Arthouse Atrocities - Where Art and Eyegouging form an uneasy peace

[Sam@Cult Labs]

This area is for discussing the raw end of Arthouse films, those movies that feel a little like Exploitation Movies in smart clothes.

Experimental directors have always used shock value and horror movie tricks to spice up their movies. Art or not, a little controversy doesn't hurt ticket sales, whether you're trying to make extra money or just get your artistic statement seen.

Post reviews or discuss the shocking end of art cinema here. From the Argento movies co-opted by Alejandro Jodorowsky in his Surrealism meets Slasher epic Santa Sangre to the disturbing, bleak, perverse and violent Belgium Scum-punk movie Ex-Drummer or jaw dropping fountains of bile and sickness in the 'tricky to stomach' Taxidermia, we want to hear opinions about startling imagery and borderline offense from the more high brow end of the movie business.

It's not all Black & White, four hours long or full of existential and stylish French sophisticates smoking Gitanes artfully while discussing not much of anything.

[Philleh]

Well, the hot 'new' art-house trash is coming from Serbia! In the shape of Serbian Film and Life and Death of a Porno Gang.

Check out the trailers... just not while in work!!

Though some of my favourite Artsploitation(?) comes from France, in the shape of Twentynine Palms and Trouble Everyday.

Anyone familair with these titles?

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Trouble Every Day is great. A unique take of the Cannibal movie.

[Philleh]

Certainly is, and any fans of Inside's Beartice Dalle will want to check this one out, the scene where she seduces a horny teenager is one of the most unsettling scenes in a horror film made over the last decade!

Also, Tindersticks' score is a thing of beauty.

[iluvdvds@Cult Labs]

I am slightly ashamed to admit that I've not seen THAT many horror arthouse films - just my fair share, such as Martyrs, Antichrist, Irreversible and Thriller: A Cruel Picture to name but a few - those types of films. All of them are awesome by the way. But then there are the arthouse films that really annoy me. Anyone seen Hidden? I just found it to be incredibly pretentious and arty-farty-mumbo-jumbo. In other words...not enough gore

But this thread is great! I had never even heard of Trouble Every Day - I've just ordered it of Amazon (only £1!). Cheers for the reccomendations!

[Philleh]

Originally Posted by iluvdvds

I am slightly ashamed to admit that I've not seen THAT many horror arthouse films - just my fair share, such as Martyrs, Antichrist, Irreversible and Thriller: A Cruel Picture to name but a few - those types of films. All of them are awesome by the way. But then there are the arthouse films that really annoy me. Anyone seen Hidden? I just found it to be incredibly pretentious and arty-farty-mumbo-jumbo. In other words...not enough gore

But this thread is great! I had never even heard of Trouble Every Day - I've just ordered it of Amazon (only £1!). Cheers for the reccomendations!

I know what you mean, Kyle! I wasn't a fan of Hidden either!

Another would be Fabrice Du Welz's Calvaire (AKA The Ordeal).

[iluvdvds@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Philleh

I know what you mean, Kyle! I wasn't a fan of Hidden either!

Another would be Fabrice Du Welz's Calvaire (AKA The Ordeal).

It was just so boring! The only good part was [SPOILER] when the guy slit himself and all the blood sprayed everywhere. [END] Maybe I missed the point. Or maybe I fell asleep.

[LineSix]

I remember seeing Calvaire on Film 4 a few years ago, during the 'FrightFest' season. It was very bizarre but a good film overall, like a combination of The Wicker Man (the pub scene) and TCM (the dinner table scene).

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by iluvdvds

Anyone seen Hidden? I just found it to be incredibly pretentious and arty-farty-mumbo-jumbo. In other words...not enough gore

I loved Hidden - but I wouldn't necessarily call it Horror. Haneke's Benny's Video is much more horror themed and definitely one of my top recommendations of the arthouse horror genre. A lot of Haneke's work is worth seeking out (even though many find it pretentious) ditto Lars von Trier and Ingmar Bergman (Through a Glass Darkly is particularly unnerving).

Some of Lynch's films also throb with the arthouse vibe, in particular Lost Highway - one of the best films ever made in my opinion.

Other titles I would recommend would be works from Andrey Iskanov (Nails, Visions of Suffering), Daisuke Yamanouchi (of Red Room fame), and even though these aren't strictly horror: Jean-Luc Godard's Weekend, Darren Aronofsky's Pi, and Gus Van Sant's Elephant.

Plus, Miike's oddities Visitor Q and Gozu are essentials.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Philleh

Another would be Fabrice Du Welz's Calvaire (AKA The Ordeal).

I enjoyed Calvaire. It tends to get overlooked whenever New Wave French Horror cinema is brought up, which is a shame.