MOVIE REVIEW
Black Eyed Susan
 (adult content) -     

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 25m
Director(s): Scooter McCrae
Writer(s): Scooter McCrae
Cast: Yvonne Emilie Thälker, Scott Fowler, Damian Maffei, Marc Romeo
Where To Watch: world premiere at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: This film WILL make you uncomfortable and mad and challenge you to think outside the box! (if it doesn’t, you may want to consider therapy) BLACK EYED SUSAN is a cinematic excursion into the shadowy crossroads of advanced AI and human emotion, effortlessly blending gritty realism with a speculative narrative. Director Scooter McCrae returns after a two-decade hiatus to probe the ethical labyrinth surrounding a humanoid robot designed to experience human-like emotions, shot through the lens of Super 16 film that gives the tale a haunting, timeless quality.

Imagine a world where technological creations can mirror the deepest parts of human emotion and desire. That's the unsettling premise of BLACK EYED SUSAN, which places Derek (Damian Maffei,) a man grappling with his ethical boundaries, in front of Susan (Yvonne Emilie Thälker,) a “robot” whose purpose blurs the lines between compliance and autonomy. Maffei delivers a riveting performance filled with desperation and intrigue. At the same time, Thälker is captivating with a portrayal that dances eerily on the line between object and sentient being.

The indie essence of BLACK EYED SUSAN amplifies the film’s intensity and authenticity. Shot on Super 16, the film’s grainy visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia and create a visceral immediacy that pulls the audience directly into the heart of the narrative. This tactile quality of the visuals, combined with minimalist production design, strips away any gloss of mainstream cinema, leaving raw, unfiltered emotions on display. This unpolished presentation magnifies the emotional stakes, making every scene more intimate and consequential.

This film transcends the traditional narrative, offering a gritty psychological exploration set against a backdrop that juxtaposes the raw texture of the final product with the sleek sterility of futuristic technology. Fabio Frizzi's score deepens the atmospheric tension, weaving a backdrop that complements the film’s dark thematic elements.

As the story of BLACK EYED SUSAN unfolds, viewers are drawn into a provocative dialogue about the future of AI and its potential impact on human relationships. The film challenges its audience to reflect on profound questions about autonomy, consent, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. It’s a piece that provokes thought and emotional response, ensuring its place as a topic of conversation long after the end credits.

Reflecting on the emotional journey BLACK EYED SUSAN takes its viewers, it’s hard to recall the last time a film stirred such a potent cocktail of emotions. The film navigates through layers of psychological tension, leaving a lingering mix of dread, empathy, and introspection. Days after viewing, the film’s themes and characters continue to haunt and challenge, sparking a relentless introspection about the implications of AI in our lives. It’s a testament to the film’s impact; it resonates profoundly emotionally, evoking a spectrum of responses that keeps audiences engaged long after the credits roll.

Scooter McCrae uses his cinematic canvas to confront uncomfortable questions, marrying horror elements with philosophical musings in an unsettling and enlightening way. BLACK EYED SUSAN stands as a testament to the power of film to provoke thought and stir debate, making it a must-see for anyone intrigued by the intersection of technology and human emotion.

I think it’s important to realize how “difficult” this film can be to experience, so much so that I was even given a warning before screening it. “Make no mistake - BLACK EYED SUSAN is purposely difficult. You may find yourself disgusted - or even nervously snickering - at its graphic nudity and coarse, vulgar language typically only found in pornography. It is the opposite of safe filmmaking and features fearlessly exposed performances from its committed stars, Damien Maffei and Yvonne Emilie Thälker. BLACK EYED SUSAN is a film that exists to challenge, forcing its audience into very dark places. It shows the lengths men will go to satisfy their dark desires, and the questions the film asks demand dialogue.”

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[photo courtesy of Not the Funeral Home, Vinegar Syndrome]

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