Cigarette Girl and Sexiness: A Movie Review

Director/writer: John Michael McCarthy.

Cigarette Girl is the first production from Guerrilla Monster Films and the first film to also be distributed by this company. This is John Michael McCarthy's six feature film as a director and this film centrally revolves around Cori Dial's character Cigarette Girl, who peddles nicotine to a futuristic world (2035). This film will show at the Edinburgh 2010 Film Festival June 22nd and the well written narrative tale is mildly hampered by some flaws in sound and dialogue.

The film's story focuses in on "The Smoking Section" were those who choose to smoke must do so with other smokers (Cigarette). Cigarettes are $63 a pack and Cigarette Girl makes a living by selling these addictive death sticks at a cut rate price and competes with one of the biggest sellers in the district, the Vice Club. Events get a little more complicated for Cigarette Girl when a young runaway hounds her every step while both deal with the harsh realities of the street. Sometimes smoking is not worth the price!

This is Cory Dials first feature length film and while she is a beautiful vixen her performance requires a little more sensuality, or sexiness in her next show. A lot of leeway can be given for a first showing, yet Dials seems innocently unaware of her attractiveness and does not use her allure to draw in some of the other characters to her own benefit. Instead, Dials shows a natural flare for action focused scenes and a knack for subtle, dramatic narration.

Technically McCarthy gets most of film's primary ingredients right e.g. lighting, camera focus etc., but the use of dubbing, which can be seen early, takes some enjoyment away from the film. As well, the dubbing is not used for re-shoots and instead is a primary part of the film. Possibly due to financial restraints, Cigarette Girl does not use on-set sound design and the result is noticeable.

All in all, Cigarette Girl is an interesting story with well drawn '50s characters that is sure to be a success in Edinburgh June 22nd, but here is one vote for a little more spit and polish in McCarthy's next feature. If you are a part of the press the film can be reviewed online by contacting the film's crew at Guerrilla Monster Films below. Otherwise, fans can get better acquainted by revisiting an earlier article on Cigarette Girl found (here), or find Cigarette Girl on the film festival circuit with updates on locations available at the websites below.

Plot/story/unity: 7 (a little more emphasis on what the future is like is necessary - perhaps introducing some newscasts or similar that talks about how the present and the future are different).
Characters/individual characterizations: 6 (a good mix of first-timers and experienced, Cigarette Girl already mentioned).
Sound/lighting/directing: 5 (poor voiceovers, good transitions in scenes, the lights are on).

Overall: 4.5 out of 10 (because the film does not get one of the primary three requirements for filmmaking right the film gets an automatic fail - the three primary requirements are no dubbing, keep the lights on, and the cameras focused).

Guerrilla Monster Films at Disgrace Land Memphis:

Guerrilla Monster Films

Cigarette Girl on Facebook:

Cigarette Girl on Facebook

The Cigarette Girl Homepage:

The Film's Official Website