Amazing Fantasy Fest Coverage
Black Eyed Susan review.
Scooter McCrae’s first feature in nearly a decade puts a sexy, violent spin on AI warnings.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers.
Black Eyed Susan
Directed by Scooter McCrae
Written by Scooter McCrae
Starring Damian Maffei, Katie Kiddo, Scott Fowler, Marc Romeo, Vito Trigo and Yvonne Emilie Thälker
Black Eyed Susan Review
Night two of Amazing Fantasy Fest was capped off with Scooter McCrae’s Black Eyed Susan. The writer/director took part in a lively Q&A following the screening. The feature ran following the World Premiere of Hope Muehlbauer’s short film Jane and the Brain. The short reunited two members of the Slasher Days of Summer cast, Gabrielle Nunzio and Alyssa Grace Adams. Black Eyed Susan won the Best of Fest award presented by sponsor Uncork’d Entertainment along with a bevy of other honors.
After his friend dies under mysterious circumstances, Derek (Damian Maffei) takes over his unique job. That job involves interacting with an advanced AI sex doll named Susan (Yvonne Emilie Thälker). Not only is Susan programmed to with advanced intelligence…she comes complete with bruising technology so that you can beat the hell out of her.
When you hear the premise of Black Eyed Susan you expect a very dark movie. It is one…but not always in the way you expect it to be. We’re introduced to Susan through sessions with Derek’s friend before his death. It’s brutal. Meant to expose the worst of the human condition. But it’s just a job, right? The job description involves abusing this incredibly lifelike model. Susan is even programmed to antagonize her companion into doing so. Of course, it feels as sick as it is. McCrae isn’t one to turn the camera away from the point he’s making.
When Derek enters the picture things begin to change. Unlike his friend, he isn’t into this abuse angle. He takes the job because he is desperate for work. He struggles to find the depths of human depravity that the work requires. In turn, Susan begins to change. She’s learning to react to the mood of her companion…and Derek brings a softness, a kindness, that she hasn’t experienced before.
I won’t go so far as to describe Black Eyed Susan as a strange sci-fi romance…but it is an interesting look at the human condition. Especially when reflected through Susan. Of course, this is also an AI story. The latest monster that movies have turned their own eyes toward. McCrae knows this…and he finds clever ways to utilize it. We’re inherently conditioned to not trust Susan. To believe she is a force of inevitable evil that will bring the downfall of man. Perhaps something that deserves to be beaten. Or maybe, given the story’s personal character work, fated to destroy this specific man. What happened to his friend, anyway?
McCrae plays with the fears…but has something cleverer, and darker, in mind. Derek discovers some things that are downright disturbing. We learn what happened to his friend…and why. I was aghast when a certain aspect of the story was revealed. And shocked I hadn’t thought about it. Maybe that was McCrae’s test for the audience about their human condition.
A movie like Black Eyed Susan requires a strong cast. It has one. Thälker is terrific. It’s hard to believe that Thälker has no previous acting credits. The role of Susan is an incredibly difficult one. Thälker walks the line between menace and childlike curiosity all while remaining unnervingly still. You have to believe Derek could be falling for Susan…and not trust her for a second. Damian Maffei gives a strong lead performance as the desperate Derek afraid of what he might learn about himself. Marc Romero plays the head of the operation, Gilbert, and steals his scenes…bringing a fresh energy to the film.
Eventually, Black Eyed Susan shows its true nature. It shows us the depths of the human condition. And it crafts a pitch perfect response to it. Derek finds out exactly what’s inside of him…and what use he could have for an advanced AI sex doll meant to take abuse. The final image of Black Eyed Susan is perfect.
Black Eyed Susan is a challenging, surprising film that seeks out the darkness within. It balances our ingrained fears of self (and technology) with a strange sci-fi romance. I guess I will go so far as to say it. The story asks what use a decent man has for something designed for hate. It finds the answer. The theory behind Susan is simple…if a monster can beat this doll…they won’t sexually and physically abuse real women. Black Eyed Susan takes that concept a few steps further. Into the darkest place it can. And, like Susan herself, doesn’t allow you to blink.
Scare Value
Black Eyed Susan deals with some dark, heavy concepts. The setup is intriguing…what the story does with it is surprising. You’d expect a movie about a sex doll you are encouraged to abuse to reveal the darkest corners of the human psyche. It does…but not in the ways you expect it to. The result is a thoughtful, relevant discussion that avoids the obvious pitfalls found in “AI is bad” stories.
