Black Eyed Susan – Review | Fantasia (4/5)

BLACK EYED SUSAN is a low-budget horror thriller that hits a nerve. Or many nerves, probably. But in impressive and important ways. Screening at Fantasia 2024. Read our full Black Eyed Susan movie review here!

BLACK EYED SUSAN is a new movie from Scooter McCrae. In fact, it’s his first feature film in 21 years, but what an impressive and important comeback with this low-budget horror thriller.

Shot on Super 16, this movie has a very raw expression that perfectly underscores the brutal story of it. Screening at Fantasia 2024 and I recommend watching it as soon as you get the chance.

Continue reading our Black Eyed Susan movie review below.

A violent beginning that works

When Black Eyed Susan opens, it’s with a brutal and violent scene that feels like something out of an adult film. However, you won’t have to wait long to understand exactly what’s going on.

There is no “gratuitous” violence in this movie. Only scenes of important value to the actual plot.

The title character of Susan (Yvonne Emilie Thälker) isn’t an actual person. She’s a BDSM sex doll programmed to provoke and entice her “user”. Built and created to receive and “enjoy” the violence implemented on her.

She’s hardware in terms of being a very realistic doll, but AI is used for her to react in realistic ways to the person using her.

To keep exploring and optimizing her artificial intelligence, the company behind this doll hires the desperate Derek (Damian Maffei) to test her. Both the limits of her technology and how his desires react to her.

Unsettling and important

Black Eyed Susan is the kind of movie that stays with you. I would even say that it makes you take a step back and think about the bigger picture. Could these dolls be the solution to violence against women?

Or are they simply a “gateway drug” that will encourage people (okay, men, mostly) to go even further?

I am a definite believer in the latter, but I see how one could easily convince both themselves and others that it could also be the former.

However, knowing that most (if not all) serial perpetrators tend to start small and escalate makes an even stronger case for the latter being more likely.

To me, it was also important to see the reaction to Susan from more than one man. While one enjoys hitting women and even finds it arousing to see them cry, another man does not. In fact, he would rather talk to her and communicate.

Well, to begin with anyway. Being belittled or laughed at is a known trigger for many men, and this AI doll is clearly programmed with this knowledge. Or manages to gauge it on her own. I can’t be sure.

Watch Black Eyed Susan as soon as you can!

This is a low-fi sci-fi horror movie made with a low budget but with talented and passionate forces behind and in front of the camera. Scooter McCrae has crafted a movie that isn’t for the faint of heart, but immensely important.

The story focuses on love and perversion through the lens of “Just because we can, should we?!” via the evolution of artificial intelligence. I have no doubt that viewers will take away different conclusions, but it certainly makes you think.

It’s not an easy movie to watch, but at the same time, it’s not just a violence fest. Not even close. In fact, it deals much more with the emotional impact and makes a strong case for considering how and where we use AI. Watch it when you can!

Also, be warned that the ending offers a solid twist that will surely make you react and maybe rethink your conclusion up until that point.

Black Eyed Susan is reviewed as part of our Fantasia 2024 coverage.

Details

Director/Writer: Scooter McCrae
Cast: Yvonne Emilie Thälker, Scott Fowler, Damian Maffei, Marc Romeo