XX - Women to Die For (USA – 2016) è il titolo dell'antologia horror tutta al femminile distribuita in Italia grazie a Midnight Factory. I quattro episodi che compongono questo horror corale sono diretti e interpretati esclusivamente da protagoniste donne. Alla regia dei segmenti troviamo infatti Jovanka Vuckovic (Self Portrait, The Guest), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body, The Invitation), Roxanne Benjamin (Southbound, V/H/S, V/H/S/2) e la cantautrice americana Annie Clark (in arte St. Vincent), qui al suo esordio in cabina di regia.
Sofia Carrillo, on the other hand, tied the four stories together with a dark and intriguing frame made with the stop-motion technique.
Like all choral films, the XX - Women to Die For abbraccia segmenti validi e altri più deboli. Nel complesso però è una piacevole antologia horror che riesce a intrattenere il pubblico dosando colpi di scena, tocchi di originalità e suspense. Le punte di diamante sono sicuramente il primo e l'ultimo episodio ovvero "The Box" e "The only son". Riuscito ma più debole rispetto alle due storie sopracitate è il secondo, “The Birthday Party" while the third, "Don't fall”, è l'episodio che convince meno.
"The Box" by Jovanka Vuckovic, features Susan Jacobs (Natalie Brown), a woman who helplessly witnesses the slow starvation of her son and then the rest of her family. This is because of the (unknown to us) contents of a box that, precisely because it is unrevealed, exerts a certain fascination on the viewer, tickling his imagination.
With tragic implications, The Box is a well-packaged short that stands out from subsequent episodes.
In "The Birthday Party" (directed by Annie Clark), a woman (Melanie Lynskey) discovers that her spouse has passed away at his desk on the very day of her daughter's birthday. As the house fills with people invited for the party, the widow will try to get rid of her spouse's dead body.
"The Birthday Party" is a short film tinged with black humor. Simple in the unfolding of the story, it is able to provide moments of suspense and solutions that, while absurd (the final sequence for example), nevertheless manage to entertain.
Starring in "Don't fall" (directed by Roxanne Benjamin) is a group of boys who wander into the woods. Gretchen (Breeda Wool), one of them, scratches herself with a rock on which there is a painting made in blood. The images found on the spot unleash evil forces that cause a strange metamorphosis in the intruders.
"Don't fall" è il segmento più noioso del film corale. A differenza delle altre tre storie, quella di Don't Fall is characterized by being trite and monotonous and, for that very reason, unable to engage the viewer.
Karyn Kusama, director of The Invitation, signs the direction of "The only son”, un horror demoniaco che omaggia The Omen e Rosemary's Baby. Nel suo corto infatti, una madre scopre con orrore la vera identità del figlio adolescente. Il giovane è in realtà il figlio del Demonio.
Gloomy and imbued with sulfurous atmospheres, in keeping with its theme, The only son closes the female circle of the four episodes with dignity. This is an overwhelming short film that enjoys peaks of tension.
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XX - Women to Die For is part of the Midnight Factory catalog. In fact, the label is offering it on DVD and Blu-ray limited edition (both containing a collectible booklet).
Inconfondibile e sempre curato il packaging del Blu-ray, disponibile in un'edizione limitata appetibile che non presenta difetti (né audio né video). Nei contenuti speciali sono presenti featurette, interviste e trailer.
Also interesting is the booklet that collects the film review but also trivia and photos of the female directors involved in the project.
Blu-ray technical data:
Duration: 81 min
Format: 1080p; 1:2.35
Audio: Italian - 5.1 DTS HD master audio; English - 5.1 DTS HD master audio
Subtitles: Italian
Extras: Featurette, Interviews, Trailer
