XX

XX

"XX" is a horror anthology film that spotlights four female directors directing four different female centric horror stories.  These women prove that horror isn't just for the boys, but unfortunately the films typically fall short of their premise, while some leave us yearning for more.

"The Box"
A mother takes her young children on a train during Christmastime, and the boy asks the mysterious man sitting next to them to look inside a gift box he's holding.  After the child looks, he suddenly looses his appetite and doesn't eat for several days, to the chagrin of his father, but not so much his mother. Eventually, it escalates to dangerous levels.

The first short was directed by Jovanka Vuckovic, based on a short story by Jack Ketchum (author of the unnerving "The Girl Next Door," who also won the Bram Stoker Award for this short story), and focused on the demands put on a married woman from her family (at least that's the underlying theme).  In simplistic terms, it's about a boy who sees something (or maybe nothing, if you ask him) in a box, and looses all desire to eat.  It's an intriguing premise with decent performances, but ultimately it doesn't lead anywhere.

The Score: B



"The Birthday Party"
Overwrought Mary is trying to throw the perfect birthday party for her young daughter, but when she discovers her husband dead, she has to find a way to hide the body before the guests arrive.

Directed by Annie Clark (better known for her stage name St. Vincent, a proficient instrumentalist), this is the most quirky of the shorts, with loads of dark humor and an insanely loud instrumental score by Clark herself.  This short focuses on a mother's own desire to make everything perfect for her child, despite the minor setback of finding her husband dead moments before the party is set to begin.  It's funny, it's full of vibrant colors that starkly contrast the dark nature, but again it fails to really establish any characterization and therefore doesn't make me want to care for anyone.

The Score: B



"Don't Fall"
A group of friends go hiking in the desert when they come across strange drawings in the rock.  That night a demon takes over one of them and attacks the remaining friends.

Directed by Roxanne Benjamin (who directed the excellent, yet underrated, "Southbound"), this short is the closest to general horror you get in this film.  The effects are alright for such a small budget, but it's easily the weakest of the group.  The characters are thinly written, the story is so thinly leveled that you don't really understand (or care) what's happening, and it leaves you disappointed.  Roxanne Benjamin is so much better than this, and it's like she didn't even care about this project.

The Score: D



"Her Only Living Son"
Eighteen years ago, a young mother goes on the run with her newborn son to get away from his father.  Now the boy is about to turn eighteen, and strange things begin happening - it seems like everyone around him worships the ground he walks on.  The mother soon realizes the truth, and the son has to make a decision - go with her, or go with his real father.

Directed by Karyn Kusama (director of "Jennifer's Body" and one of the best psychological thrillers in recent memory "The Invitation"), "Her Only Living Son" is easily the best of the bunch, and as she even explained it, labels it as a possible continuation to a very famous horror movie (I won't name which one, but if you watch the short you can figure it out).  Strongly acted, a decent script, and an important message about sacrifices a mother makes for her child, "Her Only Living Son" is a visceral tale of terror told through the eyes of one of the leading female horror directors of our time.

The Score: A



The Summary:
Despite a strong finish, "XX" fails to really deliver a true horror experience, even though the directors tried to tell the story through the eyes of women, it doesn't ultimately land anywhere and just leaves you in a permanent flyover, never touching the ground.

The Score: C+