Release Date: 3/3/2009 Original Release: 2006 Format: DVD Length: 85 minutes Rating:R (MPAA) Rating Reason: for language, grisly images and sexuality/nudity. UPC: 687797160942 Studio: First Look Home Entertainment
Dramas, Mystery, Thriller, Murder, Theatrical Release, Los Angeles, California
Description
Karen Moncrieff follows up her well-received debut feature, BLUE CAR, with THE DEAD GIRL, an impressive, haunting ensemble drama. When a young girl is found murdered, the lives of several different individuals are impacted. Some of these connections are peripheral, while many others are painfully direct. The film is broken up into five distinct chapters, each with its own title. In "The Stranger," Arden (Toni Collette) finds the body, much to her abusive mother's (Piper Laurie) dismay. "The Sister" follows a graduate student (Rose Byrne) who is still mourning the disappearance of her sister along with her mother (Mary Steenburgen). Mary Beth Hurt stars in "The Wife" as a frustrated housewife who discovers that her husband (Nick Searcy) has been up to no good. "The Mother" features Marcia Gay Harden as a heartbroken mother who travels to Los Angeles to see how her murdered daughter lived and forms an unlikely bond with her daughter's former roommate (Kerry Washington). Lastly, "The Dead Girl" tells the story of Krista (Brittany Murphy), a tempestuous drug addict who wants to visit her daughter on her birthday, but fate conspires to bring her down.
Moncrieff uses different filmmaking techniques to tell each story (handheld camerawork vs. static cinematography, a variety of color schemes, etc.), but the overall tone remains the same. This is a sad, somber world, yet glimpses of hope poke through the cracks at the most unexpected moments. An all-star cast brings Moncrieff's vision to life, but it is Brittany Murphy who steals the show, delivering a performance so naked and reckless that it's painful to watch.
Five different women, all connect by the discovery of a dead girl. Toni Collette finds the body, and experiences some measure of notoriety. At least she isn't getting yelled out by her mother (Piper... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on March 2, 2009
Reviewed by: Chris
'The Dead Girl' is a very sad and powerful movie, the atmosphere and plot is both disturbing and depressing in it's own ways. I believe the most emotional thing about the movie is that we have... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on July 26, 2007
Reviewed by: Zara
I suppose I could draw comparisons between this movie and 21 GRAMS, another flick with big name actors and a ghostly art/cinematography direction which was meant to add to the bleak nature of the... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on June 21, 2009
Posted on March 2, 2009
