Excision (2008) User Reviews

An abstract look at American suburbia

[logicproreviews · 6/10 · 7 July 2018]

Excision follows a young adult called Pauline who is trying to find her place, whilst enduring a boring family life. She's opinionated and not afraid to dissect (pun intended) her family dysfunction.

She has a soft spot for surgery and daydreams about gory operating procedures. At times it's hard to know where this narrative is going as it changes course a few times. There are some speedy sequences which are quite Lynchian in their approach such as Pauline's dissection of a bird.

This short is designed to shock, we are randomly shown Pauline in the throes of self pleasure - book-ended by her horrific daydreams. This requires repeat viewings as you'll find out something new each time but be careful as this can leave an imprint!

The cinematography is a bit flat but this was perhaps intentional as it suits the mood.

I actually prefered this to the feature that followed.

6/10

Good little movie

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 9 November 2015]

"Excision" is an 18-minute horror short film from 7 years ago. This was the first work by Richard Bates Jr. and he actually won a couple awards for it. This short film was so acclaimed that Bates (fitting name for a horror movie filmmaker) turned it into a full feature film 4 years later. Shame though that he replaced the lead actress who did a really good job here with a more famous actress. And I am not only talking about the great orgasm scene here. I cannot further elaborate on the remake as I haven't seen it, but as for this short film it is certainly worth the watch, especially for horror film fans. It has tension, nice drama, a good story and even some subtle humor from start to finish. I think this was nicely done and it makes me curious about Bates' next works. Thumbs up for this entertaining and atmospheric watch. There are a couple flaws in there, such as the mother hugging her daughter at the end. Yes I know this was about the child being neglected, but that reaction was completely absurd in that scenario she came in to witness. Still, it does not kill the otherwise really strong movie and I recommend it.

A haunting glance into the darkest shadows of suburban youth oblivion.

[scott-2191 · 10/10 · 6 July 2009]

"An alienated teenager, obsessed with all things medical, is distraught over thoughts of her cystic fibrosis suffering sister eventually being in need of a lung transplant. She prepares to put the vast amounts of book-knowledge she's amassed over the years to good, practical use, seeking out to save her sister and prove her worth to her family in a single, selfless action.

An extraordinary film that lives somewhere in the median between Todd Solondz and David Cronenberg, EXCISION is a staggering debut from young writer/director Richard Bates Jr, who juggles painful truths, raw emotion and morbid wit with an agility that few filmmakers ever attain. Couple that talent with an astounding lead performance by relative newcomer Tessa Ferrer, who, if any justice remains in the independent film world, will soon become an indie household name, and you've got one of the best films of the year, of any genre or length. A haunting glance into the darkest shadows of suburban youth oblivion." —Mitch Davis

a great film, with a terrific performance

[armanddiab · 9/10 · 9 March 2009]

I just saw EXCISION a few days ago, at the Washington DC Independent Film Festival. It was featured in the evening horror session. More so than any other film that day, EXCISION had the biggest effect on me.

The performances are great, especially by the lead actress, whom I've never seen in anything else before. She's simply terrific, conveying the angst, the frustration of being neglected by her parents, and about how she simply doesn't fit in. Her fantasies, where she's dreaming about taking a bath in blood, are perfectly realized and captured.

By the time EXCISION reaches its awesome third act, we can understand why the heroine is doing what she's doing, although we're still abhorred at her actions. The film has a great final scene too, where the mother finally accepts her daughter for who she is. Too bad it took such a horrible act to win her affection, but it's well handled by the director in a film that is original and uncompromising.

admirable

[Kirpianuscus · 24 August 2019]

It represents more than a good short horror. Because not about scare or thrill , or about murder but about acceptance and haunted dreams and sisterhood is this special film. And it does its job in brilliant manner, being impressive , seductive and powerful. A film about family and a radical decision for keeping the status and defining the vocation. Short, admirable work.

A very strange dream...

[nome-nessuno · 9/10 · 4 June 2016]

The film is placed in the context of the teenager disturbed but also seeks to emphasize the difference with which it is understand physical illness and the psychic from society and parents. The story tells the young Pauline, eighteen, oppressed by an intrusive, authoritarian mother, a father spineless (as always in this type of households) and a sick sister of cystic fibrosis.

Crazy eyes and disheveled hair, Pauline test a passion for blood and surgery, makes dreams with dead bodies in a morgue, has solitary conversations with God and psychiatric sessions with a priest, his life is a continuous confrontation with the school, parents and the first sexual urges accompanied by visions of blood and skin incisions.

The mixture of sloppiness and post puberty innocence seeking in a strong rebellious impulses of teenagers "ego", all with an enviable smoothness, excursions surrealist (the glossy- blood dreams of the protagonist). A very strange dream ....