The theme of the outcast has seen its face in countless films. Girls or boys abused during their childhood and still dismissed as they age have forever been characters with the letters s-y-m-p-a-t-h-y tattooed on their foreheads. Often we viewers feel the need to jump right through the television in front of our faces and lend the outcast a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on or some other body part for some other thing to be done on. Others may want to burn their phonebook, lock themselves away, and never see anyone but an animal or stuffed bear - maybe a dead raccoon, or imaginary friend would also do the trick – out of pure guilt, but I don’t think that’s too common. ‘How can I complain about – insert trivial issue – when people like this character on screen exists?’ People who very well have also experienced that trivial issue, and unlike the popular folk, have no one to help them through it. And so most shed a tear for the film’s protagonist, then grab a tissue, whip it away, shut off the television, and go out for a night on the town full of multiple sex partners, lots of drinking and a whole lotta’ that species.

So enter the horror film outcast - the one who is sick of the bullying, sick of the crying, sick of the wishing. And so with the aid of say a special power like telekinesis – a weapon like a gun or knife would also do just fine – the bullied strike back for revenge or, as in this particular film, a literally flawless friend. The title character of May is the bullied of which I speak labeled weird and neglected. Her only friend is a frightening doll made and given to by her mother; stored in a protective shiny glass case and forbidden to leave it. Now our poor lead desires a real friend, and after observing the beauty of a man Adam’s hands, May embarks on a trip to befriend him. Meanwhile the lesbian secretary of the animal hospital she calls work, Polly embarks to, well, do May. And hence one of the only flaws I found with this film.

May is a ‘loser,’ yet a supposedly good looking man and an absolutely adorable lesbian both quickly fall for her. Indeed we have seen Miss Not-liked get bullied at school as a child, but this is just far too simple to truly establish the fact she is indeed an outcast. Although I’m not saying that her best friend doll and serious social problems didn’t institute her outcast-ness, however it’s hard to believe she’d have no problem becoming friendly with these two. (She also is able to effortlessly pick up some guy sitting next to her on a bench) Anyways, they both eventually hurt May – which is more believable – and she is soon in need of more body parts so she can have a friend.

Angela Bettis is brilliant as May, and proves she is an actress to watch out for. I previously had the pleasure of watching her in the terrible television remake of Carrie, of which she was the only redeeming quality. In May she plays a similar character – the, as I’ve been talking about for three paragraphs already, loser. In both films she has possessed a grim and somber force yet also naïve helplessness that makes her impossible to not sympathize with. She is the perfect May, second to only Sissy Spacek’s portrayal of Carrie as the best outcast that strikes back. Supporting actress Anna Faris continues to show little range, but keeps the charm level high. She plays the stupid horny girl hilariously, and makes a very memorable character of Polly. Jeremy Sisto is blah as Adam. Incredibly forgettable, he is boring, emotionless and clichéd.

Director and writer Lucky McKee shows his talents, directing with incredible style and filling each scene with a plasmatic atmosphere. His screenplay is smart, blending humor, horror and drama fantastically. I also couldn’t help but notice a similarity to Takashi Miike’s brilliant film Audition, in the execution. Beginning at a modest pace watching as May tries to socialize and then suddenly erupting into violence and mayhem. It also erupts wonderfully – neither too graphic nor unbelievably. While thinking back to the film now, it seems strange how May just left her social disorders and shyness as she picked up her scalpel, saw, and scissors, it feels right during the film, and instead of heading in the Carrie direction of let’s cry while she kills, it’s a more let’s cheer while she kills…

…which all diminishes with the highly emotional and disturbing finale. Here the sympathy returns, and you again want to jump through the television and lend that body part discussed previously. It’s the absolute perfect ending – ironic, sad and uniquely moving.

Overall there’s not much to say about May, besides it’s a great little film. The acting everywhere is superb, the script is smart, and the pay off is well-done. A must see for horror fans as it’s yet another great entry to the genre in 2003, providing suspense, gore, comedy, and all around entertainment. 8

Recommended: Yes