In the world of indie horror film, there is weird, and then there is very weird. Richard Bates Jr. shatters all previous records with Excision, a coming-of-age tale that ultimately works thanks to a killer performance from AnnaLynne McCord of TV's 90210 fame.
McCord plays Pauline, a atypical teen who picks at her scabs, dissects roadkill, and can think of nothing better than performing surgery on strangers. She is ridiculed by her peers and feared by her parents. But her younger sister, Grace, understands her. One day after sex-ed, Pauline decides she is ready to lose her virginity....and the weirdness only escalates from there.
AnnaLynne McCord takes on a different form with Pauline, giving us a haunting performance that we are unable to shake. Her mannerisms create a mindset that is as vexing as it is entertaining. A few excerpts from her prayers bring about some awkward laughs, and her first operation shows she has a soul. But there is just no denying that, at the core, Pauline is strange and mental.
It is hard to fully explain the elements of Excision without diving too deeply into the plot. Filled with blood, sex, and witty dialogue, the film successfully combines the elements of several genres, ultimately paying homage to the classic b-style of horror that has been resurrected over the last several years. And one thing worth noting, when it comes to menstrual blood, all bets are off!
