Black Eyed Susan Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Black Eyed Susan Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 9, 2025

Writer/director Scooter McCrae (“Shatter Dead,” “Sixteen Tongues”) examines our A.I. future in “Black Eyed Susan.” However, this is no tale of extraordinary intelligence or business threat. It’s a story about sex doll technology, following the vision of an inventor looking to create a safe space for deviant behavior through the use of faux flesh and blood. There’s an incredibly provocative idea brewing at the center of “Black Eyed Susan,” and it’s not developed in full, finding McCrae lacking the budget and writing to present a larger understanding of psychological erosion. The picture is interesting in spots and handled as well as possible by the cast, making McCrae’s battle with pacing and climactic events all the more frustrating, disrupting a tale containing grim potential.

Gil (Marc Romeo) is an inventor working on sex doll technology with his partner, Amanda (Kate Kiddo). He’s created Susan (Yvonne Emilie Thalker), a prototype initially used by Alan (Scott Fowler), who’s been hired to engage in a physically abusive relationship with the machine. When Scott commits suicide, Gil reunites with Derek (Damian Maffei) at his wake, tempting the recently divorced rideshare driver into an employment opportunity. Hired to test Susan’s capabilities, Derek is confronted by his darkest desires, soon growing attached to the sex doll and her unique intimacy as they take their troubling relationship to a remote cabin for additional interactions.

Alan’s time with Susan is detailed in the feature, setting the mood as the machine encourages her human to beat her, watching punches turn into a violent sexual experience. It’s a testing “session,” as Gil monitors the results, delighted to see Susan’s effectiveness. She can’t walk yet, but her intelligence is growing, also featuring realistic skin and bodily fluids, with bleeding capabilities a major breakthrough for Gil’s company. “Black Eyed Susan” jumps ahead three months to visit Alan’s wake, placing Derek and Gil in a strange situation as the inventor looks to continue research, putting his faith in a semi-homeless man with past abuse issues and clear depression.

Most of “Black Eyed Susan” explores a developing relationship between Derek and his machine. She’s programmed to take a beating, provoking her partner into anger, while Gil is delighted to showcase bruising technology. The twosome engage in conversation, as Derek is cautious about the situation, also feeling awkward about being monitored during his darkest sexual moments. The relationship is meant to offer dramatic development in “Black Eyed Susan,” but McCrae doesn’t have a firm hold on escalation, leaving scenes of questioning mostly flat. There’s a location change to a remote cabin for more intense interactions and games of trust. It’s here where the feature mostly resembles a pay cable erotic thriller from the early 1990s, offering viewers strange sexuality and stiff performances, but the mood is passable as Susan reveals more about her programming, disturbing Derek.

Black Eyed Susan Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Black Eyed Susan" is listed as "shot entirely on motion picture film and finished in 4K." The viewing experience remains wonderfully film-like, delivering nicely resolved grain throughout. Detail reaches as far as possible, securing a look at skin particulars, which are ample in in the offering. Hair and costuming remains textured, and intended sheerness is preserved. Interiors are dimensional, exploring sparsely decorated rooms and living spaces. Exteriors are rare but deep. Color is secure, including a defined red with bloodshed. Hair color is also distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. While some mild damage is found with the source, this is likely an intentional "grindhouse" choice to secure a cinematic presentation for the endeavor.

Black Eyed Susan Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges. Conversations are balanced, securing occasional argumentative conflicts. Scoring handles with clear instrumentation, supporting moods of eroticism and aggression. Sound effects are appreciable.

Black Eyed Susan Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Scooter McCrae.

• Commentary #2 features producer Aimee Kuge and actors Yvonne Emilie Thalker, Damien Maffei, Marc Romeo, Scott Fowler, and Kate Kiddo.

• "Test Subjects" (27:07, HD) focuses on the cast of "Black Eyed Susan," featuring interviews with Yvonne Emilie Thalker, Damien Maffei, Marc Romeo, and Scott Fowler. The interviewees share their initial hiring for the picture, drawn to writer/director Scooter McCrae's screenplay and his past creative endeavors, while Thalker was initially hired for a modeling shoot during the pandemic, not exactly sure what to make of a job offer from a stranger. Characterization is analyzed, pushing the cast to find areas of personality and motivation to work with. On-set atmosphere and technical challenges are identified, including dealing with extensive nudity, as most of the cast had limited experience with such physical exposure. Thoughts on McCrae are also provided, supplying an understanding of his collaborative spirit.

• "Tough Love" (27:39, HD) is an interview with writer/director Scooter McCrae (clutching a cocktail), who discusses the origins of the idea, drawn to a subplot from another screenplay, taking time to develop it into "Black Eyed Susan." Putting personal money to use, the helmer made plans to shoot the feature on digital, only to be talked into working with film, which he doesn't seem particularly impressed with. Casting stories are shared, focusing on Thalker, who was new to acting, thrown into a difficult part. Character inspiration is revealed, using television personalities to create more aggressive players in the picture. Talk turns to the look of "Black Eyed Susan," working closely with cinematographer Anton Zinn to generate a "delicious" and "creamy" visual presence for the offering. The interviewee also delivers thoughts on the nature and purpose of A.I. and the state of robotics.

• "Listen to the Replicants Warbling" (19:40, HD) is an interview with composer Fabio Frizzi.

• "A Whole New Sensation" (18:13, HD) is an interview with producers Justin Martell and Aimee Kuge. Martell describes writer/director Scooter McCrae as a "legend," delighted to meet the helmer in 2018, commencing the early stages of a future creative collaboration on "Black Eyed Susan." Kuge came to understand the project as the "sex doll script," responding to the complexity of the premise, eager to support McCrae's vision. Financial challenges and creative efforts are highlighted, including shooting on film, which presented its own difficulties and cinematic feel. Intimacy issues are also analyzed, inspiring a mission to maintain safety yet sell bodily horrors.

• "Admire Me, or Fuck Me" (17:13, HD) is a video conference interview with cinematographer Anton Zinn, who details a close creative relationship with writer/director Scooter McCrae, respecting his filmmaking tenacity. Zinn recalls the power of the original material, working with the helmer to find a "harder" look for the feature, going into technical details utilized to bring the story to life. Locations are highlighted, visual effects are examined, and cast and crew efforts are celebrated.

• Audition Tape (4:34, HD) showcases early tests for Yvonne Emilie Thalker, who was a newcomer to acting, requiring some visual proof they could pull off the role.

• Deleted Scenes and Extensions (9:41, HD) are offered.

• "Saint Frankenstein" (17:26, HD) is a 2015 short film from writer/director Scooter McCrae.

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:09, HD) and Red Band Trailer (1:10, HD) are included.

Black Eyed Susan Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Black Eyed Susan" is an uneven viewing experience. There's something there in the premise worth developing, touching on toxic sexuality and mental issues allowed to be unleashed on synthetic beings. Is it therapy or blurring lines of consent? There's a sharper movie to be made with this idea, especially as it reaches darker areas of corruption in its final act. However, McCrae isn't too concerned with suspense, repulsion, and seduction, unable to shake static delivery and provide a more harrowing descent into unthinkable violence and corporate insanity.