The Ugly

1997 "Murder is in the eye of the beholder."
6| 1h33m| R| en| More Info
Released: 01 May 1998 Released
Producted By: New Zealand Film Commission
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

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.

Genre

Horror, Thriller

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Director

Scott Reynolds

Production Companies

New Zealand Film Commission

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The Ugly Audience Reviews

UnowPriceless hyped garbage
Beanbioca As Good As It Gets
Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Wizard-8 I like the fact that the New Zealand government is more than willing to fund more commercial movies, unlike a certain North American country that begins with the letter "C". Although this movie attempts to put several artistic touches in it, at its heart it's a commercial movie. I was never bored by this movie, and it does indeed have some moments of suspense and/or horror, as well as some thoughtful human touches, but overall it's only middle of the road for its genre (the serial killer genre.) The production values are somewhat below average, with a dark look to most scenes as well as unconvincing sets and props. The story jumps around too much, and the director pulls the rug from under us too many times (mainly with "Oh, it's just a dream" sequences.) And why the heck is the blood in this movie BLACK? Again, this isn't a BAD movie, but if you're in the mood for a low budget movie about a serial killer, I suggest you instead watch "Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer" or "Confessions Of A Serial Killer".
MrTacchi This movie is a big mess. I read lot of reviews trying to explain it, but there are too many plot holes left open in the story, making it impossible to find a logic behind it all.I think it's O.K. when a movie leaves some things open to interpretation, but in this case, everything seems blurred, pointless and confusing, and the people that seems to like this movie the most, are actually those who have filled the many plot holes with their own interesting theories, fulfilling their expectations; but, for the regular moviegoer, who wants to SEE things rather than having to keep guessing what has happened, this is simply not enough. In my case, I thought this movie was pretentious, a little bit boring and never decided which way to go.
Wheesht Pretty disappointed with this movie as it happens. It came to me highly recommended by some people whose opinions I trust on such things but it really doesn't pass muster.The opening scene was pretty good to be fair and the film had a few good things going for it. The two orderlies were class - must have been fun roles to play, Jennifer Ward-Lealand is grotesque as Simon's mum and Reynolds certainly conjures up a bit of atmosphere.On the downside, it just wasn't very interesting. He's a serial killer who had a troubled childhood and was bullied at school. His mum was nasty to him and he hears voices in his head telling him to kill. Hardly revolutionary stuff is it? Roy Ward clearly watched lots of Bond movies to prepare for the role of Dr Marlowe. If you've seen Austin Powers, then think Dr Evil but with added demonic facial hair. All that was missing was a white cat for him to stroke.I've seen this compared to Silence Of The Lambs but Rotondo and Hobbs are no Hopkins and Foster. I've also seen this described by a lot of folk as 'overlooked' or 'unappreciated'. That may be true but then there are reasons why it's overlooked and unappreciated.Not a bad movie, just not the 'hidden gem' I'd been led to expect.
Gafke I'd never heard of this film before viewing the "Boogeymen" compilation, and was inspired to hunt it down afterwards, believing I might have missed out on a horror film of stunning importance. Indeed, Paolo Rotondo earned his award for his portrayal of Simon, a shy, good-looking and incredibly violent serial killer. Paolo makes his character sympathetic as we flash back to his childhood and see him beaten by his schoolmates and humiliated further by his weirdo mother. We don't blame him when he kills her. We understand, even if it's on a primal level, the bursts of anger that make him kill again and again. We even hope he will win the girl of his dreams, though when he does, we know it's only a matter of time before she too falls under the razor blade. Simon is a complex character, the sort who stops to rescue an injured dog with the fresh corpse of his most recent murder still in the backseat, or refrains from murdering a little girl because she is deaf, and therefore as damaged as he is.The film that surrounds Simon is unpleasant, to say the least. It is disgusting and difficult to watch and not always easy to follow. The ambiguous ending left me just as confused as I was when the film began. It was as though the people who made this film couldn't decide whether they wanted a straightforward story of a serial killer, or a dark fantasy about demons and the supernatural powers of the twisted mind. Everything is hinted at, but nothing is verified, and at films end, you are left to make up your own mind. I couldn't help but feel disappointed, especially since it seemed that Mr. Rotondo put his all into a character for a film that just wasn't worth the effort. It left me feeling sick and depressed.