Whatever happened to the days when the two words "euro horror" put together meant both intensity and quality? They passed us by a few years ago, I'm afraid. Gone are the days of "Them", "High Tension" and "Frontiers". What we're left with today are festival hits like "The Human Centipede."
And why "The Human Centipede" made such tremendous waves on the festival circuit is beyond me. It isn't a good horror movie. It has moments. But in the end, the film is basically torture porn -- and I hate to use that term, because it has been thrown around so much. But that's all this movie is.
The concept of "The Human Centipede" at this point is pretty well known. But if you don't want spoilers stop reading and cut to the last paragraph.
If you don't care about spoilers, and want to know the best thing that this movie spawned, check out this hilarious videogame that basically sums up the concept.
A mad scientist (played by creepy looking Dieter Laser, who was clearly born for this kind of role) kidnaps a few tourists in the German countryside, among them two ditzy American college students (Ashley Williams and Ashlynn Yennie), unlucky enough to have gotten a flat tire near his home in the woods.
Of course, they just happen to be out of cel range, so they stumble to his front door and beg for him to call the German equivalent of AAA. Ignoring the fact that he's an abusive louse that admits he "doesn't like human beings," they trust him enough to let him call the German equivalent of AAA for them. Naturally, he simply drugs them and help doesn't arrive.
They wake up in hospital beds next to a kidnapped Japanese fellow (Akihiro Kitamura) and are given a lecture by the evil doctor on his plans for them. Turns out, he was the preeminent surgeon for separating siamese twins. Now, he wants to create a new kind of human: A three-person entity with one digestive tract -- a human centipede connected via the gastric system. After a bad attempt at some Hitchockian suspense when one of the girl tries to escape, he is able to get the three patients together for the gruesome operation.
End the first act of the story.
The second act of the tale is basically torture porn stuff, with the human centipede struggling to function as the doctor treats it like a dog in his front yard, then cages it as night. Where the trio struggles to get along -- especially when it's time for the head of the centipede (the Japanese guy) to go to the bathroom.
Finally, the third act has a couple of gun-toting cops arriving in search of the missing girls, for a predictibly gory climax.
The film deserves some points for being sickening and over the top. But, aside from that, it's a pretty boring affair. The fact that it was such a hit at film festivals goes to show how weak the indie horror slate was in 2010 when it came to indie titles, especially when you compare it to the middle of the decade.
Wow, Lucious you sound bitter. Lighten up man, it's a movie. I have to disagree with this review. i thought Human Centipede was twisted, nasty, and had some great dark comedy. C'mon the Dr. was hilarious! Also, the concept is totally unique and freaky.
Posted by hannahbee on November 25, 2010
Well i didnt watch this movie but i never will. it sounds disturbing and i agree with you lucius. i mean just looking at the trailer had me disturbed for a week, i still am, kind of. if only i had never heard of this movie... I thought about how horrible it would be to be stitched up to someone like that.. honestly i would rather die. this film sounds so sick and disturbing it actually made me cry. even though its a just a film! i just cant handle stuff like this. ick.
Posted by Psycho D on July 25, 2011
Posted by Sophie on August 31, 2011
I Completely agree , as a girl watching this movie , i was more scared by the trailer?,which basically shows you everything anyways. I Watched the movie with my friends and we all expected more horror? it was basically like you say 'tortured porn'. After half way you pretty much just watch the 'centipede' just do everyday things and it gets quite boring , although the plot is disturbing the film isnt that Gory. Id give it 6/10.
Posted by Anonymous on July 18, 2012
If you can't handle the gore, hannahbee, what the fuck are you doing commenting on a movie called "The Human Centipede"?
This goes into the category of "if you're the kind of person who would be grossed out by this, you're not the target audience."
I was not grossed out by this. In fact, I laud it for its subtlety. Much is left to the imagination, the casting is brilliant, and the soundtrack is wonderfully minimal. It doesn't judge, it doesn't glorify, it simply presents a monster in all due realness. 10/10
Rank this film on a '666 scale' of one to six (left to right). Based on 1769 votes.
