MAY Review

MAY is perhaps the best debut horror film since Guillermo Del Toro’s CRONOS. In many ways it is far more entertaining and definitely accessible to a larger audience, but isn’t nearly as atmospheric or carefully crafted, however the debut movie by Lucky McKee isn't trying to do what CRONOS did, just as CRONOS wasn't doing this film's thing. Both are startlingly mature works from first time filmmakers in a genre that they both clearly love and belong in.

At this year’s Sitges Film Festival, MAY was the only multi-award winning film. It won Best Screenplay for writer-director Lucky McKee and it also won Best Actress for the wonderful Angela Bettis, who plays the title role. It was very strongly considered for another 3 categories including Director and Best Film. Why? What makes MAY so special?

First off this isn’t straight horror, it is Black Comedy. In a way, this film shares quite a bit in common with Jonathan Swift’s MODEST PROPOSAL in tone and absurdist horror. The movie thrilled audiences at Sitges and I’m convinced this film has a legitimate chance to be a genuine sleeper hit in the states if marketed properly.

You see, there’s a great film here. One that would resonate and be embraced by teenagers and adults alike. The story of this mousey MAY played by Angela is simply irresistible. Watching her pained social awkwardness. Her blooming sexual curiosity. Her dry sardonic grisly wit. She’s just a bizarre delight for folks that love movies like HEAVENLY CREATURES or HEATHERS or THE BAD SEED. You see… This is a very naughty girl movie.

For me, I’m terrified that Lions Gate will end up releasing this straight to video or DVD simply because of the marketing challenge that it represents, but frankly… Watching the film, paying attention to the story and the themes… there is simply great things to use to sell the movie.

First there is the image of that creepy damn haunted hand crafted doll that May’s mother gave her. That doll, for some weird reason reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe’s lost Lenore, nameless here forever more. Perhaps the widow eyes or the chalk dead complexion… Perhaps the purple lace or the bitter pursed blood stained lips… Or maybe it was that glass box of hers… a see-through coffin suffocating the isolated dying for an embrace doll… mint in package because she’s special. This doll is iconic. The cracking of the glass creepy as hell. In fact the entire campaign needs to surround this doll and this box.

A trailer should be a continual push towards the doll in its box, while we hear various innocent pieces of May’s dialogue… her nervous pratterings… her ‘really gross day at work’ stories… As each dialogue ends, a crack should screech through the glass, providing a flash of violent bizarreness, until you’re tight on the doll’s eyes. Then the words, “This Is May’s Doll!” then an image of the awkward sweet May with the words, “This is May!” Then a black screen… Those inhuman screams of May’s in the blackness and the words, “Wait till you meet Amy! She’s a Scream!” and finally “Coming Spring 2003!”

Ok… I know I know, I just can’t help myself, watching MAY is such a wonderful experience, that I get damn maternal about the film. I mean, it is so good. So damn good, that you just can’t help but want to see it go out in the world and do well.

You see, this isn’t just a horror film, it’s a GRIM FAIRY TALE. This has a wonderful sense of corrupt innocence and the performance of Angela Bettis is the best female performance in a horror film since Sissy Spacek’s in CARRIE… which is kind of ironic since Angela is playing Carrie White on Television. On that, I have no comment, but on her realizing of the character of MAY… It is a complete and total original.

It starts with that Lazy eye of her’s. It is so damn cute. You understand why she is so shy, so mousey. The opening sequence as a little girl with her scary scary mother, highlights exactly why May is the awkward girl that she is. Her job as a Vet assistant and the rather macabre duties that requires, well… it just endears her all the more. The way she seems to fear and crave interaction, while having no idea how to engage it is simply heart-breakingly adorable. I found myself falling in love with this character.

There’s a scene between her and Adam, the guy she develops a crush on, who has a curiosity about her too. He shows her his film, and I get the idea this is the first movie she’s ever seen. Watching her getting turned on by it. Well, given what the movie is of, and how she reacts to it. Oh my. If ever there was a patron saint symbol of film geek adoration, it is Angela Bettis in this scene. I mean, guys… you’ll fall in love. I mean it. She’s just precious here.

Someone had told me that the film was equal parts AMELIE, CARRIE and FRANKENSTEIN… but while that is uncannily apt, I would also throw in NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. This is a movie by a young future Tim Burton type. Lucky McKee is destined, I hope, for great things in the realm of weird horror cinema. We certainly need him and movies exactly like MAY.

In a way, for me, MAY is a feature length film about the SALLY character from NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, but imagine if Sally lived in our world and not in HalloweenTown. And if she had undergone the PINNOCHIO, “You Arrrre… A REAL girl!” transformation.

Everyone that I talked to at the festival that saw the film was instantly enchanted with it. In a very simple sentence, MAY is sweet! And when you finally get to see the movie, you will totally agree and understand EXACTLY what I mean.

Lions Gate, don’t back off of this movie. This is a complete winner. The movie deserves your full attention and support. I certainly hope that they get behind it, because it would be a shame for so many to have to discover this on DVD when it cries out for the big screen with a large audience.