Friday, May 14, 2010
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Friday, May 14, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
Anus Horribilis
A scene from the horror film "The Human Centipede (First Sequence)", written and
directed by Tom Six. IFC Films
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
FOLLOW
Friday, May 14, 2010
As you've driven a car on a highway, no doubt you've succumb to the gnawing
curiosity of the collision you see up ahead. You slow down to get a
glimpse. Are there dead bodies? Blood? Body parts? You
don't hope to see these things, but you do wonder.
And how many of us have driven past homes along a highway and wondered what the
devil was going on in those homes?
Tom Six shines a light on that last question in his horror film "The Human
Centipede (First Sequence)", which is currently playing in assorted theaters
throughout the U.S. and Canada in specific late-night only showings.
Beautifully shot by Goof De Koning, "The Human Centipede" is lush, alluring,
decorative, served up as if the entire film were a dinner itself. That's
probably Mr. Six's intent, as he weaves horror and art so very persuasively.
The film takes place in the German countryside. Lindsay and Jenny, two
American twenty-somethings (Ashley C. Williams and Ashlynn Yennie) are wandering
on vacation (see "Hostel II"). They wind up
at an isolated home and before too long the evil clutches of one Dr. Heiter,
played with relish and seriousness by Dieter Laser. Dr. Heiter (or Dr.
Eatgood), a retired surgeon, wants to craft his final, disgusting masterpiece:
to suture together the mouths and anuses of three people in his lair. The
third contestant in this bizarro game is Katsuro (Akihiro Kitamura), who gets to
shout the loudest in protestation.
"The Human Centipede" is hardly as graphic a film to watch as some have
suggested. Though there are moments of abject horror for sure, the film is
not as violent in content or context as either
"Kick-Ass" or "Repo Men". Mr. Six's film
by comparison isn't even reprehensible. It's horror. It says what it
is about. And it goes there without pretension or anxiety. The
director is as serious about his work here as the victims are in trouble.
Art house horror is the name of the game, and Mr. Six admirably shows discretion
in what he reveals of the nearly-naked bodies of all (especially the women) when
the victims are in helpless peril. In fact, less nudity is here than in
some PG-13 or R-rated films. Horror fans may actually be disappointed in
some respects where the violence is concerned, and the film is much better than
one might expect.
"The Human Centipede (First Sequence)" should probably have received an
R-rating, and many R-rated films are far more violent than this one. On
balance Mr. Six and the performers -- especially the Frankenstein, Nosferatu-like
echo of a very game Mr. Laser -- do well, even if what happens to these poor
souls doesn't amount to a bon appetit.
With: Andreas Leupold.
"The Human Centipede (First Sequence)" is not rated by the Motion Picture
Association Of America. Again, it should have been rated R, and showings
of this film in the U.S. should be brought forward to 8pm. The film does
contain graphic, bloody violence, but it is not of the "torture porn" variety.
The film is in English, German and Japanese languages with English subtitles.
The film's duration is one hour and 28 minutes.
Unscripted review of "The Human Centipede":
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