There's a horror movie out there that is so messed up that it is banned in more than 40 countries.
With that being said, this article will contain information that some might find disturbing.
Horror films aren't something that I dabble in too often, mainly because I don't want to spend my down time hiding behind the sofa.
Whereas some people love horror movies... but occasionally one comes along that manages to repulse everyone at the same time.
While many people enjoy a good scare, this particular movie has pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable, leaving viewers profoundly unsettled.
Directed by Srđan Spasojević, the film follows Miloš, a semi-retired adult star who accepts an offer to appear in an art film, only to find himself trapped in a production filled with extreme sexual content and other horrific elements.
This is, of course, A Serbian Film.
Director Srđan Spasojević explained the inspiration behind the film to Indiewire: “We just wanted to express our deepest and honest feelings towards our region and also the world in general — a world that is sugar-coated in political correctness, but also very rotten under that façade.”
Released in 2010, A Serbian Film immediately sparked widespread controversy. Every country that allowed its release required substantial cuts for it to receive a rating.
Watch the trailer below, viewer discretion advised:In the US, approximately one minute was cut to secure an NC-17 rating, while in the UK, three minutes and 48 seconds were removed across 11 scenes to allow its release.
Of the 46+ countries that have banned the film, major markets like Spain, Australia, and Malaysia have prohibited its screenings entirely.
The New York Times reported that Ángel Sala, the director of the Sitges Film Festival, was charged with exhibiting child pornography for screening the movie.
However, EL PAÍS later reported that the charges were dropped; had Sala been convicted, he would have faced jail time.
Critics are sharply divided on the film. Some acknowledge the director’s vision, while others denounce it as repulsive.
Mark Kermode, writing for Thoughtnova, said: “The director says it’s allegorical… if it is so, then the allegory just gets lost in the increasingly stupid splatter. The most annoying thing about it is – torture porn is one thing, but pompous, pretentious torture porn is something else.”
One fan review on Rotten Tomatoes reads: "This movie is literally just stuff I can’t say, there is a huge controversial scene I can’t even mention. This movie is disgusting, hard to watch, and in general has a terrible story. Watch it at your own risk, you might throw up."
Aleksandar Radivojević, the film’s co-writer, defended the movie in an interview with TPortal, calling it “a metaphor for our national cinema” and criticizing state-funded Serbian films as “boring, predictable, and altogether unintentionally hilarious.”
Director Spasojević went further, describing the project as “a diary of our own molestation by the Serbian government” in an interview with Monsters, Madness and Magic.
He argued that the film’s extreme nature was necessary to convey its message, drawing parallels between the plot and the manipulative power of leaders.
Might be best to give this one a miss.
