Little Erin Merryweather

"Little Erin Merryweather," a refined gem of the art house genre, deserved its awards. Vigdis Anholt's compelling portrayal of the female killer infuses the film with a profound feminist undertone. David Morwick's performance as the 'final boy' is a highlight, seamlessly blending humor and emotion. The picturesque snowy landscapes and enchanting illustrations by Kelly Murphy contribute to the film's visual allure, perfectly complemented by Paul Cristo's award-winning indie score, which elevates the viewing experience to new heights.

What truly distinguishes this film is its ingenious killer calling card - victims adorned with stones in their abdomen. This chilling twist on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood cements "Little Erin Merryweather" as a work of art, shattering conventions and proving itself to be ahead of its time.

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.

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.

What makes this more of an art house film is that the blood letting is limited, it's picturesque and it's story is decidedly different. The notion of cutting open the victim's stomach and filling a cavity with rocks gives it a fairy tale appearance. The killer tells the story which is a very cool twist and does it against a backdrop of fantastic art work.

Vigdis Anholt was such a compelling villainess. Erin is an intimidating and memorable character. She embodies a child-like innocence but yet instills a nagging feeling that something isn't quite right. Certain sights and sounds trigger her inner demons. It really is a feminist movie in its own right.

I was impressed with David Morwick's portrayal of Peter as the lone surviving male. He is a sympathetic character. Like Erin, he's ultimately a bit of a loner. Erin and Peter 's scenes together, have elements of romantic comedy which adds a bit of charm.

The film has a musical sensibility and is creepy but yet angelic. There is striking imagery. White snow was a beautiful contrast with Erin's blood-red cape. As for the music, I love the dramatic power of the choir. Make no mistake, for a little horror film, the music is striking.

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.