. Yeah, you might not get a good look at Stephen Dorffs cut frame, but your brain will thank you for it in the long run. Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? . If I were Cooper Tilson, never would I befriend Dale. He then puts his hands on her butt and then under her short skirt, pulling down her panties in the process. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER plays Dale's cantankerous and mean father who's institutionalized in a nursing home. Why do I have to listen to a directors commentary to know how much time is passing in the movie? A documentary filmmaker, Cooper is intrigued by the history of the house, particularly since the foreclosure on it left all of its belongings - albeit in disarray - still there and ready for examination. We see bloody water in the swimming pool and then see an underwater shot looking up from the bottom to reveal the silhouetted shape of a dead pony floating on the surface. 153 offers from $1.51. Dale's father says that Dale is the "corrupt spawn of your whoring mother" and then says that Dale's kids probably weren't even his, that he couldn't even make babies. That movie isnt perfect by a long shot, but it throttled back where Cold Creek Manor goes overboard. An intruder terrorizes the Tilsons, chasing them through their blacked-out home, wielding a killing hammer (Im gonna bash your skulls in and throw you down The Devils Throat). Jesse is nearly struck by a vehicle when he darts out into traffic. SHARON STONE plays his wife, an executive who wants to get their family out of harm's way when things get too precarious. Also, what was exactly the train of thought for the family to believe the father killed the horse? A person pushes Leah down into a deep hole in the ground (she's okay). When Cooper gets spooked by a snake, Dale says, You cant be scared of all Gods creatures.. It's presumed it was hit by a car, had its head bludgeoned (as happened to Dale's family) or had its throat slit. Leah and Cooper have a 13-year-old daughter named Kristen (Kristen Stewart) and a 12-year-old son named Jesse (Ryan Wilson). To end this month of fear and fright, a look back at Touchstone Pictures Cold Creek Manor. The Tilsons are a loving family that must work through normal conflicts, as well as unite to overcome extraordinary ones. [1], Buena Vista Home Entertainment released the film on Region 1 DVD on March 2, 2004. Additionally, Dale is a leering pervert. She has never got enough credit for her talent, and I think she is the perfect match to Quaid. Cold Creek Manor (2003) Directed by Mike Figgis Stephen Dorff [Dale Massie] Christopher Plummer [Mr. Massie] Simon Reynolds [Ray Pinski] Paula Brancati [Stephanie Pinski] Kathleen Duborg [Ellen Pinski] Dana Eskelson [Sheriff Annie Ferguson] . There is not one moment on screen that says to me that Dale is trustworthy. Eskelsons rsum may not be as extensive as those of her co-stars, but thats sure to change. Maybe the family thought the horse got loose, or was out in a field overnight? Several people smoke cigarettes. OUR WORD TO PARENTS: We see various poisonous snakes in various places through the house, including in Leah's bed, in construction plastic along the ceiling, under Jesse's bed and under the fridge where Cooper reaches, unaware what's there. Cooper isn't happy about that and leaves for a while. Various clues, accompanied by portentous music, ominous winds, gathering clouds, etc., lead to the possibility that clues to Dale's crimes can be found at the bottom of an old well, and we are not disappointed in our expectation that Stone will sooner or later find herself at the bottom of that well. JULIETTE LEWIS plays his white trash girlfriend who has sex with him, uses strong profanity, is drunk, and briefly smokes. Cooper ends up hitting a deer during that. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. We learn that a person killed his family sometime in the past and then see him kill his father. "Cold Creek Manor" was directed by Mike Figgis, a superb director of drama ("Leaving Las Vegas"), digital experimentation ("Timecode"), adaptations of the classics ("Miss Julie") and atmospheric film noir ("Stormy Monday"). Synopsis Leah Tilson (Sharon Stone) gets out of bed on a busy morning in New York City at 4:30am. Kristen finds a piece of wood with the word "evil" on it and is then surprised by her brother. As they begin renovations, they discover their new home harbors a secret and may not be completely free of its former inhabitant. Dale puts his hand between Ruby's thighs as she stands in the doorway of her camper. We see a pool of blood on the floor next to a person. A truck, presumably driven by Dale, chases after Cooper in his truck at night, through the woods and after both have been drinking. One then hits the third several times with a pick-like device, eventually causing the skylight to break and the third person to fall through it, another skylight and then hard to the floor below (where he's presumably dead). In the end it is revealed that Dale Massie killed his family and buried them down the "Devil's Throat" and he was coming back to claim his property. "Cold Creek Manor" is another one of those movies where a demented fiend devotes an extraordinary amount of energy to setting up scenes for the camera. All of this is eventually because the film never gives any solid idea of the passage of time. Hes an actor that brings so much passion and energy to the screen that despite all the failings of a movie, Quaid can make a character shine. HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE DANA ESKELSON plays Ruby's sister, the local sheriff who drags her feet in taking action against Dale and uses some strong profanity. Cooper ends up hitting a deer during that. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. Dennis Quaid as Cooper Tilson; Sharon Stone as Leah Tilson; Stephen Dorff as Dale Massie; Dana Eskelson as Sheriff Annie Ferguson; Juliette Lewis as Ruby; Christopher Plummer as Mr. Massie; Kristen Stewart as Kristen; Ryan Wilson as Jesse. I am an admin of this site. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. Much of the thrills felt like padding to please the genre expectations demanded for this mainstream B-movie. Dale punches Ruby and then punches several people who try to restrain him. Kristen Stewart was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her performance in the film. He only stops when the sheriff aims her gun at him. Dale smokes a number of times, while Ruby smokes once and various miscellaneous characters smoke in several scenes. An intruder breaks through a door to get onto the roof. Movie Info When filmmaker Cooper Tilson (Dennis Quaid) and his wife, Leah (Sharon Stone), tire of life in New York City, they buy a decrepit house in rural Cold Creek, N.Y., and move their. After Cooper asks what she did, she says she said yes, but that an emergency phone call prevented that from happening. All Rights Reserved, We see Jesse with a paintball rifle. An extreme amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film. The implication being that he hit the horse with the car. When you think you'll get an explanation as to why Dale Massie is wanting the house back and kill the current owners, you don't. Mike Figgis directed, composed the music for, and produced . The couple who own the local diner extend a warm welcome to their new neighbors. At least 19 "f" words (3 used with "mother," 1 used sexually), 9 "s" words, 2 slang terms using male genitals ("c*ck" and "pecker"), 3 asses (all used with "hole"), 2 hells, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B., 10 uses of "Oh my God," 4 of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "G-damn," "God," "Jesus Christ," "My God," "Oh Jesus" and "Swear to God.". Wanting to escape New York life for the countryside, Cooper (Quaid) and Leah Tilson (Stone), along with their two children, move into a dilapidated old mansion still filled with the possessions of the previous family. There are implied consequences to drunkenness when Cooper hits something with his car and his family doubts his ability to recall exactly what happened. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). Cooper hears someone in his house, thinks he sees someone approaching on the other side of some hanging plastic, and punches that person (but it turns out to be Leah). Box office. [9], Todd McCarthy of Variety called the film "a woefully predictable imperiled-yuppie-family-under-siege suspenser that hardly seems worth the attention of its relatively high-profile participants. Cooper's phone line suddenly goes dead. Dale shows up at the trailer of his trashy girlfriend, Ruby, and begins undressing her. "Do you know what you're getting yourselves into?" Smoking gtag('js', new Date()); Her husband, Cooper Tilson (Dennis Quaid), reminds her to reset the alarm clock to wake him up in time to get the kids to school and go to work. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The locals act as a kind of Greek chorus, living permanently at the diner and prepared on a moment's notice to issue portentous warnings or gratuitous insults. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). A man smothers another man in a nursing home. Christopher Plummer is a national treasure. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Starring: Dennis Quaid, Christopher Plummer, Sharon Stone, Kristen Stewart, Juliette Lewis, Stephen Dorff, Dana Eskelson, Ryan Wilson. Question: When the girlfriend is at Dale Massey's grave at end of movie, it seems like it showed her angry face and then cut away to the credits. A person has blood on their face. SHARON STONE plays his wife, an executive who wants to get their family out of harm's way when things get too precarious. If you were able to make it through the film once, you most likely will have no interest in watching it again with the director talking. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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