A serial killer tells his story in the underseen and brutal 1997 New Zealand horror film The Ugly. From writer-director Scott Reynolds, it comes to Blu-Ray via Unearthed Classics this week.
The Ugly, written and directed by Scott Reynolds, is an interesting Kiwi curio. In many ways, it’s a New Zealand version of John McNaughton’s 1986 shocker Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. I’m not saying The Ugly is ripping it off; they just share some themes, a tone, and a style. The Ugly, from 1997, follows the crimes of Simon, a man driven to kill mostly randomly, as he talks to a psychopathic Dr. Karen Schumaker about said crimes. It’s all done in a rather engaging, different manner that gives it an edge over many other serial killer flicks, even if in some ways it feels a little empty when it comes to an end.
This is the first time I’ve seen the film, but it’s been on my radar for a long time. Back in 2001, a DVD called Boogeymen: The Killer Compilation was released. It featured clips from a dozen and some horror flicks, mostly with notable killers like Jason and Freddy. Included in that set were the little-seen The Guardian from William Friedkin and this film, The Ugly. It certainly seemed interesting from the clip seen and the information around it. It just never made its way to me until now.
Simon is a man in a nasty psychiatric hospital. And I mean nasty; the production design of this forsaken place could be a manifestation of the murderous mind’s vision: rotting, peeling, sickly looking with red… paint?… splashed on the walls, on overall malaise. It’s lorded over by a weird caretaker and two strange orderlies (to the point I wondered if it was a “lunatics took over”. A famous psychiatrist, Dr. Schumaker, comes at his request to interview him and his past. Yes, shades of Silence of the Lambs, but without the other story pushing a larger story forward. She gets his history as he tells it, in an interesting out-of-linear order to make us wonder about missing steps before they are told. I liked that.
The way it’s told physically works well. We’re not just watching two people talk, but when he tells the story, it’s like they’re both transported. She’s present in the scene, lending a culpability (even if it can’t be changed) for her and the audience. Seeing his thought process, how he takes in the scene, lets us into his head. And it’s a bad place to be. The killings are brutal and staged excellently with fantastic effects from Weta Workshop (my geeky heart fluttered with Richard Taylor in the credits), just before The Lord of the Rings took all their time and made them huge. Especially in what Simon sees. He not only sees himself as a creature in the mirror but often sees his former victims, goading him to kill. With their wounds and black blood (all the blood here is black) pouring from their mouths, it’s a striking, visceral, and disturbing visual.
The Ugly falls into the sort that would make a very good longer short, but stretched when feature length (two of the director’s earlier shorts are on the disc, both tight in concept, see below). After a time, The Ugly becomes repetitive, which noting much new to say to Simon’s psyche, which is pretty much limited to “maybe his mom’s overbearingness forced it?” It’s kinda stagnant. Lots of sequences of stalk and stab. Just to have them. Like Henry, it’s reviling and meant to be uncomfortable with said sick look and tone. But that had Otis and Becky. Simon, continually alone, has nothing much to hang on. Thus, my surface-level concepts. Fascinating, but I was waiting for that extra bit to come. Finally, it limps to an ending. A story like this is hard to close, so I get it.
Both leads carry it well. Paolo Rotondo as Simon is simultaneously revolting and attractive. We’re brought into his world. It’s a tough line to straddle, and he does so excellently. Rotondo popped in for a scene in last year’s Shudder surprise The Rule of Jenny Pen, good to see him there, though he’s had a hearty career on stage and screen. He and Rebecca Hobbs play off one another well. She’s striking, fierce, and riveting; one can see more of what’s driving Dr. Schumacher, simmering under the surface. The pair hit a great stride in playing at levels. Mom is played by Jennifer Ward-Lealand with a great sneer and villainy.
Scott Reynolds ’ The Ugly is an underseen New Zealand tarnished gem. There’s plenty to see shine, though even with some mars. Led by a pair of great performances and a fantastic production design and dirty blue lighting that sets a sickly tone, it’s worthy of a watch for those who dig grimy nastiness.
Image via Unearthed Classics
The Package
Unearthed Classics offers The Ugly on a single Blu-Ray, impressed with a shot of Simon stalking a victim. The case is a clear Blu-ray with a reversible sleeve within, one side featuring original artwork, the other with new art for this release. A booklet is placed on the other side. It has a cardboard O-sleeve with the new art.
The Presentation
The Ugly receives a 4k transfer, and it’s damned good, really highlighting the sickliness of the production. Every blood drop, grime, and nastiness is there bright and clear, but still keeping the tone of the film intact. The audio options are original 2.0 theatrical stereo and 4.0 DTS MA Surround. Subtitles are in English.
The Features
Unearthed Classics sets up a nice set.
Commentary (new)
Actors Paolo Rotondo and Rebecca Hobbs are joined by moderator Nathaniel Thompson. It’s interesting, but like the movie, it lags after a while. With most of the film in one place and rolling through various scenarios, there isn’t a great deal for them to talk about, leading to a stretch.
Radio interview (1997)
Writer-director Scott Reynolds talks about this film, his shorts, and the film he has next. A good chat. (17m)
Two Shorts
I love having these here. We love shorts, and I like seeing what filmmakers have done leading up to their break.
The m1nute (1992)
Short and sweet, it takes some weird turns with an unexpected narrative. Engaging and one can see a touch that will transfer to better later.
(8m)
A Game with No Rules (1994)
Featuring Martin Csokas from Cuckoo and other character roles. A mistress reaches out to a wife (who played Simon’s mom in the main film) to tell of the man between them’s plan. A nice twisty mini-noir.
(18m)
Visual Essay (new)
A look at serial killer cinema from the start (1911) to now. A solid essay, getting to the details and psychology with trends in the real world.
Trailers (2)
Booklet
A stapled 5-page booklet. Features “Reflections: A Look Back at Scott Renolds’ The Ugly” by Jason Jenkins and “Behind the Veil: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Ugly” by Jason Jenkins. Short, but good writing on the flick.
Final Thoughts
Scott Reynolds’s The Ugly is a little film to check out from New Zealand. Gross, nasty, and with a nice set of features; check it out.