‘May’
2 Loop Films, 2002

starring: Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto and Anna Faris
written and directed by: Lucky McKee

the plot: Poor little May (Bettis). Afflicted with a lazy eye and bereft of social skills, she leads a lonely life with only Susie, a creepy porcelain doll, as her companion. A new set of contact lenses give May a boost of confidence, and she soon catches the eye of Adam (Sisto), a hunky car mechanic and amateur filmmaker who has, according to May, “perfect hands.” But May’s quirks cause the potential relationship to stumble, and she’s left heart broken. For a fleeting moment, salvation comes in the form of advances from Polly (Faris), May’s lesbian co-worker at a run-down animal clinic, but even that relationship quickly fizzles. Alone and dejected, May remembers the advice her mother offered when she was a young girl: “If you can’t find a friend, make one.” Lost in world of “so many pretty parts and no pretty wholes,” May steals some surgical equipment from work and sets out on a quest to do just that.

why it’s good: Writer/director McKee sets the bar pretty high for creepiness in “May.” A modern take-off on the Frankenstein story, “May” is a subtle, slow-burn of a film. After the opening sequence, which shows May’s troubled childhood, it’s obvious the girl is going to lash-out psychotically. The only question is when and how bloody the rampage will be. McKee relies heavily on atmosphere and mood and eschews a lot of outright gore, making some scenes, such as the one in which a group of blind children unwittingly play in a pile of broken glass, almost unbearable to watch. Sisto and Faris both give capable performances, but it’s Bettis who gives the film its soul. May’s quirks and obsessions make her at once endearing and frightening, and its hard not to sympathize with her even as she fully succumbs to madness. Bettis, who went on to star in other genre efforts including remakes of “Carrie” and “The Toolbox Murders,” deserves a shot at mainstream fame, or, at the very least, a starring role in a big-budget horror flick.  

why you should own it: An underrated gem, genre fans shouldn’t hesitate to pick up “May.” The Lion’s Gate DVD release is rather skimpy on extras, though it’s no stretch imagining that a special-edition will show up once Bettis hits the big time.