Directed & Written by Richard Bates Jr.

Starring AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords,Ariel Winter, Roger Bart, Malcolm McDowell,Marlee Matlin, and John Waters

Running time 81 minutes

 

Excision first premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2012, it’s the full length feature that started as a short by the same name back in 2008. I had been hearing about this film off and on for a little while now so I figured it was time to take the plunge into what I heard were to be some pretty strange waters.

 

The film is based around Pauline (Anna Lynne McCord), a struggling young lady, coming of age in a in a home that is filled with unhappiness. Her parents seem to have a loveless marriage, a sister who is dying due to failing lungs, and a mother who is completely disconnected from her. Pauline seems on paper to be the normal struggling teen right? Well I forgot to add her constant blood soaked sexual fantasies, and strange idiosyncrasies, like her need to practice her cutting skills for what she is sure future holds, a career as a surgeon.

 

This film is made me think Cronenberg on acid! Its addictive right from the opening sequence, with identical girls sitting across from one another, one in what seems to be heightened sexual throes, while the other is coughing spitting and vomiting blood. The blood soaked psychosexual fantasies continue throughout the entire film, and are incredibly well done. They have a weird beauty to them in the way they are played and shot. It’s a very stylized picture, with great attention to color and saturation levels in various scenes. It is a slice of bizarro, mixed with a story that on some level we can all relate back to. And the finish to this film is grand and unique, it doesn’t tie itself up with a pretty bow the way too many do, it leaves you wondering what the hell just happened?!

 

I have to add that the performance by Traci Lords shows just how far she come over the years. Her portrayal of Pauline’s mom is just spot on, she shows a range of emotion that I am not entire used to seeing from her and was quite impressed! AnnaLynne McCord also delivers a very strong performance, making her character very multi-dimensional! Add the talents of Malcolm McDowell, Marlee Matlin and John waters and you have a talent pool that you know is going to give you something strange and interesting. I really enjoyed this one and only wish I hadn’t waited so long, but I’m making it for it with 3 views under my belt already! Definitely add this one to your collection folks!

 

*HeatherOmen*