Dead Mary (2007)

Director: Robert Wilson

Writer: Peter Sheldrick, Christopher Warre Smets

Tagline: You always hurt the ones you love.

Actors: Dominique Swain, Marie-Josée Colburn, Steven McCarthy, Maggie Castle, Michael Majeski, Reagan Pasternak, Jefferson Brown

Runtime: 1h 43m

Category: Possession, Supernatural

Synopsis: A group of long-time friends head up to another friend’s cabin for a weekend of relaxation. Things are awkward enough with one couple constantly feuding, so Kim decides to convince the group to play the urban-myth game of Dead Mary. After only a few partake, strange things begin to happen. That night while out for an evening swim, Lily finds Eve killing Kim’s boyfriend Matt. But Matt doesn’t seem to be dead. He has reanimated as some kind of possessed creature. Fearful of becoming one themselves, the friends decide to burn his body. Now no one knows who’s who and the entire group has gone completely paranoid. Can the survivors stick together and overcome this disease-like possession? Will there be any survivors at all?

Review: I was actually expecting to hate this movie and was totally ready to drop a huge bomb on it. Unfortunately, I cannot do that…mostly. From what I understood about this movie, it was supposed to be a cheap knock-off of Bloody Mary (2006). Now, I see why people would say this, the concept is identical; a gross over-exaggeration of the popular urban-myth game of Bloody Mary. The only reason that this movie wasn’t titled Bloody Mary as well was because they wanted it to be able to stand on its own as a horror movie, unaffiliated with any others. That being said, I think that one might find that this movie is very much the opposite of Bloody Mary (2006).

The story was slow-starting and kinda unnecessary. It seemed like the back-story was more complex than it should have rightfully been; friends sleeping around, getting caught, drinking, smoking, etc. It didn’t really pick up at all until after the possession spread further. It was just so hum-drum. I hate saying that but I have to call a spade a spade. There was no explanation as to the origins of the myth, no explanation as to why this “Dead Mary” was so vengeful, no explanation as to why she possessed people, and to top it all off…there was no sign of a ghost, or spirit, or whatever the hell kids are calling it now-a-days. Nothing! There was no ghost in sight; just a bunch of drunk stoners possessed by some cockamamie…urban-myth…witch-thingy. And just to add insult to injury (wow…I’m full of clichés tonight), the movie ended without resolve; breaking rules #4 and #9 of The Finale Contingency. Very disappointed in this department.

The acting, on the other hand, was way better than I could have imagined. Now, I’m not saying that the acting was superb, by any means, but I was very surprised at how well everyone did getting into character. I especially enjoyed Michael Majeski’s character, Dash. While he was tied up in the shed going on and on yelling at Amber, I felt he gave a stellar performance. Very, very well done.

Wavering slightly, the script is also worth mentioning. I was quite impressed by the script itself and its ability to capture exactly what it feels like to be with a bunch of friends and have one couple fighting, one couple trying to forget a cheating incident, the introduction of a newcomer to the group, and the tension of a very intricate sex-hexagon. It was naturally perfect; portraying a group of friends with some serious problems. It was amazing to see such mastery alongside such a ridiculous story. The actors definitely did a good job making a crappy story worth while.

The gore and effects were quite minimal, to my surprise. I was expecting a little more from this area, but was given…how should I say this without being hurtful…utter shit. I know that effects are not the easiest part of a horror movie, but at least make it look remotely real. Damn.

Rating: 11. I have to give major props to the writers for hammering out a solid script. The story could have been better…a lot better…but the verbal script was very well written. The actors did a great job with a bad story and made it interesting. I also have to give props to the amazingly-occasional hottie, Dominique Swain. I’ve seen her in other movies and I gotta say; she can look pretty rough. She’s probably one of the few actresses out there that can be so consistently sporadic in terms of esthetics (that’s beauty…dumb-ass). Getting back to the point, I think it would be safe to say that between the two movies Bloody Mary (2006) is far better. But, if we could take the acting and script from this movie and mingle it into the other one...whew. That would be a hell of a horror flick. (11of25).