The Dailies: LIFE IN THE 'WOOD
Monday, May 17, 2010
Photo by Omar P.L. Moore /
PopcornReel.com
May 17, 2010
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Food For Thought On The "Centipede" Express
By Omar P.L. Moore / PopcornReel.com
IFC Films
"Repulsive", "Disgusting", "Bad", "Awful".
These adjectives describe some of the reactions to "The Human Centipede (First
Sequence)", which is now making its presence known across the U.S. and Canada in
late-night and midnight screenings.
Many reviewers have slammed Tom Six's horror film (pictured above), throwing the
kitchen sink at it. Since its release in New York City on April 30, the
film has packed midnight screenings in various additional cities in successive
weeks.
The Popcorn Reel reviewed the film and while not
recommending it, cited its glossy production values, specifically its
cinematography. Dieter Laser throws his all into his role as the evil,
reptilian doctor whose final twisted ambition is to surgically sew together the
mouths and anuses of three people in a brutal and horrific "experiment" deep in
the German countryside.
The film is hardly a standout for brilliance. "The Human Centipede" is, to
say the least, an acquired taste. It's a taste I don't share. It
will be a long time before I watch the film again (i.e., never) and while it's a
film I won't recommend, on an artistic level it is hardly bad. Its
violence, while graphic, is a lot tamer than horror of the "torture porn"
variety ("Hostel II").
It is interesting to observe the back and forth on this film, especially on the
Internet. Few have out and out championed its cause, and I haven't either.
Conceptually the film deeply troubles many, understandably. The film never
advertises itself as anything but horror. When you see the title "The
Human Centipede", you know what you're getting into, pardon the pun. I
knew, and I'm not a horror fan at all.
For context, more violent films than "The Human Centipede" are currently playing
in U.S. theaters ("Kick-Ass",
"Repo Men"), as are films more insulting and
insidious ("The Bounty Hunter"). Each
of these have bigger-name actors and are released by big-name studios or
"mini-major" film distributors (Lionsgate).
All will be more successful than "The Human Centipede".
I wonder aloud: had David
Cronenberg (who directed the 1996 film
"Crash" and the 2007 film
"Eastern Promises") directed "The Human
Centipede" rather than Tom Six, would many of the people repulsed by it now sing
its praises?
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