The Ugly

The Ugly

Murder is in the eye of the beholder.

Directed by Scott Reynolds

Produced by New Zealand Film Commission, Essential Films

199793 min6.0 / 10

A dark psychological thriller that uses the confined space of a psychiatric hospital to explore the murky boundary between clinical understanding and complicity with evil.

A female psychologist wants to understand the minds of a confessed serial killer who spent the last five years in a mental hospital because of his state.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Ugly scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 95% of films.

  • Is The Ugly violent? Yes, very. More violent than 95% of films.

  • Is The Ugly easy watching? No. Less comforting than 92% of films.

  • Does The Ugly end with hope? No. Less hopeful than 91% of films.

  • Is The Ugly sad? Yes. More sad than 75% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

46/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity72

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise50

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love22

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Ugly

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Ugly

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Ugly, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Ugly, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Ugly, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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