PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Blood, guts and gore have never really bothered me in horror films. No, it’s the realistic scenarios, the ones involving creepy neighbors and townsfolk, and feeling a constant sense of discomfort in one’s own home, that usually get me. This is the tone of 2003’s Cold Creek Manor, directed by Mike Figgis and written by Richard Jefferies.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cold Creek Manor, I did a rewatch to see if I’d feel the need to double check that my doors and windows were securely locked, as is often the case with these types of movies.
In order to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city, Cooper Tilson (Dennis Quaid, The Day After Tomorrow 2004) moves his wife Leah (Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct 1992) and kids, Kristen (Kristen Stewart, Underwater 2020 [our review]) and Jesse (Ryan Wilson, ER 2001), to a dilapidated mansion in the country. However, its former owner Dale Massie (Stephen Dorff, Blade 1998), who says he lost the home due to bankruptcy after his wife and kids left him, isn’t quite ready to say “goodbye” just yet.
Though he comes off (somewhat) normal at first, asking the Tilsons for a handywork job around the house, sinister happenings — like an infestation of snakes — start to happen. Eventually, Dale’s dark past, including how he murdered his wife Lorna and her two children, who weren’t his, comes to light, making the Tilsons wish they stayed in New York City.
Figgis, along with the cast, did an interview 20 years ago to promote the release of the film. According to Figgis, he wanted Cold Creek Manor to pose one particular question:
“The thing that really kind of appealed to me was this idea of, have you ever wondered who lived in your house before you lived in your house?”
Quaid praised Figgis and Jefferies’ creation, saying, “It was a really great script and I wanted to do it, and it scared me when I was reading it.” Stone added, “It’s a really structured, classic style of psychological thriller.”
Despite cast and crew getting some chills while filming, the intended suspense of the plot doesn’t exactly translate to the viewer. I found myself craving more of, well, everything — more jump scares, more depth to the storyline, more crazy antics from Dale besides sneaking a few snakes into the house. Things didn’t pick up until about three-quarters into the movie, when the Tilsons discover the true fate of Dale’s late wife and her children. But by that point, I couldn’t bring myself to feel invested.
A quick search of Cold Creek Manor reviews informed me that I’m not alone in my thoughts. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a meek 12 percent on the Tomatometer, and a 23 percent audience score. Common complaints state that Cold Creek Manor has no surprises or scary moments, and is, as a whole, rather boring. In fact, some reviewers were surprised that Stone and Quaid even agreed to do the movie. Luckily, Quaid has since reclaimed his cred in the horror landscape thanks to 2019’s The Intruder (our review), which this time, depicts him as the creepy former resident. Though The Intruder will never be considered Quaid’s top credit, it received significantly better reviews than Cold Creek Manor.
Final thoughts
Needless to say, I didn’t feel the need to double check my doors and windows while watching Cold Creek Manor. Is it the worst thriller out there? Definitely not. It’s a fun movie if you’re looking to kill two hours without having to think too deeply. However, if you’re craving an intricate plot and jump-out-of-your-seat moments, I’d suggest looking elsewhere.
