The Dead Girl (2006)

Director:

Karen Moncrieff

Writer (WGA):

Karen Moncrieff (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 2007 (Hungary)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

One life ends. Seven others begin.

Plot:

The clues to a young woman's death come together as the lives of seemingly unrelated people begin to intersect.

Plot Keywords:

Dead Girl | Party | Supermarket | Serial Killer | Prostitute

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Toni Collette	...	Arden
Piper Laurie	...	Arden's Mother
Don Smith	...	Cop #1 (as Donnie Smith)
Michael Raysses	...	Cop #2
Earl Carroll	...	Reporter
Dorothy Beatty	...	Grocery Checker
Eva Loseth	...	Grocery Store Customer
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Rudy
Rose Byrne	...	Leah
Joanie Tomsky	...	Therapist
James Franco	...	Derek
Christopher Allen Nelson	...	Murray
Mary Steenburgen	...	Beverley, Leah's Mother
Bruce Davison	...	Leah's Father
Kate Mulligan	...	Party Girl
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Ruth
Nick Searcy	...	Carl
Dan Callahan	...	Storage Customer #1
Gus Buktenica	...	Storage Customer #2
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Melora
Bobby Hosea	...	Detective
Lee von Ernst	...	Del
Kerry Washington	...	Rosetta
Carla Jimenez	...	Ashley's Caretaker
Gillian Pernoll	...	Ashley
Elizabeth Pernoll	...	Ashley
Brittany Murphy	...	Krista
Daniel Leavitt	...	Candy Store Boy
Lea Nicole Carranza	...	Candy Store Girl
Amy Benedict	...	Candy Store Mom
Josh Brolin	...	Tarlow
Stephanie Mace	...	Mother
Paige Pelletier	...	Food Court Girl
Madison Pelletier	...	Food Court Girl
Dennis Keiffer	...	Tom (as Dennis Keifer)

Directed by
Karen Moncrieff

Writing credits (WGA)
Karen Moncrieff		(written by)

Produced by
Eric Karten	....	producer
Gary Lucchesi	....	producer
Terry McKay	....	executive producer (as Terry A. McKay)
Eric Reid	....	executive producer
Tom Rosenberg	....	producer
David Rubin	....	executive producer (as David Scott Rubin)
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	executive producer: Company 3
Kevin Turen	....	producer
Temple Williams	....	executive producer
Henry Winterstern	....	producer
Richard S. Wright	....	producer (as Richard Wright)

Original Music by
Adam Gorgoni
Steve McNerney

Cinematography by
Michael Grady		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Toby Yates

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Jennifer L. Smith		(as Jennifer Smith)
Mary Tricia Wood		(as Tricia Wood)

Production Design by
Kristan Andrews

Set Decoration by
Bryan Venegas		(as Bryan John Venegas)

Costume Design by
Susie DeSanto

Makeup Department
Trish Almeida	....	hair department head
Lynn Barber	....	makeup department head
Ed French	....	special makeup effects artist (as Edward French)
Rob Hinderstein	....	makeup artist
Miia Kovero	....	key hair stylist
Julian Ledger	....	special makeup effects artist: Tatopoulos Studios
Richard Redlefsen	....	special makeup effects artist
Rick Stratton	....	tattoo artist
Liz Webster	....	hair stylist
Karen Westerfield	....	tattoo application (as Karen J. Westerfield)

Production Management
Ted Gidlow	....	production supervisor
Grant Grabowski	....	assistant production supervisor
David Kern	....	post-production supervisor
Adam Park	....	post-production supervisor
David Rubin	....	unit production manager (as David Scott Rubin)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Adler	....	first assistant director (as Anthony B. Adler)
Rosemary C. Cremona	....	second assistant director (as Rosemary Cremona)
Blake Pinkerston	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Frederick E. Alexander	....	painter
Giovanni Aurilia	....	on-set dresser
Richard Bode	....	painter
Phillip Bouchard	....	set dresser
Don Bracken	....	assistant property master
Yvonne G. Dane	....	painter
Jeff Errico	....	storyboard artist
Kyle Kitty	....	painter
Mark Knightley	....	construction coordinator
Rick Kyker	....	property master
Eric LaBonte	....	set dresser
Nathaniel Magnuson	....	set dresser
Kimberly Merlin	....	set decorating assistant
Kathleen G. Oliver	....	art department coordinator
Jaime Sánchez	....	painter (as Jaimie Lynn Sanchez)
James Stone	....	set dresser
Timothy Walsh	....	painter
John Warner	....	leadman

Sound Department
Jeremy Balko	....	adr mixer
Jeremy Balko	....	foley mixer
Craig Dollinger	....	boom operator
Brent Findley	....	assistant sound editor
Jonathan Miller	....	sound designer
Jonathan Miller	....	supervising sound editor
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer (as Steve Morrow)
Vic Radulich	....	adr editor
Vic Radulich	....	dialogue editor
Robert Sharman	....	cable person
Vicki Vandegrift	....	foley artist
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
David Beneke	....	moldmaker: Tatopoulos Studios
Julia Bogdan-Rollo	....	production accountant: Tatopoulos Studios
Scott Dwyer	....	special effects technician
Dave Grasso	....	sculptor: Tatopoulos Studios
John Halfmann	....	moldmaker: Tatopoulos Studios
Guy Himber	....	shop supervisor: Tatopoulos Studios
Tom Killeen	....	painter: Tatopoulos Studios
Allison Klein	....	assistant to designer: Tatopoulos Studios
Matt Kutcher	....	special effects supervisor
Ned Neidhardt	....	hair technician: Tatopoulos Studios
Jennifer M. Sheppard	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Gerald Ragland	....	digital intermediate support colorist
Thomas Tannenberger	....	visual effects

Stunts
Darrin Prescott	....	stunt coordinator
Craig Silva	....	stunt performer (as Craig 'Frosty' Silva)
Nancy Thurston	....	stunt performer (as Nancy Lee Thurston)
Daniel Leavitt	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Carlos Arguello	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Star Barry	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Mateo Bourdieu	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Byers	....	first company grip
Ron Elliott	....	camera loader
Paul Goldhammer	....	lighting technician
Edward 'Gooch' Gutierrez	....	grip
Sergio Gutierrez	....	grip (as Sergio 'Ponch' Gutierrez)
David G. Harrington	....	24 frame video operator
Harry Hope	....	second company grip (as George 'Harry; Hope)
Colin Hudson	....	Steadicam operator
Tom Hutchinson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Thomas A. Hutchinson)
Tomoka Izumi	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, New York and Connecticut unit
Jeff Journey	....	dolly grip (as Jeffrey C. Journey)
Mike Karasick	....	chief lighting technician (as Michael Karasick)
Erwin Landau	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Linares	....	lighting technician
John Linares	....	lighting technician
Joel Michalak	....	grip
Brian Giuseppe Morena	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Brian Morena)
David Myrick	....	lighting technician
Jorge Pallares	....	film loader
Mark Pickens	....	dolly grip
Patrick Rousseau	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Deron Tse	....	grip
Arthur Borquez	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris Cotterman	....	grip (uncredited)
Nicole Dayton	....	grip (uncredited)
Reece Glover	....	grip (uncredited)
Mark Marroquin	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mira Velasco	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Samantha Finkler	....	casting associate
Rich King	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jamelle Flowers	....	key costumer
Susan Kistler	....	wardrobe supervisor
Wendy L. Schilling	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Des Carey	....	digital intermediate producer
Mike Chiado	....	digital intermediate technologist
Siggy Ferstl	....	digital intermediate colorist
Judd H. Maslansky	....	assistant editor
Alex Romano	....	on-line editor
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital intermediate executive producer: Company 3
Ralph Tarr	....	color timer

Music Department
Ted Blaisdell	....	score mixer
Ted Blaisdell	....	score recordist
Eric Craig	....	music supervisor
Adam Gorgoni	....	score producer
Terry Wilson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Tony Barattini	....	driver (as Anthony Barattini)
Mike Belt	....	driver (as Michael R. Belt)
Joseph G. Bingenheimer	....	driver (as Joseph Bingenheimer)
Rod Brodie	....	driver
Angel Desanti	....	transportation co-captain
Wayne Flowers Jr.	....	driver (as Wayne Flowers)
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Kirk Huston	....	driver
Lee Jennings	....	driver
Zoa Keith	....	transportation dispatcher
Hugh Kelly	....	driver
Seth Levine	....	driver
Ronald Linxwiler	....	driver (as Ronald L. Linxwiler)
Gary V. Mayes	....	driver
Marty Osborne	....	picture vehicle coordinator (as Martin Osborne)
William R. Peck	....	driver
John Pellegrino	....	driver
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation captain
Ron Pope	....	driver (as Ronnie A. Pope)
Carlos M. Serrano	....	driver
Mark Timpe	....	driver
Steven Luke Weible	....	driver (as Steve Weible)

Other crew
Teresa Alvis	....	post-production accountant
Lashan Anderson	....	stand-in (as LaShan Anderson)
Rick Baca	....	first assistant accountant
Dorothy Beatty	....	baby whisperer
Thomas Beatty	....	assistant: Mr. Wright
Brian Berdan	....	title designer
MaryEllen Blair	....	assistant: Mr. Winterstern
Hilary Carver	....	unit publicist
Sarah Clifford	....	animal wrangler
Kean Cornin	....	stand-in
Donna Corwin	....	welfare worker
Dawn Darfus	....	production accountant
Claire Doré	....	animal wrangler
Liam Ford	....	data manager: Company 3
Jennifer Frey	....	stand-in
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative
Sari Heifetz Stricke	....	assistant: Ms. Moncrieff (as Sari Heifetz)
Scott Herbst	....	assistant: Mr. Luccheri
Carolyn Holden	....	stand-in
Bryan Iler	....	location assistant
Marike Jainchill	....	set production assistant
Dominique Jaramillo	....	set medic
Ashley Kravitz	....	script clearance
Jackie Lee	....	account executive: digital intermediate
Tal Meirson	....	vice president of production finance: Lakeshore
Christopher Miller	....	location manager
Teresa Miller	....	assistant: Mr. Rubin
Dan Milner	....	key locations assistant (as Daniel R. Milner)
Beth Newbauer	....	assistant to producer
Meredith Nutting	....	assistant: Ms. Moncrieff
Scott Peterson	....	script supervisor
Michael M. Piehler	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeremy Pierce-Sunia	....	set production assistant
Yoli Poropat	....	production coordinator (as Yolanda Poropat)
Jose Antonio Prieto	....	chef
Neal Prosansky	....	office assistant
Fadi Sabella	....	craft service
Robbie Salvucci	....	set production assistant
Kate Schriver	....	assistant: Mr. Rosenberg
Joni Smith	....	office assistant (as Joni 'Cannonball' Smith)
Mollie Stallman	....	set production assistant
Erin Stern	....	assistant: Ms. Moncrieff
Matthew Taylor	....	set production assistant
Merry Lee Traum	....	assistant: Piper Laurie
Alex Uceda	....	caterer: Alex's Gourmet Catering
Stan Umamoto	....	payroll assistant
Keegan Wilcox	....	production secretary
Jenny Worman	....	stand-in: Toni Collette

Thanks
Susan Tuan	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Bruin Grip Services
• Lakeshore Entertainment
• Pitbull Pictures

Distributors

• Cathay-Keris Films (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Hungaricom Kft (2006) (Hungary) (all media)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Odeon (2006) (Greece) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Patrick Tatopoulos Design
• Spectrum Effects
• Tatopoulos Studios (special makeup effects design)

Other Companies

• Alex Gourmet Catering  catering (as Alex's Gourmet Catering)
• Axium International  payroll services provided by
• California Insurance Services  insurance provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• FMW Casting  additional casting
• Gradient Effects  visual effects
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty provided by
• JP Morgan Chase Bank  production financing provided by
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  script clearance
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr/walla recording
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Riot  digital dailies provided by
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production and mixing (as Sonic Magic Studios)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, grisly images and sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

USA:85 min | Netherlands:93 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | UK:15 | New Zealand:R16 | France:U (with warning)

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Company:

Bruin Grip Services

Trivia:

The name on the Missing Persons report for Brittany Murphy's prostitute character reads "Krista Kutcher." Murphy dated actor Ashton Kutcher after they starred together in the movie Just Married (2003).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Melora meets Rosetta her face is beaten up. When she takes Rosetta to eat her face is normal looking but when she drops her back at the motel Rosetta's face is back to being a mess.

Quotes:

Rudy: You're not kissing me. You're just lying there like you want me to rape you!
Arden: Okay.
Rudy: What, you want me to rape you?
Arden: I'll kiss you.
Rudy: And take the gloves off.

Soundtrack:

Standing Above The Stars

Dark comment on the hidden strength of women

"The Dead Girl" A film review by Brian Murphy "The Dead Girl," writer/director Karen Moncrieff's (a former television actress and director) penetrating new film, connects five women affected by the death of a young woman (Brittany Murphy). The film, split up into five chapters, reads like a book, with each chapter examining the changes in their lives brought about by the brutal murder of someone most of them have never met.

"The Stranger," "The Sister," "The Wife," "The Mother" and "The Dead Girl" comprise a fascinating, multiple character study of abused, confused and repressed women. The murdered woman winds up being an altruistic, sacrificial lamb that alters the course of others for better and for worse.

Ms. Moncrieff has assembled a stellar cast. Toni Collette ("Little Miss Sunshine") shines as Arden, an emotionally bruised daughter, isolated from society by her abusive, invalid mother. After discovering the corpse of a young woman, her world is turned upside down; the media hounds her, she is romantically pursued by a creepy grocery clerk (the underrated Giovanni Ribisi), and she rebels against her passive nature, lashing out at a mother (Piper Laurie) who, referring to her deceased brother, remarks, "He (God) should have taken you instead!" Rose Byrne is phenomenal as Leah, a young woman desperately searching for a way to put the 15-year disappearance of her sister to rest. While her mother (Mary Steenburgen) still posts age-enhanced pictures of her daughter, desperately hoping for her return, Leah wishes for her family to accept the fact that her sister must be dead, in order for them all to move on. Her occupation as a coroner perfectly corresponds to her character. When she comes across the corpse that Arden discovered, she immediately finds a birthmark similar to that of her sister. Finally feeling the closure she has been seeking, Leah embarks on a life separate from work and her therapist's office. She responds to the advances of slightly creepy coworker Derek (James Franco of "Spiderman"), and has sex in a scene Ms. Moncrieff deftly designed to express release.

Mary Beth Hurt (as Ruth,) and Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock,") present two antithetical characters seeking redemption for, perhaps, their denial. Ruth, a religious, forgotten wife, believes her despondent husband may be a serial killer, while Harden's Melora is the mother of a woman possibly murdered by Ruth's husband. Ultimately, their choices define them. Ruth chooses to remain in denial, while Melora seeks the cause of her daughter's decision to run away. In the end, one is lost and haunted, while the other earns redemption.

Not to be forgotten, Brittany Murphy ("8 Mile"), as Krista (a.k.a. "The Dead Girl") gives a spectacular performance that serves as the essential footnote to Moncrieff's film. Murphy delivers as a junkie prostitute who, despite her troubled past, is still a loving mother.

Karen Moncrieff's script may have difficulty appealing to a mass male audience. Her script is gender-centric, studying the growth or regression of several female leads. The few male characters involved are either initially or ultimately presented as unsympathetic, withdrawn, or potential sources of violence. This does not exclude children, like the young boy who punches his sister in the arm. Men are not definitively portrayed as evil, but the film does cast a wary glare in their direction.

However, Ms. Moncrieff's writing is insightful, and her direction is expressive. She uses a myriad of close-ups to showcase the talents of her fine ensemble cast and also to express a claustrophobic tone-Her women are often emotionally stunted, cornered by men, or voluntarily succumb to their own fears. Their transitions define this empathetic yet brutally honest film.