Human Centipede, The (Review)

HUMAN CENTIPEDE, THE
[FIRST SEQUENCE]
(4/28/10; Horror)
Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, Akihiro Kitamura
SCR/DIR: Tom Six
MPAA: Unrated
1 hour 32 mins

It’s been called the most disgusting movie ever made. I don’t know, I can think of a few that are worse, but you have to give writer-director Six some credit here for originality.

How many films can claim to be about a mad doctor who surgically joins three victims together, mouth to anus, to create a human centipede? It’s one thing to dangle such a cinematic threat but Six actually goes there by the one hour mark, setting up a third act so revoltingly original there’s no way you’re not gonna see how this sucker ends, assuming you’ve made it that far.

Basically, two vacationing American dimwits break down in Germany and knock on the doc’s door, allowing him to drug them. He explains his plan (with charts and graphs) and from there, it’s a series of escape attempts and grotesque experiments, shot in a graphic (yet Euro-classy) way that would make David Cronenberg smile.

It must be said that Laser cuts quite a presence. Even his cheesetastic evil cackle is chilling. If you’re like me and wondered why Williams and Yennie would accept roles that would require them to be mute, topless and seemingly sewn to someone’s ass for half the film, you’re not alone. Six has said that during the casting process, a lot of actresses walked out of readings with disgust upon hearing the full nature of the role.

He also kept his financial backers in the dark until it had been completed. Y’think? (IFC)

— DENNIS WILLIS


Author: Dennis Willis

Dennis Willis is an award-winning producer, TV host, producer, director, editor (he preferred Avid until a torrid affair with Adobe Premiere, and the rest is history), author and film critic (print and radio). Dennis produced and hosted the TV programs Reel Life, FilmTrip, Soundwaves (1983-2008) and produces the annual Soundwaves Xmas program. He is currently the film critic on KGO Radio in San Francisco, and a member of both the San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

Share This Post On

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *