Cinema of Death is a new collection of five short films released by Cult Epics. I became interested in this collection when I head that my favorite short film (Pig) was included in this release. All the shorts are similar to Pig, and this collection provided a very cruel viewing experience.
FILM- This category is broken down by shorts.
ADORATION- This short begins with a woman arriving at the residence of a man. They both share a quick dinner; after dinner, the woman begins to read from a book, while the man records her readings with an audio reel. He suddenly shoots her, and before you know it the man has broken one of the ultimate taboos- cannibalism.
The film becomes very unsettling after the murder; this is strange, because the film is VERY subtle. The depictions of murder, mutilation, and cannibalism are not graphic, but show just enough to let you know what is happening. Several mutilations are not shown until the last few seconds of film. There is one scene that I did not expect at all, and it hits you as very audacious. I'm sure you will know it when you see it. 8/10
DISLANDIA- When this film began, I thought I would not enjoy it one bit. It is about a young, mask wearing girl who spends her days walking on train tracks, exploring abandoned houses, and smashing gobs of meat for fun.
The short began creepy, but about 5 minutes in I began to doubt the potency of this one. It seems as if the film makers have ruined the film by trying to make it overtly creepy from the get go; however the film unexpectedly evolves when the girl leaves her house to explore the barren landscape that surrounds it. Throw in some inserts of severed animal parts being abused and you have one genuinely creepy little flick. The only problem was that the ending slacked off; I was hoping it would end strong, but it seems the beginning and the end both suffer from mediocrity, while the middle portion was excellent. 6/10
PIG- Please click here for an in depth review of Pig.
HOLLYWOOD BABYLON- The director of Pig, Nico B, pays homage to one of the most influential cult film makers of all time; Kenneth Anger (who also co directed this shore). Shot on location at the Hollywood Babylon exhibit in the Museum of Death, this short is very reminiscent of into to Pig, and you can tell it a Nico B. film.
Hollywood Babylon is essentially a montage of pictures the museum features. The set up of the exhibit is haphazard, and really fits the mood of the film (and whole DVD for the matter). Such notable pictures are of JFK's assassination and Charles Manson. While interesting, it is very short, and also very different than the other films on the disk. 8/10
LE POEME- The final film on the disk, Le Poeme is easily the most graphic of the shorts. It is actual footage of an autopsy; interlaced with the Arthur Rimbaud poem "The Drunken Boat".
This film is almost like a grittier, nastier version of the first few minutes of Aftermath (with the male body being dissected). This one really captures the process of an autopsy, and the poem juxtaposed with it makes this a bizarre and surreal journey. 9/10
OVERALL- This collection of shorts really captures the essence of the word "death". From the subtle to the profane, this one pulls no punches and holds back nothing. 8/10
PICTURE/ AUDIO- This category is broken down by shorts.
ADORATION- This film is presented as a home movie, and the pi cure looks a little to crisp for this effect to work well. It is black and white as well, adding to the "home video" feel. Even though the film technically should have been a little more rough looking, the quality is amazing, and I feel compelled to give it a 9/10. The film has almost no dialog, with the exception of the woman's voice while recording the story. Their is also the constant flutter of the film running through the camera. This sound is almost maddening, and makes it even more grueling to experience. The cleverness and clarity of the audio gets a 10/10.
DISLANDIA- This is the most effects heavy short of the lot. The film is very gritty, scarred, and gnarled. I love this effect, and it is enhanced by the use of tints; the main film is beige, almost looking like a ragtime film. The hallucinations are tinted blue, looking like excerpts from the haunted VHS from "The Ring". 10/10. The audio is a rough mix of sounds; most being loud bangs and very high pitched twang noises (similar to flicking a spring). Others include a very industrial soundtrack, and a very disturbing "lullaby" music. This music is almost like what you hear from those toys that play tunes to lull babies to sleep. The audio fits perfectly, and is creepy enough without the images to accompany it. 10/10
PIG- Please click here for an in depth review of Pig.
HOLLYWOOD BABYLON- The picture quality for Hollywood Babylon is exactly the same as quality for Pig; black and white, with just enough grit to make if feel genuine. Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite as well with this one, but it still sets a mood and looks great. 9/10. The audio is very unusual in this one. It is an industrial soundtrack, but little hints of a melody can be heard every now and then for a split second. This track reminds me of the one used for "Eraserhead", and it very unique. I guess if I had to put it into words, the most fitting description would be elevator music from Hell. 10/10
Le Poeme- The picture is very soft and gritty, and at times it wants to run off the screen. This adds to the surreal nature of the film, and softens the blow of seeing a human body carved up and disassembled. The autopsy bit may scare away viewers who are squeamish; but I assure you, the picture and audio make this seem so surreal and bizarre that the images on the screen are more gentle than you would imagine. 9/10. The audio is the poem, spoken in a foreign language; and adds to the surreal vibe of the film. While the audio and video are both very, very different, they mix with each other well, and combine to make an extraordinary short film. Audio gets a 9/10.
OVERALL- Cult Epics has treated each short with love and care; each has the right picture and audio to match the visuals. Again, this proves that they know what they are doing, and they do it amazingly well. 9/10
EXTRAS- Cinema of Death is an extremely limited edition of 2500; All DVDs are numbered. Also included are 5 postcards, each bearing an image from one of the included shorts. These are very nice, heavy cardboard, and laminated. DVD features include an intro by each director to their film. 6/10
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