A Serbian Film (2010, Srdjan Spasojevic)

Like many, I had heard a lot about this flick prior to it's DVD release - including some of the many "taboo" and "shocking" things that were featured in it. Needless to say, my curiosity peaked and I finally checked it out a few weeks ago. Here is the inexplicably late review...

"A Serbian Film" definitely lived up to the hype, cramming in as many outrageously vile acts of sexual violence and controversial themes as it could, while managing to work within the confines of a decent plot. A retired male porn actor, Milos - now living comfortably with his wife and young child - is offered a new "adult" film gig being directed by an eccentric new "arthouse" pornographer who is desperately trying to bring something 'new' to the industry. Milos is given no info on what he will be doing in the film - only vague instructions through an earpiece as he quickly discovers that this is not like the run-of-the-mill films he had worked on in the past. Here, he is forced to perform violence laden sex acts at shady locations in front of children. That is only the beginning... The director wants his candid style of porn to exceed the bounds of "mainstream" fetishism by including torture and murder into the game-plan.

I feel that's all that really needs to be said about the general plot line. From what I have heard from others, "A Serbain Film" is a movie that many understandably find hard to stomach. Not sure what that says about me, since I didn't see the film as 'disgraceful' by my own standards, yet it DOES certainly cross a line. I mean, if other hardcore horror/sleaze sickos are loosing their shit over this thing and turning it off, there's definitely something to be said about my own sense of morality since I actually enjoyed and appreciated it for the most part. The storyline itself was good, but nothing all that astounding, in my opinion. The acting was solid, however, and deeply effective at times. There were a few nice twists and turns, which were nice to see in a flick that will undoubtedly be known specifically for a number of ghastly scenes that, I could definitely see, taking top bill over the story. Of course, the scene depicting a newborn baby being raped is the stand-out moment that will, no doubt, secure this movie a legacy for quite some time. Yes, it is a gruesome and heavily sinister concept ever-so brazenly featured in an unflinching and graphic context on film. Other notable moments of brutality include necrophilia, a woman's bloody, toothless mouth being fucked until she suffocates, and numerous references and renderings of pedophilia...

Obviouisly, "A Serbian Film" is not for all tastes, but those interested in such films that push the limits of decency should check it out.