A Serbian Film

Guys, I'm sorry if this makes me a lightweight in some of your eyes, but this one was a little too much for me. I knew what I was getting into when I turned it on, and to be perfectly honest I didn't even expect to make it all the way through. I did though, partly because I didn't want to pussy out and partly because despite the horrific shit I was seeing on screen, this is actually a well-made movie and fuck me, I wanted to see how it ended. Once again, a glutton for punishment this guy is.

I saw the red band months ago, and had an opportunity then to watch the movie, but passed. There is subject matter in the trailer that I've always had trouble watching (rape, torture, mixing children with either of the previous, etc.), and I knew the movie would do nothing but expand on it exponentially. Eventually the hype around it died down, and I didn't hear much talk of it so I decided that I made the right decision by skipping it. Well, for whatever reason, there seems to have been a bit of a resurgence (at least at some of the sites I visit) and my morbid curiosity finally got the best of me.

What was it like? What was it like?! It scarred me for life! That's what it's like!!!

You pretty much get everything you need about the plot from the red band trailer which you will find below. An ex porn star, now living the family life, is struggling to make ends meet and is approached about coming out of retirement to do one more film. Milosh is reluctant until he sees the contract and how much he's being offered to do this movie, which is enough for him to retire permanently and he and his family will be able to live very comfortably. Of course there's a catch, and that catch is that Milosh can't know what the movie is about, he's never given any kind of a script, instead he's given an ear piece which the director uses to communicate with him. To say any more than that would a) ruin some of the film's twists, and b) be too difficult for me to type.

I'm so torn on this movie. On the one hand, it's incredibly hard to recommend anyone actually watch it, it's easily the most disturbing, depraved, disgusting subject matter I've ever seen on film. I honestly worry about any sane human being who could watch this and not be shocked and offended at some of the scenes. It's filth at it's absolute filthiest. Then, on the other hand, it's hard to deny it's an extremely well-made flick, it takes you through the wringer in terms of what you're willing to endure to see how it ends, but it definitely grabs you whether you intend for it to or not. Or, at least that was my experience with it.

This was the same face I made on at LEAST three occasions watching this film.

I'm hesitant to actually call this "entertainment". Yes, I was interested enough in the plot to want to see how it played out, although after I did, I kinda wish I had just turned it off. There were times when this movie literally turned my stomach. So I don't really feel like I was being "entertained", but I'm not sure exactly what word I'm looking for here. Although it's not my intention, I fully realize that I'm doing nothing more than glorifying A Serbian Film for some of you. In all honesty, it was reading reviews just like this that initially piqued my interest in it. After watching it though, I really wish I hadn't. While there isn't much that I won't watch, I do have a line and this one drove so far past it that even I can't decide at exactly which point that it went too far. Watch at your own risk. Hell, even watch the trailer below at your own risk.

And finally, even though none of you asked for it, I'm including a photo taken from my "shower-cam" in the Batcave directly following my viewing of the movie. I spent the next two hours like this, knowing full well that no amount of soap and water will ever be able to make me feel clean again.....