Well, you've read my thoughts on Tom Six and his Human Centipede 2, how about a complete turnaround and a positive review for his first HC movie?. Markus has kindly sent along his review for Human Centipede 1 and it's an interesting read. Hope you all enjoy it. 
Probably the most hyped horror movie (in cult flick circles , that is) of recent years alongside "A Serbian Film", I was trying my best to avoid getting too much caught up in the omnipresent praise and criticism before watching "The Human Centipede" for myself- and what can I say?
I was very much blown away and would even go so far as to call this one of THE single best "concept sold through title"-genre films since "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (original), a stellar classic in its own right which awoke the audience's worst horrors BEFORE the movie even started through its title's very suggestive wording
The same goes for this 2009 British/Dutch co-production, which got equally slapped - like the Hooper flick- by some quarters for going down the "suggestive/psychological route" instead of offering the full on-screen excesses seemingly promised by a freaky title like "The Human Centipede".
Is it a coincidence that "The Human Centipede II" is apparently doing its best to set new standards in the "gross-out" category- very much like Hooper's "Texas Chain Saw Massacre Part II" opted to put all the bloody mayhem, which got only hinted at in the first entry, on the screen..?
Anyway, "Centipede" director Tom Six very cleverly lures the viewer into his unique nightmare via a seemingly "safe"- as in "tried and tested"- opening, having two American girls on a journey through Europe getting stranded in the German woods in the middle of the night as their car breaks down during a trip to a night club.
Anyway, "Centipede" director Tom Six very cleverly lures the viewer into his unique nightmare via a seemingly "safe"- as in "tried and tested"- opening, having two American girls on a journey through Europe getting stranded in the German woods in the middle of the night as their car breaks down during a trip to a night club.
Not too soon they'll make the acquaintance of a certain Dr. Heiter (Dieter Laser), who we previously saw in the first scene of the film, staring at a photograph of his "Three Dog"....
With many fans right and left regularly complaining about the death of originality in modern horror, "The Human Centipede" should give them some food for thought as this is inspired, intelligent body horror, coming with style and a very welcome calm yet therefore all the more unnerving pace.
The film's diversity is also nicely transported via having a multilingual cast of characters, with the "mad scientist" cursing in German whereas the "centipede's" head expressing his frustration and fury in Japanese.
With many fans right and left regularly complaining about the death of originality in modern horror, "The Human Centipede" should give them some food for thought as this is inspired, intelligent body horror, coming with style and a very welcome calm yet therefore all the more unnerving pace.
The film's diversity is also nicely transported via having a multilingual cast of characters, with the "mad scientist" cursing in German whereas the "centipede's" head expressing his frustration and fury in Japanese.
There are scenes which easily could have simply inspired a good laugh or two- given the whole (though apparently medically correct) absurdity of it all- but instead you get so drawn into this horrific idea that I would easily call this being in line with the "human tragedy" of the really classic horrors, like "Frankenstein" or "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", the 21st century equivalent
Interestingly enough, while "The Human Centipede" has already taken on a pop-cultural life of its own, particularly in the US, it's yet to see a release in the country where it got shot, though given the very subject matter it might not come as a surprise why German distributors are reluctant to even try presenting it to the ratings board over there....
Although the thought of the apparently planned "Centipede"-trilogy has all the potential to inspire some concern in advance, there's still hoping that the first film might be followed by equally engaging sequels
Imho a must-watch if you care about modern horror
Written By Markus Duschek
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