Masters of Horror: Sick Girl

Of all the episodes from the “Masters of Horror” series, this was the one I was really looking forward to because: a) It’s Lucky McKee, how cool a name is that? b) It’s described as “The Fly” with lesbians, and c) It has Misty Mundae in it. Yeah, so what I’m a fan of her. “Playmate of the Apes” (Making out with a pink ape? Priceless) and “Lord of the G-Strings” is quality shit, with some brutally funny performances. “Sick Girl” is a freaky, campy, and utterly clever jab at lesbianism in America, but also a good retread on “The Fly”. I don’t know why, but I assumed “Sick Girl” would be played to a more dramatic effect, but then it’s Lucky McKee, this guy likes to play on odd.

Bettis plays the uptight and unusual Ida, a scientist who is obsessed with bugs. She just broke up with her girlfriend and now seeks out a girl she can fall for. She happens to come across a strange girl named Misty (seriously) who sits in her office lobby drawing all the time. She builds up the courage to ask her out, and the two fall head over heels in love. Little do either know that Ida’s new exotic spider has taken up residence in their pillow and is inserting its eggs in through Misty’s ears. Now Misty begins to act very strangely, and the results can only be grim from there. Erin Brown–or as I and many male fans know her as: Misty Mundae–makes her television (non-pornographic) premiere. And as surprised as I am to say, she steals the episode from Bettis with a great performance.

She’s often funny, charismatic, creepy, and is put on display by the great writing. In one scene, she and Bettis begin fighting and she launches in to a tirade of screams and swears that came off so naturally and she just shows she’s fit for mainstream film. A porno star who can actually act? I think hell froze over. A good  performance from the chick from “Playmate of the Apes” (Yes, I saw it!)? McKee’s constant work chum Angela Bettis is also very good here as the nutty scientist who is intent on falling in love and keeping her lover from turning in to a spider’s mate. Isn’t that always the case? “Sick Girl” is weird which is what McKee seems to enjoy, with very funny dialogue, tender scenes, and great chemistry between the two stars, and as McKee is known for, the climax is utterly sick and demented to watch.

As for the spider it’s less of a monster, and more of a male entity forcing its ways in to the lives of these content lesbians raping his mates, seducing and forcing them in to submission pro-creating, and forcing them in to subservient motherhood against their own will. McKee’s commentary is ripe, and “Sick Girl” gives what it promises. “Sick Girl” is probably my second favorite episode of the first season that’s basically been underwhelming. Thankfully, my expectations for this episode paid off and Lucky McKee, the oddball creator of “May” succeeds with a great episode that comments on lesbianism.