Here in the UK, since around 2001, the BBFC have been doing a splendid job of not butchering films or censoring films like they did back in the 80's and 90's. So it is to my surprise that a film has been banned by the BBFC here in the UK....the film in question - Grotesque.
Being an avid fan of the 80's video nasty era where many a film was banned due to it's content (long gone are the days), I was intrigued to know what - in this day and age - had upset the BBFC so much that they warranted banning Grotesque. If someone tells me I am not allowed to see something, then I want to see it more so! I seeked out Grotesque purely to view what someone at the BBFC deemed as something I shouldn't view so as to form my own opinion. If it weren't for the ban, I wouldn't have bothered (note to the BBFC, ban something and more people will want to see it than if you had just given the film a rating) To the film - Erm...this is where it becomes difficult to formulate a point of view. Did the BBFC ban the film due to content or were they actually being really kind and ensuring that such rubbish had no chance of distribution? Grotesque is a well shot film - good actors, editing, lighting, special effects. It's not a cheap 'Schlock horror' aka along the line of the Guinea Pig series of films. Problem is that whilst it's a well shot film, the large overhanging question is 'Why?' was it shot in the first place. Seriously, I have no idea as to what audience this film may cater for. I can't actually think of the type of individual who would be 'entertained' by this film. It serves no purpose....there are no moral issues addressed, no twist, no conclusion to idea. This film is simply about a sick twisted person who kidnaps a couple so that he may torture them for his pleasure. That's it, nothing further - there is no story, no character background, no narrative, NO POINT! Even gore hounds will be bored. Whilst the torture is nasty and gory...that's all it is, nothing further. As a previous reviewer stated, you could just look at this film as a series of 'special effects sequences' because there is nothing past that.
I really can not fathom the reasoning behind the making of this film. If the director had a point to make or message to say - sorry, I missed it.
I can only think that maybe exploration of a sick mind (such as August Underground) was the point to put across but unfortunately it fails as a pointless exercise (whereas August Underground worked for what it was) I have given the film a 5 star rating as adequate effort to make a film has been put in...I just don't understand why though.
Being an avid fan of the 80's video nasty era where many a film was banned due to it's content (long gone are the days), I was intrigued to know what - in this day and age - had upset the BBFC so much that they warranted banning Grotesque. If someone tells me I am not allowed to see something, then I want to see it more so! I seeked out Grotesque purely to view what someone at the BBFC deemed as something I shouldn't view so as to form my own opinion. If it weren't for the ban, I wouldn't have bothered (note to the BBFC, ban something and more people will want to see it than if you had just given the film a rating) To the film - Erm...this is where it becomes difficult to formulate a point of view. Did the BBFC ban the film due to content or were they actually being really kind and ensuring that such rubbish had no chance of distribution? Grotesque is a well shot film - good actors, editing, lighting, special effects. It's not a cheap 'Schlock horror' aka along the line of the Guinea Pig series of films. Problem is that whilst it's a well shot film, the large overhanging question is 'Why?' was it shot in the first place. Seriously, I have no idea as to what audience this film may cater for. I can't actually think of the type of individual who would be 'entertained' by this film. It serves no purpose....there are no moral issues addressed, no twist, no conclusion to idea. This film is simply about a sick twisted person who kidnaps a couple so that he may torture them for his pleasure. That's it, nothing further - there is no story, no character background, no narrative, NO POINT! Even gore hounds will be bored. Whilst the torture is nasty and gory...that's all it is, nothing further. As a previous reviewer stated, you could just look at this film as a series of 'special effects sequences' because there is nothing past that.
I really can not fathom the reasoning behind the making of this film. If the director had a point to make or message to say - sorry, I missed it.
I can only think that maybe exploration of a sick mind (such as August Underground) was the point to put across but unfortunately it fails as a pointless exercise (whereas August Underground worked for what it was) I have given the film a 5 star rating as adequate effort to make a film has been put in...I just don't understand why though.