May (2002)
Review by Theron Neel
Many believe the first great horror film of the new millennium was Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever. While Roth’s movie was an impressive effort, I believe May, Lucky McKee’s 2002 film, was not only the first great horror flick on the millennium, it’s also the best to date.
Part psychological drama, part slasher flick, part black comedy, May does it all…and it does it amazingly well. Though much of the credit has to go to McKee’s screenplay and direction, the person that makes this movie work is its star, Angela Bettis.
May is the story of a lonely young woman and her attempts to connect to the outside world. Though she has a job as a veterinary assistant, she has no real friends, except for a doll she’s had since she was a child. When May develops a crush on Adam, a filmmaker played by Jeremy Sisto, trouble begins. The more she tries to integrate with the outside world, the more she starts to unravel. When Adam finally ends their relationship, May snaps. And although May is great with a needle and thread, she can’t mend her psyche. But perhaps she can make a friend after all…
Angela Bettis shines in this flick. She has a tough role – going from a withdrawn woman-child to a flirty psychopathic seductress. Against all odds, she makes it believable, and so much fun to watch.
Anna Faris is funny as May’s lesbian co-worker, and Jeremy Sisto improves every scene he’s in. The low budget shows up occasionally, and you can tell some subplots were trimmed in editing but, overall, this is a wonderful film. If you’re looking for a fresh, fun horror flick, I suggest you seek out May. You won’t be disappointed.
Available on Amazon
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