The Ugly -Movie Review Available Now From Unearthed Films

In what I found to be a great little psychological thriller with horror elements, The Ugly(1997) does a great job of getting under your skin while analyzing the mind of a brutal killer, who refuses to be labeled a serial killer. This is a great debut film from writer/director Scott Reynolds. It's also one of the best edited movies I have seen, showing how much good editing can help tell the story.

Simon is introduced to us when he is brought into a room to be analyzed by a new psychologist, the very attractive Dr Karen Schumaker(Rebecca Hobbs), by the asylum's nasty orderlies, who bring him in, and are trying to antagonize Simon. We find out later that he has previously injured another orderly, who is now in a wheelchair.

In one scene even go as far as spitting in his food and backwashing his coffee; they love to torment him. Which, in a way, puts you on Simon's side. 

Even though Simon is a handsome young man, he feels that he is The Ugly, after time we begin to understand his dislike for his face, and the film really gets into how trauma can affect the mind. When he sees his face in the mirror, etc., he sees a scar from when he was a child on his face, being chased home by bullies after school, Simon falls and somewhat disfugures his face. Over time, the facial scars have healed; it's the internal scars that linger in his mind.

Putting his trust in Dr Schumaker, Simon really begins to open up to her, which makes the asylum's doctor and his orderlies quite upset, as he's been "working" with Simon for years with little result.

As Simon keeps sharing his nightmarish killings, we are given flashbacks that work extremely well here. Also, Dr Schumaker is often in the flashback asking him questions about what in particular happened, or why he did what he did. A very interesting plot point that I don't recall seeing before.

The murder scenes are not covered in red, but instead, black, maybe because we are in the darkest part of Simon's mind?

This film has been restored in 4K and is available on Blu-Ray. It's one of my favorite releases of the year.

If you would like a copy of your own, here is the press release with all the worldwide links for purchasing.

The Ugly Press Release