MAY (2002)
Writer/director Lucky McKee’s 2002 queer horror cult classic MAY.
MAY
2002. USA.
Director: Lucky McKee
Screenplay: Lucky McKee
Starring: Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris, James Duval, Nichole Hiltz, and Ken Davitian
McKee describes MAY as a sort of dark fairy tale. The film opens on May’s birthday when she was a young girl and offers a glimpse into her troubled and lonely past. Her mother gives her a doll named Susie, encased in glass, that she made herself.
“If you can’t find a friend, make one.” She says.
Later, as a fully-grown adult, May (Angela Bettis) has still not connected with another human and is prone to having conversations with her doll. She manages to keep a job as a vet’s assistant and her coworker Polly (Anna Faris) frequently flirts with her. May, however, is more interested in a handsome mechanic named Adam (Jeremy Sisto).
When their date takes a turn for the worse, May seeks comfort in Polly and hopes to make a connection there. But, Polly is seeing another woman and can’t give May the attention she desires.
As the film progresses, and May receives more rejections, the glass case holding Susie becomes increasingly damaged and cracked. Soon May takes her mother’s advice and decides to MAKE a new friend. Literally.
To avoid spoiling any more of the plot, I’ll stop there.
MAY is a very well crafted horror film; it’s a character study that follows its protagonist through uncomfortable social interactions while she searches for a lasting emotional connection. True, the title character is another in a long line of queer villains, but it’s not necessarily her fault. The world has pushed her into being an outsider and she becomes isolated and fixated on her dolls because of this. This disconnection leads May to start viewing people as objects, made up of parts – much like her doll collection.
MAY opened in nine theatres across North America in 2002 and received mostly positive reviews. Despite its limited release, it went on to become a cult classic.
MAY is streaming on Tubi, Roku & PlutoTV (USA), Prime (UK/Mexico) – It’s also available for rent/purchase through AppleTV & Amazon - and also available on DVD/Blu-ray.
