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 SICK
GIRL (Synapse
Films) 2009.
Horror/Exploitation. 79
Minutes. Not Rated.
Contains torture, strong language, some sexual content, graphic
violence and violence involving minors.
Leslie Andrews plays the role of Izzy, a cute local girl who takes
care of her younger brother Kevin once her older brother Rusty leaves to
fight the war overseas. Izzy
is careful, thoughtful and deadly unstable.
For those who cross her or her family, they become her victims of
her insanity.
Sick Girl is not
for the weak at stomach. There
are scenes of twisted torture that guys and gals alike will grind their
teeth, will cross their legs and will turn away at.
Death photographer Leslie Andrews is cute, in an odd sense, as she
plays the local castaway. Her
enthusiasm for her works really carries over into her performance because
as you watch her you believe her intensity and her motives in wanting to
take a life. She makes it seem
casual and common which is darn right scary …and a little sexy.
Nobody is safe from Izzy, not even children and that is what makes
the situation believable. The
story itself isn’t linear. We
jump back to flashbacks to learn more about the background of Izzy and
Rusty. There are moments of
jump cuts back and forth from a previous scene to a current scene and, for
an independent picture, I have to say that it worked for Sick Girl and
it looked very professional. The
gore effects are spectacular when they are actually shown but, and I’m
guessing here, since there isn’t much of a budget, the effects team, or
guy, probably didn't have much to work with.
This induced many quick cuts and the hope of implying your own
creative device on the audiences’ part.
I had issues with the dialogue.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is a bit weak and muffled and softened
at times but loud ambience sounds, like a motorcycle reving up, really
stood out. Another issue with
the dialogue is that it comes off very dry, monotone and very robotic.
It displays too much exposition and too many repeats of stuff
already covered. Other than
that, the overall satisfaction of Sick Girl is high and the
accompanying extras are remarkable for such an indie picture.
Be sure to check out “Death by…” featurette with Leslie
Andrews and the interview with “Evil Ed,” Stephen Geoffreys, who has
been away from horror for too long and has finally come out of his gay
porn stint. Sick Girl
presents itself in anamophoric 1.78:1 widescreen which isn't great but it
makes a huge difference from pan and scan. – Steven Lewis
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