American Mary

Ew :-D If there is something that I find really disgusting is when people voluntarily do weird things with their body. In that regard, I really “enjoyed” American Mary. Otherwise, it’s a very well made indie flick, and a great step forward after the insufferable grindhouse Dead Hooker in a Trunk. But I can’t say I’m ecstatic (I was expecting something a little better after the festival responses), though I’m not disappointed either. It’s something distinctive, sad, twisted and very well made. In any case, I’m sure I will watch it again at least once. (26/01/2013)

The very obvious inspiration from the master of soulful nastiness, David Cronenberg, is of course easily identifiable here, but I daresay that on a purely intellectual level, the makers of American Mary distanced themselves from Cronenberg (which was probably the intention). If I were to evaluate the content of the film itself, I take a pretty much uniform stance towards all films about revenge of any kind – yes, revenge is morally justifiable, but I no longer completely identify with the idea that the original victim becomes something much worse during a process of retribution that makes the original rapist look like an amateur. And that the filmmakers pretty much pulled it off in this case! --- As the movie trailer would say: and a raging vortex of bloody retribution ensues. --- (13/03/2013)