Although I feel as though the film ended on kind of a low note, I'd feel confident recommending American Mary to anyone interested in darker drama films with a dash of gore.The story follows Mary, a grim medical student having trouble paying her bills so she looks for new... "creative" ways to get paid. From the get-go Mary is a very likable character that you hope the best for throughout the film. Katharine Isabelle, who you may know from the Ginger Snaps films, is perfect for the role of Mary: a modern day, grown up Wednesday Addams. There is something so appealing in a smart woman who is not opposed to a bit of violence.The move was shot pretty well: the scenes all featured believable and well lived-in sets. Also, the rest of the cast was generally cast pretty well. David Lovgren as the hateable Dr. Grant was a good fit and so was Tristan Risk's eccentric character "Beatress." Some minor characters such as Dr. Black and the scenes in which the directors cameoed in felt a little strange and unnecessary.The film definitely had its slow parts but I felt that my attention was held throughout it nonetheless. American Mary is by no means ground-breaking in terms story and script, but it remained interesting and fresh.

American Mary is a story of surgical horror and body modification, done on a budget and starring Katharine Isabelle (of GINGER SNAPS fame). Isabelle plays a young medical student who gets drawn into the world of a murky, gangster-run nightclub in order to make ends meet, and after suffering an ordeal at the hands of a senior doctor she decides to get revenge in her own inimitable style.Unfortunately this is the kind of grotesque, sub-Cronenberg wannabe that seems to be ten a penny these days, although it in no way equals the class or professionalism of an early Cronenberg flick. Instead it's a complete bore and a mess of a film, with plotting that goes all over the place and characterisation that never really works.I loved Isabelle in the GINGER SNAPS trilogy but she feels miscast here and I would say the role was beneath her; certainly when you see her gyrating or suffering you can't help that feel she herself is being exploited somewhat as an actress. In any case, the characters are all unlikeable, and the scenes of body modification and the like are merely repulsive and repellent rather than properly horrific. American Mary is trash, made with a bare modicum of talent, and a film with no purpose other than to gross you out.

Modern imitation of some of David Cronenbergs' filmography is nonetheless interesting and watchable on its own terms. It's really more of a drama than a horror film, with touches of gore and dark comedy, and is slow paced enough that it may have some viewers fumbling for their remotes. It plunges the audience into a world of sordid and off putting characters in a tale of sex and fetishism. Ultimately, it works its way towards a somewhat conventional finish, but getting there is still an amusing enough experience.The lovely Katharine Isabelle, best known for her role as Ginger in the "Ginger Snaps" series, stars as Mary, a promising med student in desperate need of cash. So she accepts the offer from nightclub owner Billy (Antonio Cupo) to patch up a mangled associate of his. This leads to offers from other people, people who are into radical body modification, to perform a variety of "underground surgery". As Mary is immersed in this world more and more, it really takes a toll on her well-being.If it weren't for Ms. Isabelle, who looks extremely sexy in a variety of outfits, this would have been a little harder to get through. She delivers an engaging lead performance, and is believable throughout Mary's personality arc. It is fun to see Mary take her new business so seriously that she dismisses one potential patient who's willing to settle for something as mundane as piercings. And we do get to see a number of individuals who've had some pretty nasty things done to themselves.Some people may want to note that at least the gore in this movie is serving the story and never *becoming* the whole reason for its existence. The effects are generally well done.Sibling directors Jen and Sylvia Soska (who also cameo in "American Mary" as the German twins) do have some potential, so it will be intriguing to watch the progress of their careers.Six out of 10.

I just tried to watch "American Mary"- being that I adore extreme body modification**, I thought I'd like it... It seems like the people who made it didn't know a damned thing about medicine whatsoever though- Really stupid details- like her inserting a syringe that's plunger was ALREADY PLUNGED into SOMEONE'S CHEEK- so even if it wasn't EMPTY it just would of squirted the contents into his mouth. So- stupid. Stupid. Tis a shame. I also can not abide by a medical resident performing surgery without gloves and with her hair not tied up, and with NO CLEANING OF THE FLESH BEFORE SURGERY. It's just... Mind numbingly stupid. Such a shame- because the premise was so promising. American Mary: I got through 40 minutes, and I give it a 2/10. **I have extreme body modification.