Oozing
with deliberate and determined style, Excision
could have easily been another horrible hipster horror film, self-consciously
flaunting its smart-ass ideas and demanding the attention of people
who mistake pretension for profundity. Thankfully, there’s
more to this film than any of those overblown and self-indulgent
films.
In fact, Richard Bates Jr’s debut feature – adapted
from his short film (which is unfortunately not included in this
release) - is hugely impressive. Disturbing, twisted, humorous
and outrageous, the film follows teenage Pauline (Annalynne McCord),
a social misfit who is, by her own choice, and outcast from both
her schoolmates and her family. This is no Carrie, despite what
critics might try to tell you. Carrie was a victim, but Pauline
seems quite happy in her dark and increasingly delusional world,
manipulating others (she approaches a boy to take her virginity
and then makes it clear to his girlfriend what has happened) and
being deliberately provocative. Basically, Pauline believes herself
to be meant for better things, and has an unhealthy relationship
with blood and surgery. This is expressed in reality (timing the
afore-mentioned virginity loss for when she is on her period,)
and fantasy – the latter in the form of twistedly sexy,
vividly Day-Glo dream sequences.
The only person Pauline feels any connection to is her little
sister (Ariel Winter), who has cystic fibrosis and is dying. It’s
this love, and her own misplaced sense of importance, that propels
the film towards one of the grimmest endings you’ll ever
see.
Bates
films his movie is a series of carefully framed shots and allows
his story to build slowly – and entirely from his lead character’s
viewpoint. The steady pacing and apparent lack of progress might
alienate some viewers, but it works in the film’s favour
and allows character development. The movie essentially belongs
to two women – McCord gives a remarkable performance as
Pauline, looking as dowdy and unglamorous as any actress could
be (her face is usually full of scabs, her hair perpetually greasy
and unkempt), her contempt for everyone making her a difficult
sell. That Pauline isn’t entirely loathsome is a tribute
to the writing and the performance. Matching McCord is Traci Lords
as her mother, a humourless religious disciplinarian who is nevertheless
humanised by a remarkable performance. This is, without question,
Lords’ best performance by a mile.
The film is also peppered with cameos from John waters (as a priest!),
Ray Wise, Malcolm McDowell and Marlee Matlin, which could’ve
been a distraction. But they all fit their brief parts perfectly.
Excision is a suburban horror that becomes increasingly
weird and warped as it progresses. It’s unlike anything
you’ll have seen before, and for that alone deserves praise.
With the stylish direction from Bates, the remarkably performances
from the lead actresses and a very, very fucked up collection
of visual images, this is one to savour.
Oozing
with deliberate and determined style, Excision
could have easily been another horrible hipster horror film, self-consciously
flaunting its smart-ass ideas and demanding the attention of people
who mistake pretension for profundity. Thankfully, there’s
more to this film than any of those overblown and self-indulgent
films. 
Bates
films his movie is a series of carefully framed shots and allows
his story to build slowly – and entirely from his lead character’s
viewpoint. The steady pacing and apparent lack of progress might
alienate some viewers, but it works in the film’s favour
and allows character development. The movie essentially belongs
to two women – McCord gives a remarkable performance as
Pauline, looking as dowdy and unglamorous as any actress could
be (her face is usually full of scabs, her hair perpetually greasy
and unkempt), her contempt for everyone making her a difficult
sell. That Pauline isn’t entirely loathsome is a tribute
to the writing and the performance. Matching McCord is Traci Lords
as her mother, a humourless religious disciplinarian who is nevertheless
humanised by a remarkable performance. This is, without question,
Lords’ best performance by a mile.
• 
