Film Review: American Mary

Directed by twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska, American Mary stars Katherine Isabelle of Ginger Snaps fame in a well structured tale of revenge and retribution.

When medical student Mary Mason's debt beings to spiral out of control, so does her intended path through life. Disenchanted with the medical establishment and those that have been guiding her, a chance encounter during a job interview introduces Mary to the world of body modification, revealing a new source of income plus, an outlet for her surgical talents.

In her new role, Mary is requested to perform an increasing level of extreme body modification, but the narrative does a more than adequate job of creating cause and effect in relation to this, meaning it doesn't stretch audience credibility to breaking point. In addition, the development of Mary's personality from warm and avid, but broke student, to emotionally distant body modifier, is well charted and believable within the framework presented. It is worth mentioning that all the central character studies contained within the film's premise are fleshed out - sometimes literally.

However, this is not a film that contains graphic scenes of surgery. These episodes are handled by focusing on Mary's face, her intentness, professionalism and ultimately her psychological isolation.

The production quality of American Mary is high and glossy - it perhaps reflects the fact Sisters Soska have gained the backing of a major studio. This is not a complaint though. The film's preview was very well received at Frightfest and it does deserve a wider audience. Hopefully American Mary will be distributed to a cinema local to you in the near future - catch it if you can.


N.B.
In case anyone is interested, American Mary is going on tour in the UK. The link below details the venues and a ticket booking facility.

http://www.frightfes...stnewspage.html