Flashing back to the era of picture-tube televisions on wheels, Sadie remembers a significant night with Marge—not “mother.” She insisted Sadie refer to her by her first name. Clearly, motherhood was a surprise to Marge, but apparently, she largely accepted it. However, she did not let it prevent her from pursuing her hobbies.
Usually, she keeps her victims out of sight. However, things will get a little messy this night. The violence that erupts is pretty intense, but what makes the short film so disturbing is the ambiguity of Sadie’s response. It is hard to judge whether the grown Sadie looks back on her mother’s crimes with feelings of horror or kinship—and that is definitely a scary take on the making of serial killers.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer influenced Prieto and Kern, but Marge is still a very distinct and memorable serial predator. You might not want to spend more than fifteen minutes with her, but this short film is a great example of how excellent performances fly under the radar, because most critics and award shows do not pay any attention to shorts. Recommended for Matthews’ work, Marge screens again on October 17th at the Woodstock Film Festival, as part of the Dilated Pupils shorts block.
