Exactly.
Critics claim that the killer is a Deus ex Machina. The critics are wrong. Abnormal Beauty is not a murder mystery. It's a psychological horror film. The filmmakers are not obligated to present a trail of clues for the viewer to make a probable, educated guess at the identity of the killer. The purpose of presenting the killer is to introduce the perfected state of Jiney's undeveloped psychological affliction in an attempt to cure her of that affliction.
Jiney spends most of the time BEHIND the camera, initiating her mental and sexual fulfillment by viewing the death of living things. At the same time, however, she's becoming more and more detached from reality. This is also manifested by the other subplots, which include her tormenting past and her dysfunctional relationship with her mother – events which she is unable to come to terms with.
Even after her semi-revelation, she is still deeply affected by the pictures that she finds in her locker. She's not fully cured of her affliction yet. Remember, the camera is an important symbol/analogy in this film. Jiney is so helplessly reliant on detachment that she desperately needs the camera to be turned against her. Enter the killer, who places Jiney IN FRONT of the camera, thus forcing her to face reality. This is essential for the filmmakers to culminate the underlying psychological concepts of Abnormal Beauty.
In addition, if I were a sadistic freak working in a library and saw a hot young girl check out a dozen works of literature featuring sadistic pictures, how the hell could I not take notice?
Another complaint of critics is the final scene, which reveals that the lead character killed her cousin. Critics claim that this is an ad hoc, after-the-fact invocation to cheaply explain the movie. The critics are wrong. The traumatic child-hood event at the very end of the film was not the origin of Jiney's psychological condition. That event was already introduced near the beginning of the film: Jiney was sexually abused by her cousin, and her mother didn't believe her. The fact that she pushed her cousin down the stairs is merely a reflection of the negative effects that that initial event had on her. Did you see her face while she was standing at the top of the stairs? It was blank and emotionless – completely detached. The final scene adds emphasis to her psychological breakthrough and reminds us of what she overcame – she is now living again.
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horror_life
16 years ago
WOO LESBIANS!
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The_Secret_Skull
16 years ago
I agree with everything except the final "I killed my cousin" line. We already knew that, so this was kind of a "duh" moment for me -- not the best final thought to leave the movie with.
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toodumbtopickausername
16 years ago
"I agree with everything except the final "I killed my cousin" line. We already knew that, so this was kind of a "duh" moment for me -- not the best final thought to leave the movie with."
I think that she told that to her mother, but I'm not quite sure of that. Still, you're right. It wasn't the best idea to put this in the end.
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misterID
16 years ago
I dig the movie, but there was no profound reason for the identity of the killer. It was just a monkey wrench thrown into the plot. Mostly because it wasn't really a who-dunnit, anyway.
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Phroggy
16 years ago
I thought that the end *might* suggest no to take everything that we see at face value. There seems to be no aftermath when she gets rid of the killer. Were all those events true ? Or am I seeing too much in it ?
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