American Mary : Why I couldn't enjoy this mess of a film

She was just given the dress, maybe it's the only one she had. It also seemed like the invitation was more like a date than a business meeting. And she is a little unconventional. On the other hand it is strange for the surgery department to invite a bunch of women over to rape. It's not a sustainable lifestyle. But there is nothing about the party that is flawed movie-making. In fact the way it's shot, with all the seedy and horrifying stuff happening just as she turns away is pretty brilliant in a twisted way

I think the seedy part of surgeons inviting women over and drugged them and take advantage of vulnerable women are appealing to our senses that these surgeons are just human with dark secrets. Even with years of schooling and supposedly professionals with ethic they still are not infallible. I agree that it's stupid that they would do such act blatantly as if their license wouldn't get permanently suspended. She could of wear a business casual dress which I believe she could afford. I have no complaint about the shooting at the party, as it seems this movie is only good at making scenes looks pleasurable/nice, but not realistic or out of context.

AGREE 100% the film goes to hell in a shockingly poor way and we end up with a writer director who does not know how to finish the film or if there is a statement or meaning to be made so we get some ridiculous 'run of of time and money ending' which makes no sense and fails all that came before.

“What we have here is a failure to communicate”, Captain

Yes, you missed a lot. IT"S a horror movie.

Mary was under a great deal of stress because of school. She under stress do to lack of cash.

She gets a job a stripper place. There she she's something up close that she never wanted, the aftermath of a backroom torture. For cash she takes the job. More and more of core being is crushed.

After the rape, she was really damaged and unable to get any help.

Because of her new world of she took revenge.

She also had to make a living. She found a notch and made a home. For her all of broke her.

Whatever you wanted was not that movie. The real movie started after the rape.

r u *beep*

I agree with the OP. As much as In enjoyed the mood, the whole movie feels off, esp. Mary. Right from the get-go we never ever get to feel her. She seems completely fake and stilted. After the rape she suddenly turns into this ice-cold monster? Not buying it.
The doctors' rape party was too much and of course they could never get away with raping students.
In the end you can clearly tell this was the Soska sisters' first feature film effort. Though they displayed some talent, this film is all about form instead of plot.

you make some valid points. i like your membership date august of 99

You're into August 99?

most people would like to go back there

Mmm ya, I felt the same way at first. I was like...wow, one rape and you turn into this psychotic killer who is able to cut and kill people without guilt. I am not trying to say rape would not change your personality but I don't think it would make you act like Mary. I kept wondering if maybe they would show she was raped by multiple men and it was even worse then we saw - just to explain why she did the 180 turn.

But as I thought about it, I sort of came to the conclusion that Mary always had it in her to be this evil person. There was always something very very dark inside her but it was being held back and it just happened to be the rape that released it. I don't think she was normal like you and me.

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I was like...wow, one rape and you turn into this psychotic killer..

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I know right?!?! At least get raped a few times before you start on your spree, jeeze!


We've met before, haven't we?

To OP,


1. It wasn't a mess, it was beautiful and peaceful.
2. Why watch horror if you can't appreciate it?

that's silly. His name is "horrorfan" something or other.

Thinking a movie fell apart does not have anything to do with not liking a particular genre. Not quite sure how you made that leap.

I was expecting so much more. Great premise for a horror film or thriller but it lost its way. Needed more scares. It ended more as an arthouse film.

I agree, I really wanted to like this film. The concept was great but the performance not so much. A lot of characters were so cliché (like the dude from the club) and also ridiculous, the reasoning behind the body modifications were not convincing at all (saying you want to be like a doll because no one would want to have sex with it? Actually a lot of dudes are into dolls...).

And basically it seems like there were a bunch of good ideas that were just thrown away during the film because the script writer had no idea how to actually continue it. The ending had no point whatsoever for example.
Mary getting killed by the boyfriend of the "doll" was just so deus ex machina, he had almost nothing to do with the plot, it was like someone was looking for a reason to end this film. It wasn't even karma really, just a jealous angry boyfriend

Completetly agree OP, it had potential then it fell flat...

Completely agree. But there`s a couple more moments that truly irk me.

Firstly - the relationship between Mary and her Instructor begins with a decent establishment, she`s smart and he wants her to be the best - simple, effective. He calls her and reems her out when she misses one lecture after she promises to dedicate herself to the education. The source of Mary`s flaunted new wealth is questioned repeatedly and the instructor suspects she`s an escort, so he invites her to a party where surgeons have sex on mass with escorts.. we know this because the very first thing we see in the room is a girl being given a large amount of money and being lead away - this justifies how surprised and excited the surgeons are because they have a desirable intern who they suspect is also available for purchase. The instructor is clearly let down by her actions and choses to punish her in a way he feels is suiting.. IF SHE ACTUALLY WAS AN ESCORT (note: I`m not saying it`s right, I`m saying to the character this would be suitable). He clearly feels betrayed that she will turn to sex and money over her education because he says "Your actions betray your words" - remember he even WAKES UP NEXT TO HER not exactly your standard rape situation. For this to be her whole motivation is just disgusting film making.

Totally agree. I would say right up to the 48 minute mark I loved this film, then they started herding in the corny body mod sheeple - who could barely act - and it turned to absolute drivel.

"The first 40 minutes of the film were excellent."

100% agree. This film turned into a massive piece of crap after that.

I saw this movie about two weeks ago in Netflicks. The professor noticed her increase in wealth and though she moonlighted as a high price price hooker to pay for school and thought he could do whatever he wanted to her.

That is exactly the point...the doctors noticed her increase in wealth and thought she was a call girl. That being said, they thought they would be able to get away with doing whatever they wanted to her and she wouldn't tell because of her "profession." They don't discover that they were wrong about her until AFTER she quits med school.

However, small plot hole in that it was a little odd that she didn't notice that not only was she the only student invited to the party, but that she was the only FEMALE at the party. Nor did she think it odd the way everyone kept trying to pump drinks into her. So I did find that a bit problematic, as I most likely would have looked around, noticed I was the only female, and made an excuse to leave, but then...we wouldn't have the impetus for the film.

Her transformation from eager to please student into the ice queen she becomes occurs as a result of the rape and the idea that they would get away with what they had done to her. Since it would be her word against serious doctors, she did not feel justice would be served, so, as many who have been through a traumatic event do, she hardened her heart. The work on the people who wanted to transform their bodies is in a sense, "cutting," which is what she really becomes addicted to...the cutting. Notice the scenes with Billy in which she asks if there is anyone she can hurt for him.

I will say that I enjoyed the movie, but the ending fell flat. It seemed like the directors didn't know what to do with Mary by the end and just ***spoiler alert*** killed her off unceremoniously. It seemed trite that she would survive much worse in her life (the rape) and fall victim to an angry boyfriend. Where was her body guard? How did he manage to get into the house without showing any signs of a break in? These were a few of the things that ruined the end of the movie for me, but the first half was great.

Although I did enjoy the film, I agree with your statements. The film was really captivating and fresh up until the dinner party. Then the pacing and plot started to get messy and hard to keep up with. The film had lots of potential to be really great, but it ended up being decently average.

I think the overall story did feel a bit rushed but I can accept the transition. It wasn't simply about revenge from getting raped, but the rape helped the transition. I wonder if it would have worked better as a TV show similar to Dexter.

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I wonder if it would have worked better as a TV show similar to Dexter.

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I was thinking "Dexter", too. But who needs a variation of it? I don't; a movie full of sick freaks was already enough for me. Didn't like that crap at all!

Have you ever seen the show "Freakshow"? It is a reality TV show.

Come visit my http://theblackrosecastle.com

It is a *beep* mess of a film. I was very dissapointed.

I'm still trying to figure out as to why it is rated as above a 6 because honestly it was all over the place. The movie 'May' 2002 is much better, though they are two different films both are in the horror genre. May is infinitely better.

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...becomes closer with Billy and develops feelings for him out of nowhere.

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Out of nowhere where we're concerned, but as far as we know, she could have liked him right off the bat. Do we really need a monologue about her blossoming feelings towards him? We know nothing about her taste in men either.

We've met before, haven't we?