In A Glass Cage (1987) aka Tras El Cristal

4.5 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Agustí Villaronga
Written by: Agustí Villaronga
Actors include: Günter Meisner, David Sust, Marisa Paredes
Genre: Horror, Drama, War, Thriller
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Egads, this must have been the feel bad movie of the year. That being said, it's really an amazing picture about the atrocities of war and their lasting effects even after and it's told in a different way then I've ever seen before. It's so bleak and difficult to watch in places, this one will test and disturb, I doubt I'll ever forget it. The story is about a former Nazi/pedophile named Klaus who tormented little boys but is now clinging to life at home in an iron lung. His wife seems harsh and awful as well, and their poor little girl Rena lives with them too. A young Man called Angelo shows up at their house wanting to take care of Klaus but something isn't quite right with this arrangement. It's brutal, violent, explicit, humorless and in no way should this be watched by everyone. Still it's an impressively made and acted film that leaves one hell of an impression and does more than makes it's point. It's rare to see such a combination of exploitation/drama and horror but this is effective and worthwhile to the right viewer.

Availability:  On DVD

Antichrist (2009)

3.5 / 5 Dec '10
Tagline: When nature turns evil, true terror awaits.
Directed by: Lars von Trier
Written by: Lars von Trier
Actors include: Willem DaFoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Storm Acheche Sahlstrøm
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
For me this was a rather hit and miss film, the ending I quite enjoyed...okay well maybe "enjoyed" isn't the word...it made me uncomfortable. The beginning I found to be rather dry and up it's own ass (although very well acted) it was rather boring. It begins with the death of a couple's infant while they are having sex (I was shocked at how much we see here honestly), from there it's a downward spiral of guilt, shame and despair. It's a depressing film, and some of the creepy imagery is quite well created (especially the woods and dead animals). The ending was surprisingly demented and entertaining though people watching this as an art film will be disappointed, I thought it had good payoff. It does "cross the line" a few times into silly territory...I mean a talking fox? What was up with that? Oh well it's a strange hybrid of art film, disturbing gross out fest and well acted drama....it was worth watching but not something I'd probably watch again.

Availability:  On Blu-Ray & DVD

Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1974) aka Thriller - En Grym Film aka Hooker's Revenge aka They Call Her One Eye

5 / 5

Tagline: The first film, ever, to be banned in Sweden!

Directed By: Bo Arne Vibenius

Written By: Bo Arne Vibenius
Actors Include: Christina Lindberg, Heinz Hopf, Despina Tomazani
Genre: Cult, Thriller, Exploitation, Action, Drama
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Sweden, Finland

Review:
This is the most disturbing film I've ever seen bar none. I dare you to find one to match this one on just about any level. I knew it was influential for Quentin Tarantino but until you watch it, it's hard to explain but definitely they share a uniquely captivating style. This is just beyond what I think Tarantino could come up with or rather it's more sadistic I guess and it's quite humorless but it needs to be serious with this sort of content. Our story starts out with a young girl who has been sexually abused by family members and has become mute as a result. Flash forward to her life as a teen, she catches a ride with a young fellow and has dinner with him. He drugs her, addicts her to heroin in her sleep, and then forces herself to whore herself to earn heroin. I now feel compelled to add that this has hardcore sex, it's not sexy sex, but rather degrading painful looking humiliating sex...hard to watch to say the least. On the side she earns money by doing disgusting things and saves up for lessons in combat training and fighting for revenge. She breaks free and rights the wrongs in a particularly graphic and brilliantly shot way. The whole film is extremely well done, I mean beautiful and horrific all at the same time. The revenge is oh so sweet and nice and graphic, the style of which they chose to shoot some of these scenes is absolute perfection. I would recommend this but it's so extremely cruel that it's hard for me to do that, I haven't been the same since I watched it. Brilliant movie....just incredibly sadistic but at least it's fufilling.

Availabilty:  On DVD