DVD Review | May
Written by: Kage Alan

There was a buzz going around Fangoria and some websites about a little film titled “May”, enough so that I made a point to seek it out when if finally arrived on DVD.  I love a good independent, especially since filmmakers aren’t afraid to take some chances.  Ah, there’s nothing quite like sitting down to watch a bizarre little film unfold before your eyes…  How bizarre?

Oh, boy, does May (Angela Bettis, “Girl, Interrupted”) have issues.  Maybe it stems from her obsessive compulsive mother or her twisted sense of self-esteem, but everything in her life has to be just perfect if things are going to proceed the way she thinks they should.  Perhaps that sounds a bit silly, but you haven’t seen this girl yet.  It all started with a lazy eye and her inability to make friends.  Mama fixed that little problem by giving her a doll, a doll that she herself grew up with.  Well, I’m pretty sure that mommy weirdest didn’t expect that it would be May’s ONLY friend through her adolescence and into her adult life.  Anyway, the lazy eye has since been corrected, she has a friend, so now it’s on to seeing if she can capture the interest of a boy.  A potential psycho on hormones is NEVER a good thing.

When local mechanic Adam (Jeremy Sisto, “Wrong Turn”) catches May’s attention, she arranges her schedule so that she keeps meeting up with him until he finally takes notice of her.  If he enjoyed leading people to believe he’s a little strange, it’s nothing compared to May.  Throw in some rejection, a lesbian co-worker (Anna Faris, “Scary Movie”) who cheats on her with a blonde bimbo (Nichole Hiltz, “Austin Powers: Goldmember”) and a punker (James Duval, “Nowhere”) who discovers something in May’s freezer that he shouldn’t and you’ve got enough to send this lass off the deep end.  After all, if she can’t find that one perfect person who can like and accept her for who she is, why not just make one from the best parts of everybody she knows?

If there’s one thing about this film that most of the larger studios wouldn’t allow in a horror movie, it’s that it takes its sweet time getting anywhere.  While it begins as a kind of odd thriller, the final reel goes into full blown horror odyssey.  Oddly enough, the end of “May” reminds me of another older horror movie, a rather notorious and sleezy film called “Pieces”.  It’s only the end that reminds me of it, though.  The acting is fairly decent throughout and the script and direction are competent, so it’s unfortunate that it can’t rise above its “B” movie roots.

Lionsgate has released “May” in its original Widescreen format, which is exactly how it should be.  Video quality is a bit grainy from time to time, but not overly distractingly so.  Audio quality is quite juicy (in more ways than one) and Jaye Barnes-Luckett’s score is quite haunting.  It’s definitely one of the highlights of the film.  As for extras, aside from the usual trailers for other Lionsgate releases, there are also 2 audio commentaries; the first features Director Lucky McKee, Director of Photography Steve Yedlin, Editor Chris Sivertson and actors Angela Bettis, Nichole Hiltz and Bret Roberts while the second features the director (again), Composer Barnes-Luckett, Production Designer Leslie Keel and someone doing an annoying impersonation of a Craft Services Guy named Benji.  Both commentaries start off a bit on the slow side, but pick up afterwards.  Hiltz is a definite highlight in the first and that one was probably my favorite.  These people aren’t afraid to point out the flaws of the film or areas they simply just don’t like, so it’s an honest bit of work.  Unfortunately, there’s nothing additional and the director does mention that he wants to include deleted scenes on the disc.  What happened to them?

“May” isn’t a film that you either really love or hate so much as it’s one that you appreciate or loathe.  It took a few viewings, but it’s definitely one I can appreciate.  The filmmakers were attempting something original and scary, but due to inexperience, a low budget or both, it just doesn’t have as much impact as it could despite some truly unsettling scenes.  I will be very curious to see what the director cooks up in the future, though.  He and his crew definitely show potential.

Film Rating: B-
DVD Special Features: B-