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IMDbPro

The Cry of the Owl

  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
22,696
429
Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
Trailer for The Cry Of The Owl
Play trailer1:56
6 Videos
8 Photos
DramaThriller
A troubled young man retreats from the big city and his ex-wife for the tranquility of a small town. He is drawn into a relationship with a young woman whose boyfriend goes missing, leaving ... Read allA troubled young man retreats from the big city and his ex-wife for the tranquility of a small town. He is drawn into a relationship with a young woman whose boyfriend goes missing, leaving the new arrival as a suspect.A troubled young man retreats from the big city and his ex-wife for the tranquility of a small town. He is drawn into a relationship with a young woman whose boyfriend goes missing, leaving the new arrival as a suspect.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
22,696
429
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Jamie Thraves
    • Writers
      • Jamie Thraves
      • Patricia Highsmith(novel)
    • Stars
      • Paddy Considine
      • Julia Stiles
      • Karl Pruner
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jamie Thraves
    • Writers
      • Jamie Thraves
      • Patricia Highsmith(novel)
    • Stars
      • Paddy Considine
      • Julia Stiles
      • Karl Pruner
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews

    Videos6

    The Cry of the Owl
    Trailer 1:56
    The Cry of the Owl
    The Cry of the Owl
    Clip 0:36
    The Cry of the Owl
    The Cry of the Owl
    Clip 0:36
    The Cry of the Owl
    The Cry of the Owl
    Clip 0:34
    The Cry of the Owl
    The Cry of the Owl
    Clip 0:44
    The Cry of the Owl
    The Cry of the Owl
    Clip 0:57
    The Cry of the Owl

    Photos8

    Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
    Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
    Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
    Julia Stiles in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
    Paddy Considine in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
    Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine in The Cry of the Owl (2009)
    Julia Stiles, Paddy Considine, and James Gilbert in The Cry of the Owl (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paddy Considine
    Paddy Considine
    • Robert Forrester
    Julia Stiles
    Julia Stiles
    • Jenny Thierolf
    Karl Pruner
    • Mr. Jaffe
    Phillip MacKenzie
    Phillip MacKenzie
    • Lavigne Client
    Gord Rand
    Gord Rand
    • Jack Neilson
    • (as Gordon Rand)
    James Gilbert
    James Gilbert
    • Greg Wyncoop
    R.D. Reid
    • Mr. Kolbe
    Caroline Dhavernas
    Caroline Dhavernas
    • Nickie Grace
    Alex Karzis
    Alex Karzis
    • Robert's Lawyer
    • (as Constantine Alex Karzis)
    Marcia Laskowski
    • Nickie's Lawyer
    Krista Bridges
    Krista Bridges
    • Elaine
    Charlotte Sullivan
    Charlotte Sullivan
    • Sally Nielson
    Robbie Campbell
    • Walt Neilson
    Jennifer Kydd
    • Susie Escham
    Dru Viergever
    Dru Viergever
    • Bill
    Peter MacNeill
    Peter MacNeill
    • Sam Rhodes
    Jonah Allison
    • Police Officer #3
    Brian Bisson
    Brian Bisson
    • Police Officer #1
    • Director
      • Jamie Thraves
    • Writers
      • Jamie Thraves
      • Patricia Highsmith(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paddy Considine and Julia Stiles worked together in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).
    • Goofs
      Owls fly silent so their prey cannot hear them. Their feathers are softer and therefore quieter against the wind.
    • Quotes

      Susie Escham: I think people who lose their hearts to easily are never very happy in life.

    • Connections
      References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    • Soundtracks
      Real Life
      Written by Joan Wasser

      Performed by Joan As Policewoman

      Published by Chrysalis Songs/Fists of Fury Music

      Courtesy of Cheap Lullaby Records

    User reviews40

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Solid drama explores intriguing themes
    "The Cry of the Owl" is a 2009 Canadian psychological-drama with thriller elements based on the Patricia Highsmith novel. The story revolves around Robert Forrester (Paddy Considine) who has a great job, but is in the process of a divorce and has recently moved out of the big city. He becomes intrigued by a random girl he spots at a country house and secretly gazes at her from the woods at night. A relationship eventually develops and the girl, Jenny (Julia Stiles), starts overly-monitoring him and he begins to regret the relationship. Meanwhile, Jenny's ex (James Gilbert) isn't happy about the situation and neither is Robert's ex (Caroline Dhavernas). The situation soon spirals out of control.

    The story is fairly engaging and the actors are effective, particularly Considine as the protagonist, but the ending is ambiguous and left to interpretation. Regardless, the themes are intriguing: romanticism vs. logic, fate and fatalism vs. chance encounter, omens and signs vs. random happenings and the irony of role reversal or reaping what you sow.

    It's not great and it's too pessimistic -- probably because it's really a tragedy -- but it's a solid psycho-drama with intriguing ideas that'll leave you pondering or scratching your head. The latter is why many people don't like it.

    The film runs 100 minutes and was shot in Ontario.

    GRADE: B
    helpful•7
    1
    • Wuchakk
    • Jul 12, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 19, 2009 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • Germany
      • France
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site (France)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Watched
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • MACT Productions
      • Myriad Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,572
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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