Trauma

The premise of the movie is strong, and the overall production is good, but while I'm fairly desensitized to graphic violence, the rape scene was sickening, excruciatingly long, and unnecessarily graphic. The direction of the scene doesn't waver in terms of the brutality and that the women are tragic victims; nevertheless, I felt it was over the top to a point that I had to ask why.

The introductory scene of Juan as a young man, which also is the opening scene of the film, also was intensely disturbing. I'm on the fence as to whether it was gratuitous or not. I know the Chilean revolution of the '70s was exceptionally brutal and violent, so perhaps it's necessary thematically. I don't think viewers from the United States are willing to tolerate that level of visceral, grotesque brutality on the screen, however.

The film is overall very dark and difficult to tolerate at times, in my opinion, and I sort of wish I hadn't watched it.

I like gore movies and this one was reputed to be extreme. But it is very bad. The protagonists and their decisions throughout the film are stupid. Actresses' performances are appalling and unbelievable, especially in torture scenes. There is the typical absurdly indestructible villain. I thought the movie would be more grotesque, but I even found it soft, except for a couple of scenes. Something positive is the music. I do not recommend it.

You ever see a film so terribly bad that once it's over, you immediately forget everything that transpired, almost completely scrubbing it from your memory? Years later, you hear these people online who discover it, claiming it's "as disturbing as a Serbian Film", and you think, "I HAVE to watch that!!", forgetting you had already seen it, hated it, and forgot all about it? Then you press play and you think, "Hmmm, this looks strangely familiar. I've seen this before, but maybe it was just a part used in the trailer...?" Then the actors start delivering their lines with all of the aplomb of a High School play, and you start to think to you yourself, "Wait a minute, did I see this?". Then when it finally hits you that you DID this trash and you sadly pick up the remote, press stop, and hang your head in shame for having wasted 20 minutes of your life doing all of this, 20 minutes you will NEVER, EVER get back?

No? So it's just me then?

Well let me start by saying it's not as bad as people think it is. Its brutal but not bad. Good story, Great effects, and good acting. "A Serbian Film" is much worse.

Anyway .. not for the faint of heart though. And not a movie you should see with your parents or a first date type of deal. Unless she or he is into those type of movies.

How do you rate and or review a movie like this? Not easy to say the least - on the other hand, if you make it through the opening of the movie ... well there is one other scene, that starts off as a party scene, but does totally get horrible once some unexpected guests arrive.

The movie does try to shock and mostly succeeds I would say. Forceful sex is one (terrible) thing, but the start of the movie adds another layer to it (no pun intended). So this is clearly exploitation - you have to know that, accept it for what it is or do not watch at all.

What can be said about it: it does look good. Disgusting things happen, but they are filmed in quite the amazing way. But while you have to decide if you are triggered and/or squeamish when it comes to movies like this one right here, it does never reach the potential of Serbian Film. That had some other levels to it - the war, the society and that dreamworld like craziness. Also the soundtrack was just great. Can't really be said here.

Still the movie will tickle the right things for you - if you know what those are. Not really up my alley - no pun intended, no matter how well it is made technically speaking and the acting isn't too shabby either. Plus nice blood and other effects.