The Ugly
Could you imagine how bummed out I was when I realized “The Ugly” wasn’t one of those Fox specials about Linda Tripp? Once I got past my disappointment, it was easy to sit down and appreciate the ferocity of writer-director Scott Reynolds debut. The New Zealand native has constructed a horrifying nightmare of tension and psychological mind trips.
Paolo Rotundo is exceptional as Simon Cartwright, a psychotic serial killer who has spent the last five years in an institution. Things heat up when Cartwright demands to be evaluated by noted psychiatrist Dr. Karen Schumaker (Rebecca Hobbs, very effective). From the outset, you get the idea that Cartwright is dangerous. He’s escorted from his cell (room?) to an interrogation room with a bag over his head (are you listening, Linda Tripp?), and the strapped down into a chair. The room is painted blood red, which looks like blood stains where the paint has peeled away.
It’s very disconcerting, but nearly as much as the two attendants who take pleasure in brutalizing Cartwright before the good doctor arrives. The interview is set on a dark and stormy night, the perfect setting for an encounter with a serial killer. Schumaker is warned not to let Cartwright get inside her head, a warning she takes lightly. Too bad, because Cartwright is an amicable personality who immediately drawn Schumaker into his nightmare. Cartwright claims that demons called “The Ugly” killed his victims, and as he begins to relate his tale, Schumaker begins to believe him.
Cartwright’s past is told in flashbacks, pointing fingers at a domineering mother and rotten school kids. Little by little, the evil inside him began to grow until “The Ugly” showed its face. Even though the film is presented in its Unrated version, Reynolds takes a precautionary step by using a black, inky substance for blood. It’s still splashy, and the effects are still gruesome, yet there’s something settling about the color.
Then you realize it’s another mind game courtesy of Reynolds. He’s great at creating mood and suspense. The film crawls over you like an itchy blanket until you’re totally enveloped. Then the uneasiness begins. While “The Ugly” isn’t a great film, it’s a dandy first effort from an encouraging new writer-director.
COMPLETE CHECK-UP
VISION: [ ] 20/20 [ X ] Good [ ] Cataracts [ ] Blind
Striking 1.85:1 widescreen digital transfer captures the director’s color scheme with perfection. Only a minute trace of compression artifacts mar the normally crystal clear transfer that features soothing warm colors, appealing flesh tones and impressive blacks. The blood reds are most disturbing, triggering a uneasy feeling.
HEARING: [ X ] Excellent [ ] Minor Hearing Loss [ ] Needs Hearing Aid [ ] Deaf
The Dolby Digital Surround track is appropriately eerie, pumping Victoria Kelly’s edgy score and the unsettling ambient noise through the room. The dialogue mix is generally strong, while the stereo separation lends to the chaotic nature of the film. There’s an underlying current of dread that comes through the low range basses. It’s not a definitive soundtrack, but concise enough to get the job done.
ORAL: [ X ] Excellent [ ] Good [ ] Poor
Closed captions in English and subtitles in French and Spanish.
COORDINATION: [ ] Excellent [ X ] Good [ ] Clumsy [ ] Weak
Honestly creepy main and scene access menus, plus the original theatrical trailer. When you click on the Trimark logo on the bottom right of the screen, you also get trailers of “Chinese Box” and “Cube.”
PROGNOSIS: [ ] Excellent [ X ] Fit [ ] Will Live [ ] Resuscitate [ ] Terminal
It’s not a classic, but “The Ugly” is worth a look.
VITALS: $29.99/Unrated/94 Minutes/Color/24 Chapter Stops/Keepcase/#6894D
ATTENDING RESIDENT: John Larsen
PATIENT: THE UGLY
BIRTH DATE: 1996
HMO: Trimark Home Video
