Review of May (1936) by Daniel P — 01 Mar 2008

I had been itching to see this film practically since I first found out about it - on this very website as it happens. I sometimes don't know how I managed to keep sane as there was always a voice in my head saying "er yeah, so when you going to get round to watching 'May' then?".

I had high expectations - they were met, they were exceeded. This film works so well: it is in and of itself, near impossible to classify (not that I would want to label it anyway). It's a stunning work and by the time the ending rolls around - which is beautifully, heartbreakingly poignant - May becomes a defining film, by which I mean it becomes something iconic, so good that by proxy other films look less successful.

It's impossible to imagine anyone other than Angela Bettis in the lead role - she plays it exactly right - even amidst the bloodshed it is always clear where sympathy should lie. Jeremy Sisto is equally excellent - smouldering, charismatic - possibly his best performance to date.

I've watched Lucky McKee's Masters of Horror instalment as well as his feature The Woods prior to watching this, and although they could all arguably be considered as horror they are all completely different from one another, save for their originality of vision and inventiveness.

I am now very much anticipating Roman.