A Serbian Film (2010)

[shadyJ]

It's very much a horror film. Horror covers all kinds of subject matter and all kinds of treatments. As for Serb Film, it's just shock for shocks sake. Not a nice movie, but in my opinion, there are far worse.

[hammerfan]

Originally Posted by Tony Vilgotsky

Serbian film is not a horror movie in any way. It's a piece of raw evil, hidden under the "horror"'s skin. You don't need to watch it if you just want to prove how tough horror guy you are (choose Cigarette Burns instead). Cause it's not about horror. It's all about over-the-top pornography, madness and perversion.

Welcome back!

[Tony Vilgotsky]

Originally Posted by hammerfan

Welcome back!

Oh, you remember Thanks!

[cheebacheeba]

I don't really see it as something else "veiled" as horror or what have you...just that it's not really a conventional type.
I mean, to me I don't consider it all that seperate from films like hostel, while trying to shock in different ways I found there were some similarities, enough to say that if they're considered one type of horror (or as some have labelled it also not as horror, as "torture porn") that this could be under a similar blanket.

Phychological horror/thriller perhaps?

I get why a lot of people would dislike the movie, while I recommend that people see it once I haven't been inclined to view it additional times.
It does introduce some pretty ugly concepts.
I didn't "like" these scenes, though I didn't dislike the movie for them.
Terrible things. Things that would be horrific to experience, like the things the main character witnessed and did while under the influence would surely be horrific to experience for both himself and the victims.
Horrific = horror.
In my mind anyways.

I found it sad, terrible, disgusting, sociopathic.
However, I don't really think it was a bad or poorly made film, given where it came out of.
It's kind of like "Oldboy" meets "Manhunt" in my mind, both works I've enjoyed in the past.
It was a confronting piece, and hard to get through.
I just, I don't know I found some value in it.
Doesn't mean I enjoy the imagery or consider this type of film a preference.

[Kandarian Demon]

I'm one of those people who strongly dislike the movie - I watched it once and regretted it.

My main problem with it is very simple.

Yes, the baby scene was clearly fake... and while I honestly don't get why anyone would enjoy watching something like that for entertainment, it IS fake and I can simply just choose not to see it.

Yes, there are many movies that I don't think are particularly good, and this is one of them... no big deal, we can't all like the same thing.

No, I don't think it's a horror movie either, but that's how I feel about quite a lot of other movies... no big deal either.

My problem is the fact that there are child actors in the movie, which is TOTALLY inappropriate, especially in certain scenes. REAL children, not dolls, participating in a pornographic movie with a story line that involved paedophilia.

I'm sorry... I've heard all the pseudo-intellectual excuses for this movie, and I don't buy them. There is absolutely NO reasonable excuse, and it borders on actual paedophilia.

[NightOfTheLiving_Sam]

I checked out a few scenes from the movie cause I heard lots of people mentioning it to me, and I regretted it. It disturbed me, not a movie for me in the least.

[cheebacheeba]

There is absolutely NO reasonable excuse, and it borders on actual paedophilia.

No reasonable excuse for what?

You sound a bit critical to be honest...actually a lot of you folks do, it's almost as if a person has watched this film and not immediately declared their undying hatred for it, they're considered to be some kind of sick individual.
Personally I take a little offense to this.
It's not as though I went out and desperately searched to get myself a proper copy as soon as I'd seen it.

I saw it. I didn't think it was a bad film.
I would go so far as to say it was well made and effective because through the exposure it gives to these concepts, it did actually evoke certain reactions and feelings - regardless of how negative those feelings may have been, it was an accomplished mission to make the audience feel something.

It doesn't border on anything really...no more does Friday the 13th border on actual murders. It's something depicted in a movie.
Scenes depicting it, yes. Actual, no.
Like, it's either one or the other.
Though obviously that is what it's depicting, and the reason it hasn't had a huge international release - there are laws against depiction of these kinds of things too.
However, it being on the film, does not pedophilia make.
Having watched it and not wanted to protest against the movie and those who made it, does not mean that I feel that these concepts are in any way normal, or alright, or that I would like to see more of the same.
I would, however, watch another movie from the same director out of interest...to see if it's a one-trick kind've deal or thay're actually capable of putting something different together.

There are some things I have a pretty negative reaction to in film.
Joking about rape/murder/abuse, actual animal deaths (which I find much worse than anything in this movie) for the purpose of entertainment, making fun of things like abortion and terminal illness etc.
Obviously people have had a pretty negative reaction to this movie on account of its content.

Though for me a big part of it is the presentation - the subject matter here was treated as dark, disgusting horrible stuff done by antagonists of zero moral compass, and unthinkable things done by a person out of their mind.
It's a poisonous act of villainy - This is the horror that humans can visit upon each other, which in my mind is a pretty scary thing.

Now, I don't really think I've made these points on the basis of intellectual grounds, pseudo or otherwise, nor is it trying to get you convinced that it's actually a great film and you should cut it a break.
It's simply saying what I thought and why, while being mindful enough of the things I say, so that I don't inadvertently attack anyone for their difference of opinion.

I checked out a few scenes from the movie cause I heard lots of people mentioning it to me, and I regretted it. It disturbed me, not a movie for me in the least.

So you've watched evidently the worst scenes in the film, probably two in particular I can think about - and judged the entire movie based on that...unusual, because the really "bad" things on this movie make up perhaps 5% or less.
I mean unless you're under the impression that it's a movie solely about continual baby-rape, incest and sexualised violence...then to be honest, having exposed yourself to the more negative scenes, you've already seen as bad as it gets right?
Each to their own and all, but I'd personally be like "Hm, ok may as well check the rest out", but that's me...I wouldn't want to have to think about it...I don't like unfinished things.

Though, I will say I find it a little bit strange that you would seek these scenes out and only watch those.
Careful, it might get implied that you're not right in the head around these parts.

[Ferox13]

cheebacheeba - you beat me too it - and probably of only said it better if you typed it with an Irish accent.

Now back to by Mordum marathon.

[Kandarian Demon]

Originally Posted by cheebacheeba

No reasonable excuse for what?

For having child actors in a strongly pornograhic movie, ESPECIALLY one dealing with paedophilia - and for including those child actors in scenes of a more or less sexual nature.

That can't exactly be compared to Friday the 13 (as you suggested), where actors are being chased around by a guy in a hockey mask - actors who, although some of them are young, know exactly what they're doing. I don't see how that can be compared in any way to having small children participate in scenes with a sexual content - something they are not even old enough to fully understand and consent to.

Also, no one is actually hurt in Friday the 13th. No one is being stabbed or cut for real. In A Serbian Film, children are being subjected to inappropriate behaviour for the sake of making a movie about just that...

I just searched "Serbian film clip" on youtube, to try to find an actual example of what I have a problem with. This was the first suggestion that came up, and probably the best example of them all. I realise that there are heavily cencored versions of the movie, so perhaps you haven't seen this one? Do you really think this is an appropriate way to instruct a child actor to act? And although SOME of the dialogue could have been said without her in the room, you can unfortunately see that not all of it is...

And although there is no harm done in the act itself of touching someone's knee, does it make it ok just because she might not understand the sexual meaning behind the act (in the movie)... and even if she does, it she really old enough to consent to having paedophiles get off on seeing her touch an adult man in a way which, in the movie, is certainly meant to be flirtatious and sexual?

LINK

Originally Posted by cheebacheeba

You sound a bit critical to be honest

Yes, I'm very critical of paedophilia and of inappropriate behaviour around children, and I would be offended if you didn't think I was.

As for the movie in general, you are right, I didn't think it was a good movie either, but! - I made a point of saying that I do not have a PROBLEM with the movie simply because of what I think about it in general - I also said that although I personally don't think baby rape is entertainment, it IS a doll, it's fake.

My one and only problem with the movie is that there are actual children involved. Yes, there are child actors in many horror movies, and yes, some of those movie have sex scenes - although not with the child actors present. But in this case, we are talking about children participating in scenes with a sexual content, in what is for the most part a violent porn movie involving child rape.

Originally Posted by cheebacheeba

Now, I don't really think I've made these points on the basis of intellectual grounds, pseudo or otherwise, nor is it trying to get you convinced that it's actually a great film and you should cut it a break.
It's simply saying what I thought and why, while being mindful enough of the things I say, so that I don't inadvertently attack anyone for their difference of opinion.

My post was not aimed at you personally, but there has, as you know, been quite a lot of debate about this movie, and not just here. I don't have a problem with anything you've said, or the way you said it, although I don't agree with you. Like you, I am simply stating my personal opinion.

So I am sorry if you saw it as some kind of personal attack - my post was not even a reply to you in particular, it was just my thoughts about this movie and all the controversy surrounding it in general.