Little Erin Merryweather

It's low budget, the acting is...good. Very entertaining. Overall... I liked it...

I appreciated how smart this independent film is. It literally switched every gender role on its head. There is a feminist bend to Little Erin. In fact, I would put this in the category of feminist horror. You have a strong female, front and center who preys on handsome young men.

Vigdis Anholt as the femme fatale is superb. At times she invokes sympathy and at other times, she is down right terrifying. Not easy to pull off. Her portrayal of someone with a split personality who suffered from sexual abuse as a child is most convincing. The movie racks up creativity points by coming up with a new character in horror who dresses up as a creepy beauty doll to look like Little Red Riding Hood. She also disembowels her victims and replaces their insides with stones. This is novel. It simply hasn't been done.

For once, we have a final boy in David Morwick's character, Peter. Morwick brings the right mix of humor and sensitivity. At times, it's like watching a romantic comedy but then it all changes when he is sobbing in fear as his friends go down. Erin picks off all the alpha males and it may be Morwick's shyness and sensitivity that saves him in the end. For me, the film is woefully underrated. Despite a limited budget, the filmmakers don't resort to blood and naked bodies. Rather the film showcases stylish photography with great color contrasts and fanciful artwork. The original soundtrack is excellent and conveys a deeply sad message which runs throughout the film.

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.

"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.

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.