This movie freaked me right out.

May, Lucky McKee’s 2002 effort is a sick, sadistic spiral to the depths of one girls twisted psyche, to say the least.  May is a quiet, reserved girl who is clearly harboring some psychotic tendencies.  You know that girl in your fifth grade class that didn’t say a single word the entire year? You know, the one, no one even notices she’s there until she has a severe nervous breakdown, stabs a kid in the leg with those funny child-proof scissors and has to be carted out in restraints to keep her from biting the teacher?  Well that is May.  I kinda like her.

Despite May’s best efforts to attract the attention of her love interest (Jeremy Sisto), she falters and at which point all hell breaks loose.   Despite the sick, perverse story May weaves, it was quite entertaining, shit, who am I kidding, that’s why I liked it.

 

  She does some pretty sick shit. 

Over all, the movie was clearly low budget, but strong characters and an interesting storyline propelled the film to a small following.  To sum it up I would say that this movie is the sick love child of Edward Scissorhands and American Psycho.  So slap on your crazy hat, buckle into your straight jacket and give May a slice, I mean shot.  I promise it will be an eye gouging good time.

 

On occasion, a small budget film hits, that is the case with John Fawcett’s 2000 cult hit, Ginger Snaps

  Ginger Snaps, starring Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins, follows two sisters who rendezvous with a mysterious creature.  Surviving a brutal attack, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle), begins to transform into something quite evil.  In a race against time, her sister, Bridgette (Emily Perkins), tries desperately to create a Rendezvous to the "curse" bestowed upon her sister.

The film is, in my humble opinion, very original.  Though it has its campy moments, Ginger Snaps holds water as a legitimate horror film. Knowing that it was an independently produced film lends to its credibility.  Ginger Snaps' aesthetics are mediocre but a powerfully constructed plot,superb performance and whitty charm shadow any and all amateur feel attached to the film secretes.  Both Isabelle and Perkins deliver very convincing performances as troubled goth teens.
Granted, my opinion is skewed a bit by infatuation with Katherine Issabelle, but I give Ginger Snaps an 8.5 out of 10.  If you can manage to find it I suggest giving it a look.  If you are not a fan of  low budget horror you may want to skip this one.  Those that are will concur I guarantee.

 

 

Ok kiddies, this is my first attempt at a review so go easy on me-

Sam Raimi’s 1998 thriller, A Simple Plan, has been a staple on my top ten for nearly a decade now.  A hopeless rural backdrop sets the scene for this twisted tail of betrayal and conspiracy.  Hank (Bill Paxton) and Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) venture off to visit their late parents graves when they make a startling, yet lucrative discovery.  I will refrain from saying anything further for fear that I will ruin the plot for those of you that yet to see it.

The aesthetics and performances in this piece are amazing.  Shot entirely in the snow, which is nearly impossible to do, Raimi manages to hypnotize the viewer immediately, half way through the film you actually feel that you are sinking nearly as fast as the colorfully boring characters that weave this perverse tale.  Danny Elfman, my personal favorite, contributes an unforgettable score as always. Though excellent performances by Paxton, Thornton and Fonda draw you in tight, I must say a fairly unheard of actor by the name of Brent Briscoe delivers an even more convincing performance as Lou, an unemployed redneck that has stumbled his way into the same troubles as the two brothers.

Bottom line, if you are looking for sex, explosions, witty humor and or cheesy one-liners then this is not the movie for you.  I give this a solid 9 out of 10. 

 

Clip included.

 

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