The Misbehaviour Of Polly Paper Cut

In recent years there have been a number of films about people choosing to become real life Superheroes. In that context, it's reasonable to ask, does nobody ever want to become a real life supervillain? Watchmen hints at a few; Kick-Ass shows us one. Here we get to meet Polly Paper Cut, and she's the star of the show.

Stuck in a dull Floridian town without much money, bored sociopath Polly entertains herself by causing destruction. Whether it's making prank calls or kicking children, she's always ready for action. She has the costume, the legs and the soundtrack. What she doesn't have is the weapons, but like any number of bored kids, she's willing to do damage with a flimsy five-inch knife if that's what it takes. After all, she's just warming up.

In a tale that recalls Man Bites Dog, Nat Di Resta gives Polly a naive enthusiasm that makes her likeable even when it's clear that she needs to be locked up. The film's simplicity and lack of pretension gives it an easy charm and it doesn't outstay its welcome. This is one for the bad guys out there who worry that their growing daughters lack suitable role models.