26/01/2011

August Underground - 2001 USA d: Fred Vogel



A fascinating experiment in horror realism. If one can get past the initial sense of revulsion and ugliness there is a skilled film to be seen.  It is very realistic and its lack of style is an accomplished style in itself. I suspect it was more difficult to make a film look like random snippets from a voyeuristic camcorder than one might think.  Whilst it looked like it was a camera in the hands of a non-professional, there seems to have been considerable planning to the shots and handheld movements.

So, in and of itself it is well made, but is it any good? This is harder to answer and herein lies the "genius" of the film.  The story is simple (two moronic anti-social psychotic metalheads continue a murderous crime spree before the all seeing eye of their camcorder) but deceptively subtle (unlike the visuals) in how it unfolds.  You see the killers getting increasingly blasé and falling foul of their own passions and stupidity, and this is all done very well.  However, the film is simply repulsive to watch - arguably undermining itself in its eagerness to bow down to The Great God Realism.  Unless interested as to the mechanics of making such a film, why would anyone watch it? It is not entertaining, nor does it have the dramatic foundation that makes a film such as Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer so rewarding and admirable.  It is a curious beast indeed.

I do not know what to make of this film, ultimately. I am glad I have seen it and admire what has been achieved, but at the same time I disliked what it showed me and will probably not watch it again anytime soon!  To achieve such a near paradoxical viewpoint in me only makes me admire it even more.  It has made me think, and surely that is something to be lauded.

Not for the squeamish or idly curious. You can not "unsee" what this film has to show you.

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