When it comes to physical media, there are few releases that we at THN look forward to more than those from Second Sight. In recent years the company has emerged as one of the saviours of the home cinema format with its lovingly rendered releases of cult classics, new and old. The boutique label pumps their heart and souls into each product and the results are nothing short of perfection. Their newest title, May, is yet another gold star release.
In 2002, Lucky McKee arrived on the genre scene with the utterly brilliant May. The film, which explored the lonely life of the titular May, won over a legion of outcasts. In May they saw elements of themselves and fell head over heels for the doll-collecting weirdo. Set, as every good genre film is, around Halloween, May follows the isolated existence of veterinary assistant May (Angela Bettis). Typically a shy young woman, May finds herself going to extreme levels of obsession after developing a crush on Adam (Jeremy Sisto). A slow-burn psychological thriller with plenty of WTF moments, May is a perfect spin on the coming-of-age stage. McKee blends in aspects of becoming a monster, creating a warped, but somehow relatable character.
When watching May back it quickly becomes clear just how special this film is. As May, Angela Bettis gives a phenomenal performance. She captures all the hopes and anxieties that May is riddled with perfectly. From her disgust at her perceived lack of beauty due to her lazy eye, to her inability to conjure small talk, Bettis is pitch perfect in her actions. Even when May is not saying anything, Bettis conveys her awkward and nervous nature. Her progression through May’s mental health decline is sublime; both her performance and McKee’s script ensure May works as both horror and drama.
Another magical aspect of May on a rewatch, is just how many famous faces either appear in it, or helped the film’s creation. Angela Bettis has gone on to have a bright career as both star and director within the genre scene. Jeremy Sisto has always been a consistently great ‘that guy’ but here he really sells himself as the object of May’s affection, and Anna Faris is perfect as the amorous Polly. Behind the scenes, May’s editor is none other than Rian Johnson, and cinematographer Steve Yedlin has gone on to lens all of Johnson’s movies. So without Lucky McKee’s May, we might not have the likes of Brick or Looper (as we know them) either.
How it has taken so long for May to get a snazzy home entertainment release boggles the mind, but the wait has been worth it. Stitched together during the pandemic, many of the original cast and crew were available to participate in the release and so the special features are packed with brand new interviews with almost all that were involved. In addition to McKee, Bettis and Sisto, Johnson has recorded interviews detailing his involvement with the production. That so many were so generous with their time is a testament to what exactly May means to those involved. A very special edition of a very special film, get reacquainted with May at your earliest convenience.
May
Summary
Lucky McKee’s cult classic finally gets the snazzy release that fans have long yearned for.
May is out to own now via Second Sight.
