The Ugly (1997)

Director:

Scott Reynolds

Writer:

Scott Reynolds (writer)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The Ugly - It's not a pretty picture!

Plot:

A female psychologist wants to understand the minds of a confessed serial killer who spent the last five years in a mental hospital because of his state.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Serial Killer | Psychologist | Mental Hospital | Confession

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Paolo Rotondo	...	Simon Cartwright
Paul Glover	...	Phillip
Christopher Graham	...	Robert (as Chris Graham)
Darien Takle	...	Marge
Rebecca Hobbs	...	Dr. Karen Schumaker
Roy Ward	...	Dr. Marlowe
Cath McWhirter	...	Helen Ann Millar
Carolyn Beaver	...	Helen's friend
Caelem Pope	...	Simon, aged 4
Jennifer Ward-Lealand	...	Evelyn Cartwright
Finn Johnsen	...	Future cop
Phillip Brown	...	Future cop
Tau Luke	...	Future cop
Tim Barlow	...	Police photographer
Sam Wallace	...	Simon, aged 13

MPAA:

Rated R for gruesome gory murders, language and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

93 min | Australia:91 min | France:91 min | UK:91 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:18 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Essential Films

Quotes:

Dr. Marlowe: He once told me he thought he was being pursued by Russians. It was during the Olympics. He told us that they wanted to assassinate him. We knew he was suffering from acute paranoia, possibly even schizophrenia. He told us the assassins were on the Olympic team...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Boogeymen: The Killer Compilation (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

FIVE WORD HEADLINE

It's a real battle to get genre films made Down Under and there have sadly been very few good ones over the years. 'The Ugly' is one of those few. Highly recommended.

Being Australian and a horror movie fan I'm always curious to see any made in Australia, or in 'The Ugly's case, New Zealand. It's a real battle to get genre films made Down Under and there have sadly been very few good ones over the years. 'The Ugly' is one of those few. It would be easy to dismiss this from the packaging as yet another serial killer thriller but no, it's actually a HORROR movie with a supernatural element (something which inexplicably seems to have passed by a few people, going my some of the user comments on this page!) I didn't recognize writer/director Scott Reynolds name at first, but later I realized that I've seen his 'Heaven' starring Martin Donovan, another very interesting movie. Paolo Rotondo who plays the killer is unknown to me but gives a memorable performance, and really helps this work, as does the inventive editing and playing with narrative, which deftly mixes the past and present, fantasy and reality. The stylized touches such as the black blood also made 'The Ugly' fascinating viewing. I'm highly critical of most contemporary horror movies, but I highly recommend 'The Ugly'. Great stuff!