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Scars
SCARS is a 2016 psychological thriller film written and directed by Sean K. Robb. The plot involves two young women who embark on a killing spree. The film was distributed in North America by Wild Eye Releasing and in Europe by Look Films. The picture won Best SFX at San Antonio Horrific Film Festival (Danielle Cole was nominated for Best Actress, Matt Wells for Best Actor)[1], won Best Retro Film at Fright Night Film Festival and was nominated for Best Feature Film at the Terror Film Festival.
Development
Writer-Director Sean K. Robb began developing SCARS in 2010 with producing partner Shannon Foerter after the two were named finalists in the National Screen Institute's Totally Television[2] development program. After pitching a drama series to various networks at the Banff World Media Festival[3], the pair formed TRB Productions to produce SCARS.
Plot
After killing her boyfriend, a young woman who goes by the name of Scar (Danielle Cole) finds herself living on the streets of Toronto. Meanwhile, another woman, Scarlett (Neale Kimmel) makes a living by blackmailing married men that she's been sleeping with. After Scar saves Scarlett from a violent physical attack, Scarlett invites Scar to live with her.
Soon thereafter, the woman join forces in a killing spree -- violently killing men they meet online, in bars as well as former targets of Scarlett's scheme. When Police Detective Mike (Matt Wells) begins investigating the deaths of these men, he falls under Scarlett's spell and the two begin dating.
When Scar kidnaps a young punk-rocker named Ratboy (Eric Regimbald) and chains him to a pipe in the apartment, Scarlett fears that things have gone too far -- a worry that is realized when Detective Mike reveals himself to be a stalker, who isn't really a cop at all.
After holding Scar, Scarlett and Ratboy captive for days, Mike has the tables turned on him when the women escape. Scar then kills Ratboy and -- with Scarlett -- drives Det. Mike out to his home in the suburbs. There, Scar horrifies Scarlett by slaughtering Mike's family, before decapitating Mike himself.
Back home, Scar and Scarlett share a bath together, which ends when Scar strangles Scarlett to death. At the end of the picture, Scar is revealed as having taken over Scarlett's blackmail scheme, having reinvented herself from gothic street punk to femme fatale.
Cast
- Danielle Cole as Scar
- Neale Kimmel as Scarlett
- Matt Wells as Detective Mike
- Eric Regimbald as Ratboy
- Nigel Downer as Kyle
- Ophilia Davis as Angela
- Tennessee Webb as Scar's Father
- Chris Handfield as Harry
Production
SCARS began shooting in 2011. Reshoots were shot in 2012 and the film completed editing in 2013. Following a debut screening at Toronto's Royal Theatre, SCARS was featured in a number of genre festivals in North America before a distribution deal was signed with Wild Eye Releasing in 2015.
Critical Reception
Reception to the film has been mixed. In his positive review, Martyn Wakefield at Bloodguts UK Horror wrote "SCARS is a female fronted slasher but beyond that goes deeper to a character study of two frail women in a male dominated world."[4] Amy Mead at Death and Giggles wrote "If you like murderous hot chicks all covered in blood, I would definitely recommend checking this one out."[5] Also praising the film, Cory G. at Movie Graveyard wrote "This is a film that is not only incredibly well done, but original as well. Part slasher, part coming of age, part art house, I've never really seen a film like this."[6]
In his negative review at Cinehouse, Scott Clarke wrote: "Instead of being a shameless contemporary revenge film in the vein of Lila & Eve, Monstro del Mar, or Julia, it’s a messy, irritating film which doesn't take advantage of its best moments."[7] Another negative review, by Bat at Horror Cult Films stated: "SCARS is a chore to watch from beginning to end with nothing very likable about any of the characters involved, even lacking the style of Julia which had a similar premise but was better thought out and backed up despite my particular niggles with the film’s plot."[8]
- ^ "San Antonio Horrific Film Festival (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "Audio interview with Shannon Foerter and Sean Robb | National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)". National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI). 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "Watch for these talented NSI Totally Television teams at Banff World Television Fest | National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)". National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI). 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "BloodGuts UK Horror". BloodGuts UK Horror. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "SCARS (2012) MOVIE REVIEW - Death & Giggles". Death & Giggles. 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "Scars". moviegraveyardreviews.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "DVD Review - Scars". cinehouseuk.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "SCARS (2016) | Horror Cult Films". Horror Cult Films. 2017-01-08. Retrieved 2017-12-13.