Review of Shaye Saint John: The Triggers Compilation from Indican Pictures!
AKA: Shaye & Kiki.
Directed by: Eric Fournier
Written by: Saint John, Eric Fournier.
Produced by: Carl Crew, Ross Danielson
Cinematography by: Eric Fournier
Editing by: Eric Fournier
Music by: Saint John
Cast: Saint John, Eric Fournier, Ron Jon.
Year: 2004
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color/B/W
Runtime: 1h 32min
Distributor: Indican Pictures
“Had someone misinformed me that this film was a three-way collaboration between aliens, John Waters, and a homeless guy in South Central, I would have accepted that premise immediately without need or want of an explanation.” That’s a quote from another reviewer and probably sums up the viewing experience waiting on this disc. I’d like to add that if you also threw in the Quay Brothers, some cheap and awful YouTube Poops (aka YTP’s) and Jan Svankmajer then you still wouldn’t be close.
Using a term such as ‘one of a kind’ seems too overused and wasted in modern society, however with Shaye Saint John there simply cannot exist another of its kind. I first chanced upon this world on YouTube as part of a compilation, I think, titled Weird Things or something similar so I ventured deeper. Having then found out all the information I needed I ordered the DVD.
One thing many websites disagree on is the actual person. Who was Shaye Saint John? I say “was” because there have been reports that the person in whichever form or name is dead. Some say Saint John was a disabled man/woman dressed up and a man called Eric Fournier helped out by directing and editing. Others say Eric Fournier was Shaye Saint John. Either way, both Saint John and Eric Fournier have been stated as deceased and no material has emerged since 2007. The simple character of Shaye Saint John is along the lines of a diva actress (or trying to be an actress), survives an accident and is rebuilt as mostly plastic. She lives alone, slowly descending into madness. Her house mate and long term friend is a burnt faced doll called Kiki who possesses the ability to levitate objects and scare the hell out of Shaye.
This was the only DVD release and is a compilation of skits ‘n sketches called Triggers. Most are available on YouTube and possibly should carry a warning, to watch maybe a maximum of five and no more, in shifts.
The menu has Shaye telling you to; “Make a selection” over and over. Her voice sounds like that kids character created by Lucas Cruikshank, Fred, but on speed. Beginning the film, the camera is grainy and the editing is fast and experimental, with warping images, blasts of colors, headache inducing spinning angles, and all filled with random images of dolls, words, etcetera.
A majority of the DVD is based in one house and out on the porch. The house is relatively normal in appearance, inside and out, but the occupants certainly aren’t normal.
Firstly, Shaye is invited to a turkey day party so sticks “potty’s sunlamp” bulb under her plastic face to get a tan. Time passes and her face is brown because Kiki didn’t remind her to move. As she walks over in a rare street scene on stick like plastic legs, I think we hear quotes form her life playing over: “She was a beautiful person,” and “A horrible secret.” She’s brought Kiki along and shows her burnt face to everyone, “Don’t we look alike?” Then she freaks out as flashbacks to the bulb hit her. “Susie, do you have a pin? I feel sick!” Shaye then levitates from the house as horrific images of her burnt face assault our eyes. “I hate you!” she screams into the house, though we don’t actually see anyone else apart from a doll. “She had a circle of friends.” says the narration of her past.
So ends Trigger 1. Trigger 2 starts with the heading ‘That Doll Is Beautiful’ as a voice says “Something strange is happening to Shaye and her doll, Kiki.” As I stated before, Kiki is a burnt doll and this section is in grainy black and white footage as Shaye hugs Kiki after the disastrous party. “They all got jealous when I took out my doll,” she rings her mother to lament the party as the film becomes color. Kiki starts to talk as THE END flashes up. “People tease me about being little ‘cause I’m so small.”
Trigger 3 reveals Kiki’s power. The word EVIL flashes up. Shaye screams over and over in different speeds and tones, bottles float around the kitchen. “Kiki! I Think I’m possessed by power… power…. I’m possessed by power! Kiki I think I’m power!” As Kiki leers into the camera we hear Shaye scream, “Something’s happening, it’s vibrating!”
Throughout the thirty Triggers there’s a kind of loose story I suppose. They do follow on from each other sometimes. Mostly it’s a compilation of random images. Kiki’s on a string bashing against the washroom window scaring Shaye again, Shaye releases a sort of internet porn video. “Would you like to see my legs for a quarter more? Where’s my doll? Oh my legs. Where’s my doll?” The head of a new doll floats before her, then Kiki’s head pops off.
It has the feel of Eraserhead but a modern and far deeper level than that. Kitty Candy is the most incredible of all. “Don’t forget to feed the kitty…. kitty kitty kitty…” as Shaye feeds some rather bewildered cats on her porch, whilst images bend and reshape themselves. “What’s wrong with Shaye? What’s wrong with Shaye’s kitty?” the slow voiced narration (??) states.
Things certainly reach a fever pitch as Kiki torments Shaye late at night with a beeper. Colors, twisting heads, loud words and then she gets addicted to the internet. Welcome to a totally out of place scene of a switch board operating from her front room as Kiki tears the wires out of it. Later on there’s even a public service warning about fireworks by Shaye.
The Triggers Compilation is a crude but amazing series of experimental plays with visuals that never seems to end. There is not one dull moment, but sometimes things get a bit too much. Inside the Chamber, for instance is a bit too in-your-face and myself personally, I could not make any sense of it. The final Trigger, number 30, will haunt you long after with scenes of dancing dolls — nuff said.
The soundtrack to the Triggers range from simple keyboards, to synths, to jollys, to the downright morbid. Onto the extras and there’s a choice of non-hidden Easter Eggs in plain view, new hairstyles, and a Shaye make-up sesh; “It’s really burning my skin, must mean it’s working.” Four trailers for other Indican Pictures releases including the rather odd Tuvala and the experimental but good looking Carlos Castaneda documentary. The trailers have all been put together to look like the main feature.
Finally a handful of ‘music’ videos take the intensity further down into your brain cells. Some are based around Kiki and are well produced and in some ways feel like a sequel to the main movie, but use loops off the Triggers a bit too much.
Overall, this DVD is well worth seeking out if you fancy something totally different with likeminded people who feel the need to pursue other regions beyond our own. “Welcome to the funbubble!” states the back of the case. Gawd!!
| DVD SPECS: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1, 4:3 Region: NTSC 1 Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: – Music Videos – Easter Eggs – Trailers |
