best movie i've ever seen.

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

I never thought this movie would be so good and enjoyable. I found it strange, beautiful and haunting. First of all, the cast did an amazing work. Traci Lords as the mother and Annalynne McCord as the daughter were just flawless. Second of all, I am usually a straight horror fan but this movie mixed drama, horror and dark comedy so well that I enjoyed every aspect of the film. Third of all, the plot was in all of it's weirdness actually believable and it moved forward, there were no lazy dull moments but the movie was well put together. I have always had a soft spot for Traci and I loved the fact that she did such a strong characterization. I myself were, and I guess still am as an adult, a troubled person with dark fantasies and I actually somewhat identified with Pauline. Annalynne has frankly never been one of my favorites but this movie made her just that. Roger Bart as the dad and Ariel Winter as the sister did a great job too. No to mention when I saw my favorite Criminal Minds-actor Matthew G. Gubler. I need to get this movie on my dvd-collection asap!!!

More of a very dark black comedy than the horror film it is often credited as being, 'Excision' revolves around a teenage social misfit whose dreams are full of gore and who conducts surgery on roadkill in her spare time. Conflict comes with her conservative mother's attempts to get her to conform to social norms and be more like her pretty and popular sister. This is a film far less predictable than it might sound though. The sisters actually get on with each other very well despite being near complete opposites. The protagonist also believes in a higher power and is often seen praying despite her repeated denunciation of their church and priest. It is also hard to know what to make of the abrupt ending. Some have called this a film about a teenager doing all she can to impress a never-satisfied mother, but the more prominent themes seem to be individuality and the effects of a religious upbringing on a mentally unbalanced teen. AnnaLynne McCord is fantastic in the lead role, whatever the case, delivering droll lines left, right and centre, often oblivious to her own social awkwardness. She is never quite a likable character though, and with some pretty detestable supporting characters, it is sometimes hard to get engrossed in the story, but this is certainly a daringly different film about growing up, plus the ending lingers in the mind long afterwards.

First time writer/director Richard Bates Jr. must have impressed some quality people and their hefty wallets with his short, EXCISION back in 2008. Not only does he bring a full-blown production to the screen, but the cast includes the likes of Traci Lords, Roger Bart, AnnaLynne McCourt, Ariel Winter, "Twin Peaks" alum Ray Wise, and Malcolm McDowell, as a high school teacher, no less – and John Waters as a deadpan minister. Wow.We've seen movies bottom out regardless of the phenomenal cast because story is king (or queen), and without a great tale to tell, the rest doesn't matter (add your James Cameron movie of choice here), because style only trumps substance in the minds of fools who hold special effects or cool characters over a vibrant yarn. With story as foundation, the actors that inhabit films through their characters can better enhance the narrative, and remarkable special effects will help sell the story as well. EXCISION has all of these elements in place, and then some.If you love the "quirky" comedic horror, such as Canada's GINGER SNAPS (2000) and Lucky McKee's amazing MAY (2002), you should find Bates's tale more than satisfying. The story revolves around the enigmatic troubled teen, Pauline, brilliantly portrayed by McCourt, and her dysfunctional family: passive-aggressive and not-all- there dad (Bart), her younger cystic fibrosis plagued sister Grace (Winter), and the matriarch in control, a demanding mother who cherishes Grace among all things (Lords – who will amaze). With Pauline, we can make comparisons to her adult counterpart in May, where she doesn't fit in among the masses. However, where May wants to belong to the world at large, Pauline has other pursuits in mind. What they are can only come from indulging in the film where she has discussions with God while performing rebellious deeds with one thematic prize in mind. Theme is the crux of the tale, which is full of Pauline's horrific, bloodlust laden fantasies, and her penchant for setting everyone on edge whether at home or in school. Although one would think she'd despise her ill sister, there is a sort of camaraderie there, much like Ginger and Brigitte in GINGER SNAPS. Right from the beginning, however, with all its quirkiness and black comedy, we know all too well that something really awful is coming, and Bates does not disappoint thanks to a sub-layer of tension that permeates the movie. Even better, thanks to excellent writing with exemplary dialogue, we are delivered a full blown upper cut in thematic subtlety (yes, I know that's a contradiction), that seems to become lost on many viewers who simply despise the movie – see my point about those choosing style over substance.The film does have style, and lots of it. Itay Gross relied on solid lighting to enhance every detail without creating a perfectly sterile environment, and kept us off-kilter with often straight on wide shots that deceptively mimicked a "wonderful world" of sunshine and warm colors. During dream sequences, he amped up the lighting to create a heavenly glow in contrast to the blood and carnage, which mirrored the conflict in Pauline's ravaged mind, leaving us in a beautiful domain with sumptuous people drenched in muck and gore. Yet, when Pauline talks to God, the camera shines down on her in the dark, revealing only her white face and folded hands as she peers upward, which is in direct opposition to her visions of fashionable blood and butchery. Once again, the disconnect in Pauline's mind is made clear through imagery. Gross's achievement further enhanced Armen Ra's production design, which again mislead us with seemingly generic venues both innocuous and comfortable, and as inviting as the gingerbread house in the old Hansel and Gretel story or a "Brady Bunch" episode. Then again, isn't this why Bates deceived us with the comedy element? In this regard, he's reminiscent of Tarantino who misdirects with fun and games until someone is brutally killed, as if he had coaxed us in with candy before bludgeoning us with a hammer.It's not hard for one to see that Pauline has much in common with Carol (Catherine Deneuve) from Polanski's dramatic horror REPULSION (UK, 1965). Like May and Carol, Pauline is in crisis, though unlike the others, she knows it, and like the others, does her best to bend reality to her crazed will. All of these women, in order to right the perceived wrongs done to them, become the destructor to bring about change and inner growth they think will lead to solace, even at the highest of prices. Although we see May and Carol on their own, eighteen-year-old Pauline cannot escape the family unit. At least her mother, anyway, who lays down the law (or at least tries to) while Pauline fights back with wit and a bit of craziness.Don't think this is some cliché-ridden tale with the typical family dynamics we've come to loathe from other movies, or the stock bullies one finds at Hollywood movie high schools. Bates constantly adds little touches to keep things askew, and delivers the best and worst of each character in subdued ways. Like Paul Solet's completely under-appreciated GRACE (2009), it's hard to find "evil" in a character when they are simply doing what they think is right – only to have some major realizations come calling by film's end.Pauline's journey is an intriguing and disturbing venture sure to connect with many, while others may not grasp the nuances of Bates's artistry and guile. I certainly hope to see more of Bates and his work – much sooner than later.More horror at www.crashpalaceproductions.com

I had high expectations while watching this movie. I did expect a straight forward horror movie. I was wrong about that. This was a black comedy for the most part.I was annoyed with the standard trope that appears in most movies nowadays of the dominating mother and the submissive father. I remember seeing a similar sort of theme done 13 years ago in American beauty. And ever since then, literally dozens of movies have used the same theme. The performance of Traci lords seems more of an imitation of what Annette benning did. Only less annoying though. On that topic, Traci lords has given a creditable performance, I was quite surprised. Annalynne mccord's performance is also pretty good. Her deadpan delivery and sulking expressions were funny to watch.I liked the affection between the sisters. That was refreshing to watch. I guess that is important anyway towards the end. Also there is genuine affection in the family even though towards the end, it all goes horribly wrong. And honestly the family is not that dysfunctional at all. The problems are purely with the girl and her fantasies.The dialogue is pretty funny and it keeps things interesting throughout. The dream sequences are interesting but I didn't think they were anything shocking, maybe they were trying too hard. There are some gory scenes in those fantasies but they didn't make much of an impact on me.Overall, I liked it somewhat but not too impressed.6/10