![May](https://www.criticker.com/img/films/posters/80/May.webp?1725114167)
May
2002
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
1h 33m
Psychological horror about a lonely young woman traumatized by a difficult childhood, and her increasingly desperate attempts to connect with the people around her. (imdb)
Directed by:
Written by:
Your probable score
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May
2002
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
1h 33m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 48.7% from 1096 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(1104)
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Rated 09 Dec 2014
79
77th
First half might have broken my 'most cringes per minute' record, previously set by that time I accidentally bit my exes' nose during my sister's wedding party (true story please don't ask). Angela Bettis is amazing as the titular May, she carries the film seemingly with no effort. Apparently I have a major weakness for super awkward laydees despite signs of them being mentally unbalanced. No wonder I get stabbed at least twice every weekend.
Rated 09 Dec 2014
Rated 14 Jan 2009
85
94th
Angela Bettis creates a creepy, unforgettable psycho in this amazing and very original film! In spite of Ebert giving it four stars, it has sadly been severely overlooked. Just waiting to be discovered, 'May' hopefully in time will take its deserved place among the genre classics, as it is a must-see for everyone with a taste for horror.
Rated 14 Jan 2009
Rated 14 Jan 2009
8
84th
One of the most underrated horror movies of all time? Bettis is at once frightening and frighteningly endearing. A rare film that manages to kick off as drama (effectively) and then cross over to horror (effectively).
Rated 14 Jan 2009
Rated 07 May 2017
45
36th
It's hard not to compare May to Carrie, both cute, fragile and victims of circumstance. But what made the movie 'Carrie' horrible was the feeling that you could have saved the girl. 'May' is more of a comedy that way. Things I learned from this movie: If someone asks you if you're a pirate, you say YES!
Rated 07 May 2017
Rated 20 Mar 2007
85
86th
Half-horror, half-indie drama. You'd probably have to be more receptive to the drama elements to really get into it, but overall, I'd say it's more than worthwhile and should have been more appreciated than it was.
Rated 20 Mar 2007
Rated 20 Aug 2014
69
80th
Look at the poster of this film. Read a plot summary. Check the genres. Create expectations. TWIST: they are wrong! Lovely, original and offbeat film. Hard to label it, but you don't have to be a horror fan to enjoy it. Bettis is perfect for the role. It wouldn't be the same without her as May. Very underrated and underseen (fuck-off spellcheck). (Over)thinking why lead to some brilliant and self-affirming discoveries! (note to future self: prefrontal corvex).
Rated 20 Aug 2014
Rated 30 Oct 2016
79
57th
Descent into madness played with a strong dose of absurdity but also with an underlying emotional sincerity. The balance between the two is quite effective, with the opening half hour making me wonder how this was a horror film and the last half hour being obviously horror, yet the transition is very smooth so that every scene makes sense in the context of the previous one. The supporting performances are pretty good, matching the film's tone of increasing surrealism.
Rated 30 Oct 2016
Rated 14 Jan 2021
62
42nd
I had trouble fully emerging myself in the story despite having my own awkward experience while trying to assist blind children. Long story.
Rated 14 Jan 2021
Rated 30 Jun 2015
1
12th
What a horrible movie. I was on board for like 30 minutes and then it just became an exercise in how much stupid shit can you handle? It wasn't even a plausible scenario so therefore how can it be scary if it's set in a real world setting? Structurally, it was the equivalent of a limp penis. The payoff was so unsatisfying and all these sideplots that went nowhere. Really terrible
Rated 30 Jun 2015
Rated 22 Sep 2021
5
73rd
FRANKENSTEIN and MANIAC in the screenplay, argento on the walls, the breeders on the soundtrack and anna faris as a lesbian nympho would be fun enough, but the real calling card here is a perfectly pitched performance from angela bettis as a mentally ill twenty-something whose lazy eye has left her infantilised, cripplingly lonely and desperately lusting for perfection. she converts what might've been mere perverse pulp into a sad, excruciating little character drama.
Rated 22 Sep 2021
Rated 13 Feb 2014
7
67th
D'awww, I thought the ending was cute.
Rated 13 Feb 2014
Rated 02 Oct 2012
80
85th
May is creepy, a little awkward, and she has one or two issues relating to her childhood, but you know what? She's still kinda likeable. Oh, and the ending was strangely satisfying.
Rated 02 Oct 2012
Rated 29 Jun 2012
89
89th
This is just hands down one of the best horror movies I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
Rated 29 Jun 2012
Rated 13 Mar 2012
80
80th
The best slasher since John Carpenter invited to 'Halloween'. That's right! It's been a bad few decades for the subgenre.
Rated 13 Mar 2012
Rated 25 Jun 2010
87
81st
this is a modrern day carrie-ish horror movie. Its smart and witty and at times so smart. Angela Bettis really made this movie special...I will say this movie is a must for any horror fan who is sick of a simple formula of brain dead kids, blood and gore..this is fresh and smart
Rated 25 Jun 2010
Rated 06 Jul 2009
68
30th
Poorly edited, and carried out in a slow, dissatisfying manner. I would say McKee should look into going to film school, and if he already has, then going back. The first fifty minutes do nothing but to set up a quite lackluster ending. Perhaps if May went off the rocker about half an hour earlier, and had a higher body count--then and only then would I recommend this to anybody.
Rated 06 Jul 2009
Rated 08 Apr 2009
90
93rd
Underrated, an awesome movie. Full of fuckin creepy-ass scenes to piss yourself with and also has some humor to go along with it as well. The main actress does a wonderful job with her role and everyone else isn't bad. So mesmerising.
Rated 08 Apr 2009
Rated 17 Feb 2009
84
77th
In a word: unsettling. May is a breath of fresh air into the horror genre, telling a good story that, aside from the ending...could maybe just happen. That's pretty creepy when you think about it.
Rated 17 Feb 2009
Rated 27 Nov 2023
80
78th
Top badass moment? Confirmation that there’s something odd about anyone who makes their own clothes; I mean, why would you, unless you live in a cave, or actually want to look like a bag of tat left blocking the door to an Oxfam shop? A movie about a woman with a creepy doll in a glass case (and that should ALWAYS be a red flag, under ANY circumstances). But the real question this film raises is, if she came onto you, would you go out with her? ...Maybe. 2-4 cats, no chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 27 Nov 2023
Rated 02 May 2007
81
74th
Absurd and lovely film about how we deal with disappointment. It may not be rational but its therapuetic to watch.
Rated 02 May 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
88th
I LOVE this movie. I am not a big horror fan, but wow. is all i can say. Perfectionism isnt all its cracked up to be....to many perfect parts not enough perfect wholes....oh god that was classic :)
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
79th
Funny, strange, sexy- a genre classic already. See it with someone you want to eat.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
52nd
Creepy and strange, but with good acting, and a typically awesome Anna Faris.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 16 Sep 2007
85
94th
very effective Horror film with a great lead performance
Rated 16 Sep 2007
Rated 17 Apr 2017
0
1st
Hated it. McKee's an uncomfortable little freak, and I didn't see the value in this film at all; "psychological" horrors are so often about men like McKee fetishizing the idea of insanity, and this wasn't really an exception. Not worth anyone's time.
Rated 17 Apr 2017
Rated 30 Aug 2014
78
65th
Predictable and silly ending, but the movie is a scarily realistic portrayal of a lonely and broken girl desiring what she never had.
Rated 30 Aug 2014
Rated 06 Oct 2015
84
56th
A low budget horror film that tells the story of an awkward young woman named May trying desperately to connect with the people around her. The cast is very small and performs well, especially the leading lady Angela Bettis who plays May perfectly. It has a slow build-up and aside form the quick flashes of horror in the beginning and a few creepy shots of a doll it doesn't feel like a horror film for a while. But stick with it and you'll find an intimate, personal, creepy story of loneliness.
Rated 06 Oct 2015
Rated 01 Nov 2015
45
21st
I'm going to go against the grain here - I enjoyed this way more towards the end when it turned into more of a brutal slasher movie. The slow build didn't really feel like it was going anywhere, despite strong performances from Angela Bettis and Jeremy Sisto. I just feel like the first half focused on the wrong parts of the story - instead of endless random scenes with slutty Anna Faris, give us a little more than just a blurb of May's backstory and the whole thing would come together nicer.
Rated 01 Nov 2015
Rated 02 Dec 2015
3
73rd
Pitch-black comedy. Pace is excruciatingly slow at times and reaches a little too hard for some kind of HEATHERS like cult following but may bump up if I catch it again.
Rated 02 Dec 2015
Rated 24 Sep 2016
90
93rd
Too many beautiful parts but no beautiful wholes...
Rated 24 Sep 2016
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
16th
Unique and creepy low-budget movie that is far too likely to be overlooked. Definitely worth a rental.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 21 Apr 2017
54
26th
Well made low budget flick. I like weird films but just couldn't really seem to get into this one, may need a re-watch.
Rated 21 Apr 2017
Rated 04 Mar 2020
7
30th
he gets stabbed .. dressed as Caesar. The irony.. Movie was okay for it's length. standard girl goes crazy and .. well .. goes crazy. Worth a watch. Would be a fun movie to watch with a group of friends.
Rated 04 Mar 2020
Rated 27 Oct 2020
30
9th
Rather annoying.
Rated 27 Oct 2020
Rated 07 Mar 2021
68
46th
A lot of the movie doesn't even play like horror, just like a genuinely heartfelt story about a misfit woman figuring her life out. The last act ramps up the horror, and could have been really heart-crushing if not for also ramping up the comedy. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. "Do you have any ice cubes I can rub on my nipples?"
Rated 07 Mar 2021
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
80th
Oh she is amazing, a lonely school girls superhero!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 16 Oct 2021
54
40th
I found this to be surprisingly lackluster and non of the characters acted like real people. Also, this was too slow without a good payoff at least for my taste.
Rated 16 Oct 2021
Rated 05 Mar 2023
40
11th
It's like an autistic take on Burtonian style of empathetic gothic protagonist trying awkwardly to connect to the world
Rated 05 Mar 2023
Rated 14 Oct 2023
90
90th
a shy young woman learns to overcome her crippling social anxiety by developing a nicotine habit. five stars.
Rated 14 Oct 2023
Rated 22 Jan 2011
60
20th
Quite a weird movie. The first half is more of a psychological horror and the second half is slasher. Not as great as I've heard it to be and doesn't really get going until around the mid-way point, but decent overall.
Rated 22 Jan 2011
Rated 26 Sep 2008
69
24th
LOL wut?
Rated 26 Sep 2008
Rated 27 Aug 2008
70
38th
Really strange, twisted little horror movie with an original voice and solid acting. You could do far worse in the genre.
Rated 27 Aug 2008
Rated 06 Sep 2009
65
47th
Anna Faris is very believable. The film is distgusting and horrifying. Loved Jeremy Sisto.
Rated 06 Sep 2009
Rated 09 Nov 2009
84
85th
A thoroughly disturbing portrait of a psychopath. However, I can't help but feel that Lucky McKee is a one-trick pony in terms of the themes he explores with his films.
Rated 09 Nov 2009
Rated 09 Jun 2010
70
23rd
Just sort of boring. A lonely fucked up girl kills people who scorn her for being maladaptive. Okay.
Rated 09 Jun 2010
Rated 16 Oct 2007
88
54th
twisted culty horror movie with a very convincing turn by Anna Faris, playing a vampy lesbian.
Rated 16 Oct 2007
Rated 30 Aug 2010
20
2nd
Just no. Did not like this movie. It gets 20 points for setting up a premise of sorts, but then it got lazy and stupid.
Rated 30 Aug 2010
Rated 21 Nov 2010
80
84th
Weird little overlooked gem that reminds me of PIN and other psychological "puppet" horror films.
Rated 21 Nov 2010
Rated 08 Aug 2011
88
90th
What I learned from this film: Gatorade goes great with Mac 'n Cheese.
Rated 08 Aug 2011
Rated 26 Nov 2011
50
12th
seri katil, frankenstein, psikolojik, asosyal, lezbiyen,
Rated 26 Nov 2011
Rated 09 Jan 2012
75
77th
7 highly recommended
Rated 09 Jan 2012
Rated 12 Mar 2012
40
15th
Meh. I don't get the hype for this one, pretty dull stuff.
Rated 12 Mar 2012
Rated 14 Aug 2007
77
45th
Remind me to stay away from May.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 02 Jul 2012
60
63rd
Dahmeresque black comedy about loneliness.
Rated 02 Jul 2012
Rated 11 Aug 2012
83
71st
This is so TWISTED. I love it. It's also heartbreaking. I love that too. When I wasn't laughing at the sheer warpedness of it, I was awkwardly laughing/facepalming out of embarrassment for May, who is played so well by Angela Bettis. On the down side, the rest of the acting leaves much to be desired (Come On Anna Faris). Don't get the wrong idea from the terrible movie poster picture on this page. Don't expect to be scared. I had fun watching this.
Rated 11 Aug 2012
Rated 14 Aug 2007
19
13th
Dull as ass.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 22 Nov 2012
80
65th
I liked this a little bit for it's weirdness.
Rated 22 Nov 2012
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Written by:
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