THE UGLY

Dr. Carol is tasked with tracing the psychological profile of Simon Cartwright, a serial killer interned in a hallucinatory criminal asylum. Simon is probably crazy, he hears voices, has terrible visions... but is it just madness or do his victims really come back to visit him after death? Dr. Carol will discover the truth at her own expense... More refined and polished than Lustig's "Maniac," more horrifying and frightening than McNaughton's "Henry," this "The Ugly" – directed by the surprising New Zealand director Scott Reynolds – is undoubtedly one of the best horror films of recent years on the theme of "serial killers." The perfect performance of Paolo Rotondo as the mad Simon and Reynolds' direction, functional, effective, without frills or unnecessary virtuosity, help to immerse oneself in the spiral of madness of the story: one moment you feel pity and compassion for Simon's miserable and sad existence, the next moment fear and dread for his terrible deeds. It is an alternation of different, almost opposite situations and images, but always "strong" and never leaving one indifferent. This "The Ugly" undoubtedly rises to the role of a small cult in its genre. It is not easy to find but is certainly worth the effort of a bit of research. Recommended.