Excision

Excision is the debut feature from writer/director Richard Bates Jr. Adapted from his short film of the same name, Excision tells the story of Pauline - a troubled teenager with delusions of grandeur.

Pauline is the black sheep of her family and the outcast at school. During the day she smart-mouths her way through school and her home life, before her surgical aspirations are brought vividly to life as she sleeps!

AnnaLynne McCord is a revelation as Pauline! I was unfamiliar with McCord prior to Excision and new little of the transformation she made in preparation for the role. 

She may look typically nonchalant as the adolescent Pauline, but beneath her grimy exterior lies a degree of intellect and a biting sense of humour. Her main weapon against the masses is her dry wit - the only serviceable weapon to most misunderstood teenagers! 

McCord is surrounded by an eclectic supporting cast. Traci Lords excels as Paulines over-bearing mother, Phyllis. As mother and daughter, Lords and McCord spend much of the movie on screen together - often hissing at one another in disgust! Genre favourites Malcolm McDowell and Ray Wise appear as teacher and headmaster, respectively. Even John Waters shows up to give Pauline counselling, as the local priest!

For a horror movie, Excision is very funny! Much of the humour comes from any and all altercations this particular no-name town and it's people have to offer. 

As funny as the humour is, one can often find themselves quickly silenced by the horror on display! 

Excision is a triumph in this regard. Pauline is hard to like in some respects, but you can't help but root for her - particularly when she gets the upper hand. It's easy to forget how disturbed Pauline is however - and one finds themselves replacing warmth with worry for the character.

In a world of remakes and reboots, Excision is breathtakingly original. It successfully manipulates the audience in to believing they're watching a certain kind of film - Excision is something else entirely! Like any original tale, it stays with you long after the credits roll. You'll be hard-pressed to shake Pauline from your mind!

5/5

Poster image courtesy: http://www.imdb.com