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Overall Rating : 5.5/10
Directed By : Justin Paul Ritter
Helene Udy (My Bloody Valentine)
Taylor M. Dooley
Nicole Jarvis
Lee Perkins (Fangoria: Blood Drive)
Supplied By : Heretic Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Apr.13, 2006
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| PLOT What would happen if someone like Ed Gein or Ted Bundy were to have children and raise them to follow in their bloody footsteps? |
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| THE REVIEW Justin Paul Ritter's KATIEBIRD tells the story of lifelong serial killer Katiebird Wilkins. We join Katiebird as she recounts her upbringing, childhood, and teen life as she kills supposedly her final victim, her doctor. We learn that Katiebird is the product of a serial killer father and she has also believed that to be the reason she is who she is in the present. In the story, as we see Katie commit gruesome actions against the innocent in the most brutal fashion, we find out that her father had always let Katiebird choose her own life, and her own path to follow...but to the glee of her father she followed in his footsteps. KATIEBIRD, is a truly disturbing look inside the mind of a person born into violence that in some way is cleverly translated into a story about someone that just wants to be loved in the end. KATIEBIRD is one film that is truly a product of someone's passion and love for the arts. Director Justin Paul Ritter actually was fired from a previous job for submitting this fine piece of macabre and all I have to say is that I applaud him....who needs a behind the scenes job when you can write what you feel in your heart and gain the respect of many while doing so? The story is a fantastic one, and any fan of true crime and murder will definitely dig KATIEBIRD. The film is definitely a fun one, it tries to stay light one the laughter and makes it a point to shock you...and for the most part it works. The film is presented rather awkwardly though, it is shown all the way through in various split screens and multiples. It is never shown in widescreen or full screen.... I somewhat found this distracting and for most of the film I was waiting for it to go to a normal view, it was sort of an annoyance to me throughout. Because of this, I feel I was never able to fully experience the story, or to fully enjoy the film. However, the acting is by far one of the best performances I have seen from an entire cast in a indie film in a long time. It was great to see Helene Udy in this! I had just watched MY BLOODY VALENTINE a few days ago again for the first time in a awhile so it was still fresh in memory. I think Helene did a great job as the adult Katiebird, she really brought to life a true killing veteran in a very believable manner. For the teen years we have another actress as Katie, this would be Taylor M. Dooley. I think that most of all Taylor would be my favorite part in the movie, simply because her performance was so raw and really realistic....you'd truly believe she was a closet psychopath! Katiebird's father played by Lee Perkins, was my least favorite in the film. Katie's father is supposed to be the pro here, the one whom taught his daughter the tricks of the trade.... but the way the character was portrayed, you wouldn't believe he could kill a fly nonetheless a person. Overall the film is great and I really enjoyed it. I actually expected to rank this film higher do to the other critics' reviews. and had it not been for the split screens ultimately becoming a big annoyance I would have.... |
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| GORE
METER 6/10 There is a great deal of gore going on here and it is done very realistically. If I listed every occurrence we would be here for days! |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 7/10 Superb scoring makes for a hell of a movie and for KATIEBIRD it does. Highly original and it really sets the tone throughout. If you purchase the deluxe DVD the soundtrack CD is also included.... |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM Well crafted, and well done...KATIEBIRD is a highly entertaining film that is definitely not for the sissies. I found the presentation of the film aggravating at times and I am sure not all of the viewers are going to like that aspect of it either, but beneath it all is one hell of a story.. Visit the film's official website @ /www.katiebirdthemovie.com |
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