May (2002) Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set & Standard Edition Blu-ray Review
Meet May Dove Candy, the socially awkward veterinary assistant, who was bullied as a child for her lazy eye and has developed an obsession with perfection. Desperate for connection, May struggles to make friends and is desperately searching for a perfect boyfriend.
Then she meets Adam, the boy with the flawless hands… could he be the one? But the path of love never runs smoothly, especially with May’s inability to connect with people. As her dream of perfection unravels, she becomes increasingly detached from reality and descends into the depths of depravity.
Make a date with May – for an unforgettable, uncomfortable, weird, and wild experience. Lucky McKee’s wickedly wry body horror featuring outstanding performances, stunning cinematography, and a stellar soundtrack, is back for a new release this July. Second Sight Films has it all sewn up with a brand-new Limited Edition and Standard Edition Blu-ray version, both complete with a fantastic slew of special features.
I remember reading rave reviews for MAY, Lucky McKee’s solo directorial debut, when it was originally released back in 2002, so I rented it out from my local Blockbusters (remember them?). I couldn’t warm to it and consequently I couldn’t see what the fuss was about. I found it hard-going, slow paced and, much like Lars von Trier’s BREAKING THE WAVES (1996), nothing more than an uncomfortable, voyeuristic, and overly manipulative tale that’s centred around someone who doesn’t quite fit in to the norm. In a nutshell I found MAY cruel and sensationalistic.
When presented with MAY for Second Sight’s stellar Limited Edition and Standard Edition Blu-ray releases, I jumped at the chance to do so. Firstly, to see if time had been kind to McKee’s darkly-comic shocker and secondly to see if, with the passing of years, that my take on the film might have changed. It hasn’t. I still fail to see how this is meant to be ‘witty’ with its ‘tongue firmly in its gashed cheek.’
However, I do see why the performances, especially Angela Bettis, were lauded over. Bettis played a similar character as the lead in the 2022 TV version of Stephen King’s classic novel CARRIE but convinced more as the titular character in MAY. Unsuccessful at the box office and now a cult movie MAY still proves to be one of McKee’s lesser works for me – I much preferred his THE WOMAN (2011) – however if you’re a fan then you’ll need no convincing from me to purchase this extras-laden release.
The brand-new Limited Edition is set for release on 24 July and is presented in a stunning box with new artwork by Bella Grace, alongside a 70-page book, with new essays. Both editions come complete with a host of brilliant extras including new audio commentaries and new interviews with the stars, director, composer, and editors and much more, see full details below.
Special Features
New audio commentary with Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
Audio commentary with director Lucky McKee, cinematographer Steve Yedlin, editor Chris Sivertson and actors Angela Bettis, Nichole Hiltz, and Bret Roberts
Audio commentary with director Lucky McKee, Editor Rian Johnson, Composer Jammes Luckett (formerly credited as Jaye Barnes Luckett), production designer Leslie Keel, and Craft Services guy Benji
The Toymaker: a new interview with director Lucky McKee
Perfect Hands: a new interview with actor Jeremy Sisto
Blankety Blank: a new interview with actor James Duval
How to Execute a Murder: a new interview with cinematographer Steve Yedlin
Peeling Back the Layers: a new interview with editor Rian Johnson
Jack and Jill: a new interview with editor Chris Sivertson
In the Cut: a new interview with editor Kevin Ford
Blood, Gore and Rock ‘n’ Roll: a new interview with composer Jammes Luckett
From Frankenstein to May: Miranda Corcoran on May
Bits and Pieces: on the set of May
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Bella Grace
70 page book with new essays by Joseph Dwyer, Rachel Knightley, Mary Beth McAndrews and Heather Wixson
Six collectors’ art cards