American Mary Review

11th Jan 2013

Mary Mason (Katherine Isabelle) is studying to be a surgeon. Wrapped up in several debts she goes to take a job as a dancer – but one thing leads to another and before she realises what has even happened; she finds herself performing some illegal surgery and walking away with both blood and money in her hands.

This then proves the turning point for the character – as word gets out about her expertise (and wavering morals) she soon finds herself neck deep in body modification and eventually running her own business.

Just the description alone will perk the ears of Horror fans, but the questions that come along with the synopsis are what should perk the interest of everyone else. This is not a cheap knock off, or a film far too interested in throwing buckets of blood at the screen to give you a cheap thrill. To be sure, there is blood; But there are gallons of other ideas ready to pour through you as you watch the film unfold.

The directors of this piece have knitted every sensual thread they could get their minds around and sewn it together with an enormous amount of respect for the audience member’s intellect and taste. Mary darts left when you expect her to jolt right, making for an unpredictable tale that utilises various old school techniques as well as a clean dose of feminism that goes right for the “Hell hath No Fury” variety.

American Mary is handled in both its script and visual direction by Jen & Sylvia Soska with panache. There is a future here that perhaps will see a wealth of ideas that will run deeper and thicker than blood. Katherine Isabelle it has to be pointed out puts in one of the strongest performances of her career adding a real weight of sadness and complexity to the character whose role of disempowerment/empowerment is key to making the film work on the merits it shines on.

Say what you like about Horror as a genre – the “City” may have been built on Rock n’ Roll, but the world on itself was built on genres like this. American Mary is a reason of why it should be thriving. The money may go in the back pocket of slasher remakes, but the special place on your shelf for a film that matters belongs here.

The Blu-ray comes equiped with a behind the scenes featurette and another on the Soska Twins bringing their film to FrightFest last year and the response it got.

AMERICAN MARY is on a short theatrical tour of the UK this week before it heads to disc release on the 21st Jan.

Check here for dates:

Fri January 11 – Prince Charles Cinema, London
Sat January 12 – Edinburgh Filmhouse
Sun January 13 – Glasgow Film Theatre
Mon January 14 – Sheffield Showroom
Tue January 15 – Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds
Wed January 16 – Bristol Watershed
Thu January 17 – Duke’s at Komedia, Brighton
Fri January 18 – Prince Charles Cinema, London