Little Erin Merryweather (2003) Reviews

• snips, snails, puppy-dog entrails

  babybink2003-11-02

  an interesting and surprisingly rhapsodic slasher film, 'little erin merryweather' combines fairy-tale imagery, classic horror genre elements, romantic comedy elements, and burton-esque flights of fancy to tell the story of a little girl who is 'lost in the woods' due to scarring abuse as a child. the setup and plot progression are typical (and almost dull in their by-the-book crime thriller development), but the proceedings are boosted by some suprisingly strong performances (particularly the psych teacher) and a creepy, sing-songy lilt that i've never really seen before in this type of film (i can only compare it to "dead of winter", "jack be nimble", and "the company of wolves", although i can't even really say why). deliciously eerie childlike music and fantastic illustrations and voiceover let on from the start that this is not your typical cut-em-up, but then fairly standard scare scenes bring you back to the reality that yes, it may be just that. left a somewhat stale taste in my mouth due to the demonisation of a victim of abuse (a tired and potentially insulting thriller theme that's been virtually abandoned), but earned definite points for its clean, economic direction and unique tone. i'd like to see more from these guys. screened at the nychff.

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• A Horror Movie That Takes The High Road

  lauraindiereviewer2010-10-08

  To paraphrase Robert Benchley: Little Erin Merryweather takes the road less traveled — in this case, the high road, and along the way manages to kick every modern horror movie cliché to the curb. Item 1: Viewers know instantly whodunit. But the characters don't, and as Hitchcock always knew, that's where the real fun—and suspense—is. Item 2: Said killer isn't a one-dimensional mad slasher sporting a hockey mask. Instead, she (Vigdis Anholt) — that's right, she — remains winsome and wise with crystal-blue eyes (when sane, that is). Still, it's enough to charm Item 3, the curly blond male lead (David Morwick), yet not the actual hero of the film, notwithstanding his dashing looks, sheepish grins and seductive lip-biting. Instead, that role goes to Item 4, the smart, attractive psychologist (Liz Callahan), clearly in charge though (uh-oh) female and fiftysomething. And finally, Item 5: The violence isn't repulsive. Instead, it's restrained, just like the film's de rigueur indie-driven budget — yet a talented cast and crew, performing double or sometimes triple-duty (Morwick also scripted and directed), burnish a strikingly-polished film. Which is why Little Erin's journey down that untrodden road is such a wild, bumpy and cheerfully creepy ride.

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• Well executed. This film is a perfect example of people making a great horror flick with limited resources.

  evanmatthews532008-10-29

  When I finished watching this film, I felt sucker-punched. I was hoping for some laughs from another grade D horror film. I guess the joke's on me. Little Erin Merryweather was good, not perfect but good. David Morwick is kind of the man behind the curtain as director, actor, writer. (most indies require people to wear a lot of hats which he did well) But I think it's safe to say his strength is in the acting department. Morwick is very funny and likable in the lead role of Peter and probably brings in the strongest performance. We all know that bumbling, fidgety kid we went to school with and Morwick plays that part perfectly, to a tee. Although Vigdis Anholt (Erin) doesn't say much, her performance can be summed up by the old adage, "if looks could kill. . ." Her body language and chilling stares is what spooked me the most. I give the filmmakers two thumbs up for turning the genre on its head in a sense and letting a female villain take a whack at this. Where the film falls short is in the pacing. It's just a little slow at times, probably due to budget issues. But, this has made up for an overall style, mood and atmosphere of the film. Before you poo-poo this as just another low budget slasher, take another look. Speaking of the look of the film, it really captured those rich, depth of field shots. What struck me the most with Little Erin Merryweather and I have seen other people comment on this is that they really achieved the throwback to the "70's". This film looks like it was made in 1976, 1977, right down to the actors. I would never have guessed this was made today. There's no morphed reflection of today's society at all. I don't know how they achieved this, but they did.

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• Beware the Creepy Doll of Cracked Porcelain, Complete with a Pair of Hollowed-Out Eyes. . .

  Indyindiemoviereviews2010-01-06

  A quirky paean to horror films of decades past, Little Erin Merryweather has a panache all its own, with an eerie yet elegant storyline punctuated by scares and shocks reminiscent of the classic thriller Halloween — and a back story that re-boots, of all things, Little Red Riding Hood. But this modern-day fairy tale turns very grim and may not have a happy ending. Somewhere, lurking amidst the snowy woods of a small college town, a killer in red dispatches victims with three startling similarities: They're male, they're blond, and they have (take note) dirty hands. It's not a spoiler to say the killer is female and her motivation stems from a horrific childhood. Now she wants revenge. So beware her creepy doll of cracked porcelain, complete with a ghoulish pair of hollowed-out eyes. And just know: If there's a flash of red — trouble's ahead. After the first murder, college student Peter Bloom (David Morwick) suspects a serial killer on the loose. His buddies on the school paper razz him. After all, they point out, Peter also believes in Bigfoot and claimed one of his professors was a werewolf. Still, like any good reporter, Peter snoops, until uncovering the scoop that may win him a byline but cost him his life. Morwick — who also directed the film and wrote its screenplay — is charming and determined, brave enough to take on the killer in a spooky school library, yet vulnerable enough to shyly squirm and stammer during a coffee date. Vigdis Anholt somehow brings a sweet, sympathetic frailty to her role as a serial killer. True, she's a loon, but not a mindless one, and when she flirts with Morwick and looks into his handsome face, you just know there's a part of her that wants to date this guy, not decapitate him. Then she looks at his fingers — too bad, the poor boy apparently has newsprint or something on them -— and her rage kicks in. Unlike nearly all of today's horror films — including virtually every minute of the Saw franchise — Merryweather's scares don't soak you in blood. For sure, the shocks are there; be prepared to jump half-a-dozen times during the climax. But as Hitchcock proved in Psycho, and Carpenter mastered in Halloween, Morwick's use of sound, like the slash of a knife slicing a body, are actually far more terrifying than displaying bloody leftovers. Grossing out moviegoers is easy. Jolting them is hard. Giving them a reason to care about characters in trouble — even harder. Little Erin Merryweather takes that hardest of roads and succeeds. Much more than gore, its haunted resonance offers a lingering chill. Put it this way: If Jaws kept swimmers out of the water, then Little Erin Merryweather surely will keep your fingernails clean.

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• Spotting Star Power

  lachefperuana2005-02-19

  I had the pleasure of seeing this film at a festival, and frankly I cannot wait for the movie to be released in theaters. Little Erin Merryweather is about 3 boys who are 'literally' trying to survive college as a homicidal killer, Erin Merryweather (played by Vigdes Anholt), stalks her prey on campus and maniacally seeks to destroy them. The ring-leader of this hunted trio is the wise-cracking sarcastic Teddy (played by Brandon Johnson of 'One Life To Live'). Added to him is everyone's all-purpose buddy and ever too trusting Sean (played by Marcus Bonee). Rounding out the trio is the most all-American of the boys...blonde-haired Peter (played by former Talbot's model David Morwick... a dead ringer for Christopher Atkins of 'Blue Lagoon' fame). I would not call this film terrifying as much as I would say that it is tension-filled. It leaves you on the edge of your seat waiting for these three innocents to fall prey to a killer without a conscience. Whoever did the casting for this film certainly has an eye for talent, spotting upcoming star power. Watch especially for Johnson and Morwick, as well as Vigdes Anholt. I am guessing that the latter is foreign with a name like that, LOL.

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