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The
Ugly review by Terry Wickham
The story centers on a young man named Simon Cartwright (Paolo Rotondo) who has been picked on and abused since he was just a little kid. He comes from a single parent household, with a mother named Evelyn (Jennifer Ward-Lealand) who is overbearing and totally out of control. She has a split personality, one minute loving, the next yelling at the top of her lungs and beating her boy with fists or a belt. Simon age 13 (Sam Wallace) doesnÕt escape the violence when heÕs at school either. The neighborhood kids bully him at every move and the only one he can seek solace in is a little girl Julie whoÕs also 13 (Beth Allen) and has a crush on him. Julie tries to help him after he gets pulverized by the neighborhood kids, who leave him with something to remember them on his face. When Evelyn comes home and finds Julie with her little boy, sheÕs thrown into a fit of jealous rage. The mother wonÕt share him. She doesnÕt want anyone who will take away any of his love for her. Obviously, the mother does not have a clue to how he really feels. This creates some truly powerful emotions and unforgettable moments. Most of the film takes place now, as Simon Cartwright is an adult, age 25. We find out about his past when an attractive blonde psychotherapist Dr. Karen Schumaker (Rebecca Hobbs) visits him in the mental hospital. Dr. Schumaker tries her best to find out why he kills. It is in these psycho analysis sessions that we get flashbacks to SimonÕs life. The manner in which Writer/Director Scott Reynolds shows these flashbacks is amazing and brilliant. Between the stunning cinematography from Simon Raby, outstanding score by Victoria Kelly and stellar editing of Wayne Cook, we see glimpses of why and how Simon Cartwright is involved with the power called The Ugly. Director Scott Reynolds is definitely skilled in all phases of filmmaking. He has captured truly memorable performances from all his cast. Scenes explode with suspense and grip our emotions. HeÕs crafted images that are unique and burn into our minds. The nighttime shot of the mother, standing in the doorway, belt gripped in hand, bathed in blazing red light is straight out of hell. At first you could mistake her black silhouette for the Devil. The visitors, who are SimonÕs dead victims, return to haunt him. Reynolds vision for showing us the dead is startling. Reynolds chooses to present these ghastly images with a flash like popping on and off, shaky camera, scratchy-light blurring visual effect and a starkness of light on the corpses. This, combined with Special Make-Up Effects artist Richard TaylorÕs use of black blood running from the corpses mouths is haunting and terrifying. Since seeing The Ugly, IÕve had to fortune of seeing Scott Reynolds two short films that proceeded The Ugly (I have to thank the New Zealand Film Commission for their wonderful assistance). ReynoldsÕ first film The Minute, is an 8 _ minute gem of stylish filmmaking. The film is about paranoia and Reynolds direction is supercharged. You can certainly see his creative use of time and space. ReynoldsÕ second film, A Game With No Rules, is a wicked 16 minutes of crime and really shows off Reynolds influences; Kubrick, Scorsese, Raimi and Hitchcock. HeÕs one of the guys we should all keep our eyes on. I see a great future of films a head. I felt deeply intertwined with the characters, which are exceptionally cast. The film totally benefits from having a group of unknown actors from New Zealand. There is so many good performances but Jennifer Ward-Lealand (also in A Game With No Rules) excels as the downright nasty mother, she will get under your skin. Sam Wallace who plays Simon as Age 13, delivers memorable scenes. The actresses who play Julie, Beth Allen Age 13 and Vanessa Byrnes Age 25, will both warm your heart. Actor Roy Ward who plays the oddball mental institution Dr. Marlowe is perfect. He comes off as highly intelligent but completely warped. Finally, Paolo Rotondo as Simon Cartwright age 25, is mesmerizing. One minute he seems like a lost and lonely soul, the next heÕs a demented, violent psychopath. ItÕs rare that you find someone who can elicit such powerful emotion from both ends of the spectrum. HeÕs totally convincing. The DVD looks outstanding, the picture quality is clean, music & sound is crisp and the trailer comes as an added bonus. I would have loved more supplements but as is, the film is a masterpiece. OFFICIAL WEB
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Superb filmmaking. Some of the most creative use of editing and
storytelling that I have seen. One of the top three films I saw
in 1999.