Uncut version of A Serbian Film to be released in the U.S.

Invincible Pictures, the U.S. distributor of Srdjan Spasojevic's A Serbian Film, announced on its Facebook page today that it will be releasing an uncut version of the film. I'm not sure I ever want to see it again, but its brutal brilliance is undeniable. However, I do wonder how many times Invincible is going to end up in court defending the film against all kinds of anti-this-and-anti-that laws, but I guess they've already hired a decent lawyer.

The inevitable lawsuits will be the best publicity they obviously couldn't buy with their original botched, edited release last year.

Fangoria has more details- a streaming version available from Invincible's FlixFling service (which didn't work for me when I tried to use it- caveat emptor!) on May 1, and the DVD available May 22.

Random notes on horror

Ten years ago I wrote a screenplay- a horror movie called The Resurrectionist. I wanted to write a movie I would actually want to go see. At the time, horror movies had fallen into the dismal state of self-parody brought about by the Scream franchise, and no one was really making the kinds of films that made me a fan of the genre to begin with: films like The Exorcist, The Omen, Rosemary's Baby, Black Christmas, Dawn of the Dead, etc. So I set to writing an old-school horror flick- which to me meant interesting characters with a heavy dose of dread and gore. There wasn't a single joke in it, though there were a few nods and winks.

This was before Saw, Hostel and House of 1000 Corpses. When I sent it out to be read, the most common response I received was "It's too dark." After hearing that a few times (and being completely broke) I got a job and later worked on a different project for a bit, called Drop, which proved to be a bit much to take on with everything else clamoring for my attention and I set that aside, too. Then came Saw, followed by the slew of 70's horror remakes, and I realized I was just a bit ahead of the curve on this one and I should make another attempt to get The Resurrectionist off the ground. It didn't happen for myriad reasons, many of which you can discern in this blog. Now that dark tide seems to have subsided a bit and horror is taking another turn, even bleaker, with movies like Martyrs, Inside and of course A Serbian Film. The bonds have been broken and the genre, at its most extreme edge has entered nihilistic territory far beyond what Wes Craven started with the original Last House on the Left (a remake of Bergmans's Virgin Spring) and Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. If you believe, as I do, that horror films only reflect the anxieties and fears of the era in which they're made (hence the many fun but empty, vapid films of the 90's), then these recent films make a lot of sense, disturbing as they are.

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time with Isabella, who's made some films of her own, and I finally gave her the script wondering what she would think of it. Her initial feedback was encouraging and got us into a discussion of the genre, where she revealed a fondness for the funny stuff, which dismayed me a bit. Don't get me wrong, there are some great classic horror movies which are extremely funny, but with the exception of Evil Dead Part II  and Re-Animator, these are only good films in my opinion, not classics.

I was half-jokingly trying to persuade her to see Human Centipede II, which she thought was a porn film, and we were having an animated discussion about it when I told her we could see the first one on Netflix via streaming and we should watch it. She declined, though she agreed to watch Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which I haven't seen since its initial release more than 20 years ago.

Revisiting Henry, what surprised me is how well it holds up. But the key elements for any great horror film are right there: interesting characters, a pervading sense of dread, and the two male leads are strong actors. I had forgotten how transgressive it was, and remains, and watching it again made me think about how the taboos so willingly smashed in A Serbian Film aren't necessarily new, they're being just pushed further out in a film that's much better executed on every other level as well (and yes, yes, I know, please don't bring up Salo as exhibit A in the "been there, done that" argument- Salo lacks interesting characters and dread- it's just a feast for fetishists).

Anyway, the gist of this is I think the time has come to start working on scripts again, beginning with a re-write of The Resurrectionist- if you have a friend at Lionsgate, can you introduce me?

On a side note, it appears Netflix has decided not to carry A Serbian Film, which has been slightly cut for its upcoming U.S. DVD release- I noticed it's recently been removed from my queue. The DVD hits store on October 25th, though you may want to think twice before viewing it. If you decide to watch it I strongly recommend not reading any reviews containing spoilers beforehand- the less you know about what you're going to see, the better- if you're willing to watch it in the first place. My review of the original version is here.

Justifying the censorship of A Serbian Film in the U.S.

In response to numerous complaints about the removal of "approximately 30 seconds" from A Serbian Film for  its upcoming US release on DVD, Invincible Films, the U.S. distributor, posted the following on the film's Facebook page today:

"We do not condone censorship of any kind but there are some serious legal risks to releasing this film uncut, and if you have been following the news surrounding this film you know what they are. The distributor is simply not willing to take those risks regardless of the potential financial benefit. We want this film to be released as the filmmakers intended but as long as there are DA's out there looking to make a name for themselves and outdated laws the distributors are not in a position to be pioneering for free speech."

I said in my original post I didn't think the film stood a chance of getting an unedited release and while I too, don't condone censorship, I think Invincible is making the right call here. A completely unedited version would almost certainly have child porn charges brought against them and why would a small company like Invincible want to willingly expose itself to a legal fight that will probably cost more than the film will ever make? To appease a small fringe of the horror market? I wouldn't do it either.

[SPOILER ALERT!!!]

Now here's some red meat for all the "purists"- having seen the film uncut and in a theater, I'm not so sure A Serbian Film, as much I respect it, doesn't cross over the line into what's illegal to distribute or exhibit in this country. Everyone who's followed the film's controversies around the globe knows exactly which scenes will be cut. So who wants to go on record as saying "Yes, I really do want to see simulated acts of "newborn porn" and and the incestuous rape of a small child completely un-cut- it's my right!" Seriously?

If you don't get to see an un-edited version, believe me, you won't be worse off for missing those 30 seconds. In fact, I'd say Invincible is probably doing you a favor. Even with the minor cuts, it's still likely to be way too much for most audiences- but you can find out for yourself on October 25th- and then decide if you really want to see more.

A Serbian Film's confusing, botched release

A Serbian Film is finally being released commercially in the U.S. this Friday, May 13th (ho ho ho) in four cities: New York, L.A., Austin and Phoenix (???).  Philadelphia's Invincible Films, the U.S. distributor, had the cajones to go after the most controversial film in years but now it seems they don't know what to do with it. It's understandable in some ways- after seeing the film last year at AnotherHoleintheHead, I never thought it would ever get released in the U.S., period, so I was surprised when I heard this small company had picked it up.

The initial plan was to release an "R" rated version to chain theaters nationwide and an uncut version to independent theaters in larger metropolitan areas. At the same time the company was going to make the film available online and uncut, via FlixFling, an online movie delivery portal. Then two things happened. The programmer of the Sitges Film Festival was charged with exhibiting child pornography after screening the film and when Invincible submitted a cut version to the MPAA the film still received an NC-17 rating.

The Sitges fiasco seems to have freaked Invincible out, as suddenly they were no longer releasing an uncut version anywhere, any time. I've read the NC-17 version has anywhere from 2 to 4 minutes of the film removed (the U.K. release was the most-edited film ever in that country, losing more than four minutes). The new plans called for the theatrical release, the FlixFling download, and future DVD and Blue-Ray releases to all be edited in various amounts. Sadly, this will likely result in the continuing illegal download of the uncut screener version that's been seen world-wide over the past year.

Today Invincible stated that the version on FlixFling will be essentially uncut, with only 5 seconds edited out. If you've seen the film you know those 5 seconds are coming from one of two moments (possibly both) in the film. In my opinion, leaving those images on the cutting-room floor isn't necessarily a bad thing- whoever said you can't unsee some things, even if it's in a movie, was right when it comes to ASF. The company also stated the film will be released in more cities than the original four, though they didn't say where or when.

Essentially, Invincible botched it and are now attempting to recover, but has the damage been done? They chose to play with fire and got burned by what happened at Sitges. I have little empathy for them, though having actually seen an uncut version of ASF in a theater, I would wish that anyone inclined to see the film would be able to experience it in the same way I did. It is truly horrific, but it's also an incredibly well-made film on every level- that's part of what's so unnerving about it. But it's not going to happen.

I find watching movies on a computer to be a dissatisfying experience, even when viewed on a TV screen. The hard-core horror fans who haven't seen the film already will go for the FlixFling version, and they'll get most of it, but not the full effect of watching it on a large screen accompanied by one of the most effective soundtracks ever made filling the viewer with ever-increasing dread as it's pumped through a professional sound system.

Should you see A Serbian Film? It depends on who you are. I'm not saying you should, but I will also admit the film has incredible staying power. It's indelible, for better or worse. If you have children, skip it- period. But do yourself a favor- if you take the bait, don't read the reviews containing spoilers. Walk into it cold, if that's possible at this point- and be prepared to have your senses pummeled.
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A Serbian Film gets censored for US release

Fangoria announced today that the US distributor of A Serbian Film will be releasing an edited version of the film when it hits theaters on May 13. An unedited version will be available to watch online via FlixFling. The recent charges of screening child pornography against the director of the Sitges Film Festival after screening the film has apparently spooked the company into a retreat from the original plan, which was to release two versions of the film to theaters- an edited versions for the chains, and an un-edited one for independent theaters.

Tom Ahsley, CEO of Invincible Pictures, said to Fangoria, “It was always our intention to release this film uncut, but given the recent charges against Sitges director Angel Sala, we have decided to release an edited version. We believe this film deserves to be seen as the filmmakers originally intended and hope to be able to release A SERBIAN FILM uncut in the future.” He also added, “This is an excellent opportunity for FlixFling to offer something totally exclusive to our growing community.”

To which I say, "Bullshit."

US Release date set for A Serbian Film

According to IMDb, the U.S. release date for A Serbian Film is May 13, 2011.

Yes, that's Friday the 13th.

Update 03/03/11: the film's distributor, Invincible, has confirmed the release and has started a Facebook and Twitter campign to promote the film. There will be a free preview of the unedited version on March 10th at the Prince Music theater in Philly.

"A Serbian Film" to be released in U.S.

Update: 03/10/11:

The release date will be  05/13/11 and it will be an edited version.

A Serbian Film will be released in the U.S. this coming February, heavily edited to get an "R" rating. I'm not into printing spoilers about this particular film- you can read them all over the net, but I have to wonder how much the of film's power will be diluted in process of making it palatable to the Bible Belt and the red states (where it will probably do its biggest business).

An un-edited version will play in art-houses (or at least in small, independent theaters lacking corporate bosses who fear the wrath of the Right) and be released on DVD. While I think the film is unsuitable for many people (if you have kids you probably shouldn't even think about watching it), but if you do choose to see it, view an unedited version in a theater with a great sound system. This is the most unsettling movie I've ever seen, and if you're going to go for it, you might as well go all in.

The red-band trailer for the film is available on my original post about the film. It is seriously not safe for work.

It will be theatrically released in the U.K. on December 10th, and DVD sales across the pond start on January 3rd.

"A Serbian Film" is a Horrific Masterpiece

"Srpski Film" ("A Serbian Film") may just be the best movie I've seen in the past 10 years. The last time I walked out of a movie theater so stunned by what I had just seen was when I saw "Requiem for a Dream" which left me feeling beat-up after it was over. More than two hours later, I'm still trying to come up with adjectives to describe how "A Serbian Film" made me feel- and think [the next morning the film is still weighing heavily on my mind].


First of all, if you've read of the film's notoriety- it's banned in Serbia and prompted numerous walk-outs at SXSW when it made its U.S. premiere there in March- know that it's well-deserved. It's flat-out shocking. It's also an incredibly well-made, stunning film that makes Gaspar Noe's attempts at a cinema of endurance look like Tim Burton.


Here is the Red-Band Trailer for the film. Do not even think about watching this at work or with kids around. It contains nudity, explicit sex and scenes of blood and violence. It also has some of the great music from the film and gives an idea of what it's like.




The plot centers around Milos, a retired porn star now living a relatively mundane life with his gorgeous wife and their young son. Milos is offered a ton of money to star in an "artistic" porn film to be directed by the fawning yet mysterious Vukmir Vukmir. The catch is that Milos, who used to make his own films, doubts Vukmir's intentions from the get go. Why would he pay him money like this to make porn? Things become even more dubious to Milos when the director insists Milos agree beforehand to not know what he's going to do in the film. It's to be shot live, and broadcast outside of the country to well-heeled connoisseurs of the director's unique vision. It's Vukmir's film, but he insists he can't make it unless he has Milos in it, whom he considers an artist that no one understands. Milos has no pretensions that any of this is true, but the money is too good to pass up and he signs the contract.

Director/co-writer Srdjan Spasojevic starts laying a sense of dread for where he's taking us early on, aided by the most effective soundtrack (by Sky Wikluh) for a film I've heard since, well, "Requiem for a Dream." By the film's conclusion, it's almost physically uncomfortable to experience. The viewer is assaulted by sound and vision and though it's awful, it's also undeniably thrilling to experience a film that is so sure-handed while operating so far outside the bounds of anything acceptable.

The film's cast is perfect. Milos, played by Srdjan Todorovic looks a bit like Mark Wahlberg gone to hell, but has a weariness in his face more in common with Clint Eastwood in his later films. It's a performance no American actor of any stature would dare attempt. He may be Serbia's most legendary porn star, but he's also the only one with a university degree. He doesn't exude the faintest whiff of sleaze.

As Vukmir Vukmir, Sergej Trifunovic has a subtle malice masked by a high level of sophistication. He's a mash-up of the Marquis de Sade, Tony Robbins and Stanley Kubrick. There are a number of striking women in the film, led by Sergej Trifunovic as Milos' wife Maria and Katarina Zutic as his ex-partner in porn who introduces him to the deal and ends up paying for it through the mouth- literally in ways I don't even want to describe. Milos' older brother Marko, a nasty cop with an obvious attraction to his sister-in-law, is sleaze personified and well-played by Slobodan Bestic.

"A Serbian Film" is smart film-making. It opens with Milos' son watching one of his father's old movies that was accidentally left lying around. When the boy's parents explain that "it's like a cartoon for grown-ups" and later explain sexual arousal and masturbation to the child, it's done with an honesty, sophistication and warmth that's disarming given the content. There are a number of touches like this which elevate the film to something far greater than a horrific torture porn thriller.

But it is indeed just that, and in abundance. It's ultra-violent, contains very explicit sex, and crosses the line at so many points into taboo it guarantees the film is never going to be seen widely, if ever, outside of the festival circuit. Which is too bad, because in the same way David Fincher's "Fight Club" and Scorcese's "Goodfellas" say so much about the culture in which they take place, "A Serbian Film" is an analogy for post-war Serbia. What it says is too dark to even want to think about as an outsider, and understandably many Serbs have come out vociferously against this film, but having seen it I at least now understand why it's been banned. To call it scathing isn't even close. It's a blow-torch at full blast held six inches from the Serbian national identity and it aims to burn everything in front of it. It makes me wonder what an American version of the same story would look like. After all, we invented this stuff, right?

Sadly, there isn't another showing of it at the Another Hole in the Head festival scheduled, but if they add one or it shows up somewhere else, if you can stomach it, I can't recommend this film strongly enough. It's brilliant- and believe me, you've never seen anything like it- at least I hope you haven't.

Finally, if you wish to comment, please do not include spoilers about the film in your comment. While many articles have described specific parts of the film, I haven't because when I saw the film I had no idea what to expect and I think that's why it had such a profound effect on me. The less you know, the more disturbing it is.

The film is set to be released in the U.S. on May 13th, 2011, in an edited version in theaters.