(2004/US)
REVIEW BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-JUSTIN PAUL RITTER CAST-HELENE UDY, TAYLOR M. DOOLEY, NICOLE JARVIS, LEE PERKINS, TODD GORDON, JUN HEE LEE and BEN L. McCAIN. SOURCE-HERETIC FILMS DVD (REGION 1 NTSC/ 100 MINS / 2006)
"Don't be afraid to love her" Kathiebird has a secret, she’s the end result of a long bloodline of serial killers. Her father guides her down her God-given path to kill in the family name. Though her forefathers were men who killed, now it’s time for the female side of the family to inject a different side of the art of serial killing. Luring her pry, maiming them and then showing her gentle side as she wants to become apart of the actual ritual. She wants to feel the pain as well as give it.
Welcome to the new world of American expressionism. Trust me I’m saying that in a most positive way too. Director Justin Paul Ritter has awaken low budget film making to yet another height, one that we’ll sure see more of in the coming years. After reading several different writings on KATHIEBIRD before actually sitting down to watch it in the flesh, I must truly say there are many viewers out there that just don’t get Ritter’s actual vision here. This is simply not a quick cut and paste production here, but a much more important step in independent film making in the US today. With the constant raping that mainstream cinema is doing today, of course mainly in due part to Hollywood’s blind eye, KATHIEBIRD is an example of how this is pushing the youth to press the boundaries of visual arts and expression. KATHIEBIRD showcases some of the most innovative visuals through it’s transitions and it’s overall unique framing. Think outside the box is the key to going into this film, though it’s quite busy, it’s bold and very daring at the same time, a true reflection of a director being able to truly reproduce his own vision for others to enjoy as well.
One thing that really bothered me about the many aspects I read about before watching this film, simple word..horror. The fact that people were simply pegging KATHIEBIRD as a horror film, not at all. KATHIEBIRD does have elements of horror, but this is the furthest from just being just a horror film. It reflects the same dilemmas another classic piece of American cinema did when it first hit the screens, Tobe Hooper’s A TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. Yes, you are completely right, I’m drawing comparisons here and rightly so. They both in my opinion reflect human conditions in the most radical of ways. We all have flaws, desires and certainly fetishes or better yet obsessions. Both films explore these traits in such a unique way it’s no reason they are alike. The only differences are their 30 years difference and KATHIEBIRD has yet and I say yet, to raise the same eyebrows that TEXAS did several years ago.
I must make the point that KATHIEBIRD'S cinematography is some of the best I've ever seen. Not only does the multi-framing of each scene add feel to them, they also elude to each of the other frames. Looking at a scene through many angles at once, also bringing in a complete edit into the picture through another frame without actually cutting to another frame. This can get somewhat messy and very busy if not done right, but no worries here as Ritter handles this process with utter ease and complete perfection. The camera work done in KATHIEBIRD is also a thing of wonder, stunning visuals and pin point colors strike and invoke the senses that are normally dormant.
Remember films like MY BLOODY VALENTINE and THE INCUBUS, well you should remember Helene Udy then. If not, you will after witnessing KATHIEBIRD, as she simply gives a performance that will have you stressing to a whole new level. She is complete insane, but in an orderly fashion if you will. She just can’t help it though, it’s in her genes along with being consumed with an obsession for something a little extreme. Armed with the bloodline of serial killers that clashes with a dark obsession of masochism. Those the love tools in this case are those same tools that do the killing. Still, even though there’s a huge balancing act here, Udy does a super fine job in convincing the viewer of Kathiebird’s edge of sanity. Along with Udy’s great performance director Justin Paul Ritter surrounds her with a whole host of great support. From Lee Perkins who plays Kathiebird’s father Merl, who is eager to pass on the family treat only when Kathiebird is ready to except the outcome of it’s end results. His steady hand and silent kill approach gives that much needed depth to the overall story and of course the actual film on a whole. One can’t forget the other two incarnations of Kathiebird as well. Both the young version played by Nicole Jarvis and the teen version played by Taylor M. Dooley. Both gave superb performances adding the many pieces that finished off the final product in which Udy capped off.
This is hands down the best offering from Heretic Films yet, not only is the actual feature a prize, but the DVD presentation as well. Packaged as a two discs offering, the first disc housing the main feature as well as the many special extras. The second disc provides the whole KATHIEBIRD soundtrack. The main feature is presented in a widescreen 16x9 presentation. The visuals are stunning and Heretic does a wonderful job heightening them in this release. The audio is also very clean and quite crisp as well. There is also a commentary provided by director Justin Paul Ritter, Helene Hudy, Taylor M. Dooley and Lee Perkins, a commentary that is quite usual but highly entertaining. Ritter is certainly a man with a vision and KATHIEBIRD backs that up. As for the extras, there are a few to choose from starting with featurette entitled Movies NOT Excuses hosted by Ritter himself. Basically given you the history of how KATHIEBIRD came to life to his struggle to get it into production as well as behind the scenes during it’s filming. It’s not your usual behind the scenes featurette either. There is also a shot feature on KATHIEBIRD’S make-up artist Misa. The rest of the extra offerings are trailers, liner notes and an easter egg. The second disc holds the entire soundtrack to KATHIEBIRD which is composed by Daniel Iannantuono and is quite complementary to the film.
STORY/FILM-4/5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-4.5/5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-4.5/5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-4/BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-4/5 BITCH SLAPS Purchase this DVD At X-Ploited Cinema
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