If it’s any comfort, it took me a few days after just hearing some of the details of this film to stop being pissed off and disgusted whenever it came to mind. I’m pretty sure we’re all worse off for this piece of trash having been made.
I think that with these kind of movies the film makers just found a legal way of experiencing their sick and perverted fantasies. I don’t see how this is different from having roleplay during sex while filming it and getting a filmcompany to publish it.
Ok yea they’re not actually having sex and are killing people, but still they reenact it…I’m not really good at explaining sorry.
I’m sure the filmmaker had no fantasies of necrophilia or pedophilia when the film was written.
That’s like saying Anthony Burgess had dreams of raping women and having sex with 10 year old girls when he wrote A Clockwork Orange.
No. I agree this film was fucked up, and in no way made to be analyzed artistically during the making. But it’s got way better plot development than many horror films I’ve seen and in no way does the filmmaker deserve such disrespect for making a film.
Grow up, it’s just a movie.
A Clockwork Orange was banned for 19 years in the U.K. Stanley Kubrick even received death threats because of the sexual violence in the film, and it is still considered one of the best films ever made. People called him perverted and sick, and in no way did Kubrick make anything other than beautiful pieces of art.
[quote=Flash Bohemia]I’m sure the filmmaker had no fantasies of necrophilia or pedophilia when the film was written.
That’s like saying Anthony Burgess had dreams of raping women and having sex with 10 year old girls when he wrote A Clockwork Orange.
No. I agree this film was fucked up, and in no way made to be analyzed artistically during the making. But it’s got way better plot development than many horror films I’ve seen and in no way does the filmmaker deserve such disrespect for making a film.
Grow up, it’s just a movie.
A Clockwork Orange was banned for 19 years in the U.K. Stanley Kubrick even received death threats because of the sexual violence in the film, and it is still considered one of the best films ever made. People called him perverted and sick, and in no way did Kubrick make anything other than beautiful pieces of art.[/quote]
A Clockwork Orange presented it’s message in a far more subtle and satirical nature. Whereas A Serbian Film beats you over the head with it’s message by using a gimmicky shock value approach. My point being that Kubrick and Burgess didn’t need to resort to cheap tactics to make an interesting point. And that’s really why people hate A Serbian Film. It’s not necessarily the violence or it’s message, but how the movie so poorly executes those ideas.
How can you compare A Clockwork Orange to this shit? A Serbian Movie is more in the league of “Salo or the 120 days of Sodom” or “Cannibal Holocaust”… And guess what those movies are still shitty and disgusting after 30 or so years or more since they came out.
Sure A Clockwork Orange has “strong sexual imagery and violence” for a MAINSTREAM movie at that time, but it was still pretty mild compared to some exploitation movies that came out around that time or just a few years later.
You simply CANNOT say “oh it’s just like that movie that was banned that now we all like and praise”… because it is NOT.
Movies like A Clockwork Orange did not focus only on sex and violence and were not playing only on shock value. Actually the violence and sex scenes in ACO are not the main focus of the movie, but are there to show that Alex is a disturbed young person.
Also the sex and the violence is pretty much tame, not too explicit, certainly compared to exploitantion movies of that time.
A Serbian film rivals illegal pornography! Sure it’s all fake… and that is only why owning that movie will not get your ass in prison… but still it is entrirely fucked up.
Also do we really want to accept movies that show scene like “newborn porn”..? No no we do no!
Oh Phelan, why did you put yourself through this?! I’m sure no one would have minded if you didn’t, not even Brad. Just reading a wikipedia page about this thing a while ago was more than enough for me.
I was glad when I saw this was a short review, I’m certainly loyal enough to watch any review you do but when I saw what movie it was I was pretty scared. Not much to say about the movie itself except I agree 100% with what you said. I was going to say it deserves all the rage you gave it, but it doesn’t, because it’s way too low to deserve anything you could give it at all. It’s just detestable and I really don’t know how anyone could make or enjoy such a thing. Ugh.
Now please take a break and watch something good, for your own sanity!
Oh good, I wasn’t the only one who felt like puking just after reading the Wikipedia article then…
As for the review itself… I know you didn’t have much choice, but I honestly felt you put too many clips into this review… yeah, even as it was. I might have actually preferred a completely clip-free, v-log style review for this one; would have saved Phelous the pain of having to rewatch parts of this for editing.
No, you guys aren’t alone. I read the wikipedia article after watching Brad’s vlog on it, curious what would be so horrible that he would beg people not to watch it. Aaaaaaaaaaaagh.
I do not know how you could sit and watch there film fully i was starting to fill sick just watching the review. wish you could of warned us of how sick and wrong this film was. the people who made this are just well there isnt a word out there to say how fucked up they are… i feel so sorry for you having to watch it…
Wow, That is intense. I can’t believe you made it through that let alone had to clip and edit a review for it together. I can’t imagine anyone with any decent shred of humanity being able to watch this after watching what it’s about… You deserve to review carebears or something cuddly after this.
This movie is low…even for Eli Roth Standards sad to say. This is why i’m done watching the horror movie genre PERIOD. Nowadays, to make a horror movie, you gotta scorch it with torture porn, and extreme violent content to the point to going over-the-top with earning shock value that just seems ridiculous, overly-disturbing and sick. No more creativity, or making something thats enjoyable for people to watch (since thats why we watch movies in the first place, correct?). Especially with horror movies, they don’t scare no more, watching ’em is like the same feeling of living next to a John Lithgows character from Dexter, creeps you the hell out, andi don’t like going to movies to feel disturbed and creeped out. I mean really, They figure, “Hmm, Lets just clusterfuck more money into the machine of disposable cinema since I guess murder, rape, and pedophilia sell, right?”. I dunno what msg they were giving but it certainly wasn’t a anti-government conveyed msg. Like you said Phelous, it was a Mean-spirited movie, and i think the last thing we wanna do when we watch a movie is to feel like a pissed-off bag of shit thinking that humanity actually created something like that….oh yea, I heard Hostel III is coming out soon, new location is in Detroit lol!
How many movies with “pedophilia” themes do you actually view on the market ? YES, murder is normal in cinema and rape is a bit more often as well. But these 3 combined are rare.
And they can do whatever they want, you don’t have to watch it. No one has the excuse that they didn’t know what they’ll watch, since this is not a mainstream movie. It’s only known for the shock-factor and that people are disgusted by it.
I agree that this is NOT good movie. I disliked it … and also thought it was rather boring.The reason why i watched it, was because Brad told us NOT too. He is a very though guy with lots of movie experience, and so i naturally got interested. Since this movie is only known as ‘snuff-like’ i prepared for some though time. And the movie then actually bored me nearly to death. Brad also thought that only this ‘newborn porn’ scene was the only really extreme thing in that movie. And here i have to disagree. The scene itself looked really really fake. This drives every kind of shock-value out of it. And it would have been more disturbing if they had not shown anything in picture and let you use your imagination instead. The way it is done, I actually think I even laughed a bit by the horrible execution. Couldn’t take the movie serious anymore.
The comments here however make my blood boil and shake my fists toward you disgusting people. How can you feel angered by this movie and critisice the people who produced it ? Figured many of the people getting ‘angry’ at this movie are also americans: YOU support RL TORTURE ! The producers made just a movie. But you are the real filth. Oh, boy … i can’t wait to see the sick fuck comments on TGWTG when people call the producers immoral. Americans are disgusting hypocrits.
And I hope Phelous knows, that his review will only make more people gonna watch this movie.
How dare I have my own opinion of this movie that doesn’t match your’s? Yeah really! Holy fucking shit!
Yeah it’s totally strange to be disgusted by this stuff for reals! I can’t believe it. All Americans support RL torture huh? That’s a really fucking stupid thing to say you know. I’m glad we have you on your high and mighty perch to judge what an entire country of people think.
If someone watches it AFTER this, too bad for them.
Wow, when I went to bed, I couldn’t sleep. I can’t believe this movie affected me so much. I guess I underestimated your warning. (not blaming you at all) I know what you mean now when you were trying so hard to forget it, I don’t think that was a joke. Well Good luck to you.
Predictable sarcastic reation from you. But I don’t care if your opinion is the same as mine or not. As I said, this movie is not good, but you knew beforehand what it is all about. So this is like playing an Ego-Shooter and then complaining about it being an Ego-Shooter. If a professional reviewer does something like that, it is typically frowned upon. It seems like such a person values his own opinion so much as to ignore target audiences (whoever it is here) and only values his own point of view. And I wouldn’t mind actually if this review would be entertaining. Which it isn’t. You’re just angry and not entertaining at all.
And as you said: Of course not every american supports torture. Still, the fact remains that they elected their torture-supporting government more than once. Saying that they ‘don’t agree’ is just another simple excuse. And neither do I see a lot of people demonstrating against it. Take a look at some american newspaper-comments or Internet-Forums and it seems to be the other way around. And if theres ANYTHING I know in my life, than it is the fact, that those exact people are the ones that force their ridiculous fake ‘morals’ on others. Hating on fictional works or our age of consent in europe for example.
First of all, and no offense meant to him here, I don’t think Phelous is a professional reviewer. Reviews like his are not meant to be in any way objective, they’re purely opinion and should be taken as such; you’re basically on Phelous’ personal site where he can post whatever he wants. If he feels like posting an angry rant video/reviewofsorts, that’s his choice; just as he can produce reviews meant more to entertain or inform or just funny Doctor Who video edits.
Second, I feel that grouping people together by any property they did not choose themselves, be it race, age, gender, sexual preference or citizenship/nationality, and then making blanket statements about them is offensive not only to the people you are targeting with your comments, but everyone else who may have ever been target of such discrimination… which tends to be pretty much everyone in the entire world these days.
Please, I’m asking you as a fellow human being with some sense of morality, stop and think before you accuse a whole group of people who just happen to be related by circumstance of something negative… it’s not only hurtful to a lot of people whom your statement doesn’t actually apply to, it also makes you seem like something of a fool.
Predictable non sense response from you. And if there’s ANYTHING I know in my life it’s that defending this crap is totally worth it so please continue. 🙂
Nice Comment, if your so gung-ho about it, go burn a flag and shut up then. This is about bad movies, not a political debate you dizzy moron…and even if it was about that, your hate-filled trash commentary sucks , nonetheless. Re-Elect Obama! – How do you like them apples?
First off, I’m an American and I don’t support torture. Here in California, I’ve attented several rallys against our country torturing anyone. Also, I never voted for the Bush administration. Actually most everyone I know didn’t vote for Bush or his cronies. I do know people that voted for Bush and I can honestly tell you that they didn’t vote for him because of their love of torture. Pretty much I don’t recall Bush running on a “let torture people” ballet. Yeah I know that there has been torture done by our military and police for that matter and no one I know is in support of it. I have no problem with you not liking his review because you felt that it wasn’t very entertaining but had it occured to you that Phelous actually really was offended by this movie? How dare he stated his opinion in a way that didn’t make you laugh. I for one liked the bit at the beginning where he was trying to forget the film so I can’t really say there was no humor in this review. I saw nothing wrong with your review. By the way, who’s pissed off at Europe for their age of consent? That’s news to me. Oh one one more thing about Bush’s elections, you are aware that many many people are contesting the results of both elections right? I’m sorry if I’m smug or offensive to you because really I don’t like to offend anyone but this particular comment kinda rubbed me the wrong way. You’re over generalizing me, my neighbors and people I love who are good people and not hypocrites or lovers of doing harm to another human being.
Also, what’s with this American shit anyways? I thought Phelous was Canadian.
It’s not like this guy’s opinion matters anyway; he’s a loud idiot who apperently judges an entire nation of over 300 million people by the comments on internet sites. He will clearly never amount to anything.
LOL, yea i hate to be the 3rd person to say it, but that does sound stupid. First off, I understand about the “rare” ideas you were talking about that they had with this movie, but it doesn’t take just one or more to understand that sometimes an original idea with those elements just don’t mix well, or just shouldn’t happen at all because of the concept it’s aiming for, knowing its gonna fail in the end. Look at “8mm”, i’m not a big Nick Cage fan but it had some of the same elements that was used in the serbian movie, but it didn’t try to go too over-the-top or too far to defeat the logic of being taken seriously, in other words, you wanted to see Nick Cage fight back after uncovering his case in the film because the situation of the plot felt it needed to be taken that seriously. As for the “not to be taken seriously” feel you mentioned on ‘A Serbian Movie’, that only works for certain movies. Look at Punisher Warzone, the action and violence was a bit over-the-top and grotisque, but it was on a good level of it, plus its the Punisher, a comic book character, so what do you expect? Theres a way to make movies, and a way not to make ’em, and if the Director can’t see through that balance of craft out of the movie hes making, then he shouldn’t be directing at all, because all you have is a one-sided shit storm of angry people that spent the money to watch that crap, and a guy whos probably too dazed and amazed at his own work to not see the criticism in it, unless hes just doing it for money. 2nd, thanks for the anti-american comment you left. I’m glad you like to see all of us labeled as if we all follow the same ideology and hypocracy as everyone around us. But seeing that I don’t support RL torture, and stating myself not of nationality, but as a movie buff (despite what country i’m in), i think your comment is irrelevant, and not well thought out of. Besides, you watched the movie, i shouldn’t even be talking to you…yuck! your as disgusting as us “Americans”! (lol j/k)
Seriously, Phelous and any person whether they are an American or not are entitled to thier opinions regarding this film. Please remove the tree from your ass. Thank you!
You know at first I wasn’t going to say this, but after reading Phelous’ response I think I’m entitiled to say to. So here goes. Hey buddy how about a nice warm mug of shut the fuck up.
Wow…Just…wow. I’m sorry Phelous. I’d like to forget that this movie exists just from the review. I’m sorry you suffered so. Good luck in recovery sir. Good luck to us all.
Im at a loss for words. Could we please get these idiots to stop making horror movies. Yeah I know George Romero made gory horror movies guess what his were great because they had great stories and characters you idiots dont have the talent.
The most insulting thing about this travesty, other than the fact that it exists, is that the makers feel the desire to justify the product of their sick, perverted minds by claiming it has some sort of artistic message. Come on, you jackasses, just come right out and admit it: “Yes, we wanted to make the most disgusting, vile, grotesque film we could imagine, because violence, gore, and sexual abuse fascinate us, and because we get pleasure out of knowing that people will regret having watched it and despise themselves for letting their curiosity get the better of them. It has no other deeper purpose or meaning, and anyone who says otherwise is full of it.” At least if they had said this, they’d be being honest.
Dude, not cool. Most of the people who live in Serbia had nothing to do with this movie and would likely be as reviled by it as most of the people commenting here. I know you meant that as a joke, but… genocide is not funny.
I come from a war-torn shithole too (Ireland). But really, I’m not serious about Nuking serbia, but the film did disgust me to the point that any sort of political sympathy they expected me to cultivate through watching baby-rape, was more akin to loathing and angst. I’m no prude, I even have the Guinea Pig box-set, but A Serbian Film disgusted me more than any other film I’ve ever seen. It bothered me more that Serbian kids on the internet reacted to people’s outrage with “OH YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND, IT’S POLITICAL SATIRE, IT’S METAPHORICAL” despite the fact the film makers themselves cite exploitation films as their favourite genre. My ‘Nuke Serbia’ comment is just an act of counter-trolling these folks. Tasteles of me? Yes. As tasteless as that movie and the pseudo-intellectuals who defend it? Not in a million years.
I hate to be the voice of dissent (not trolling, just saying my opinion), but I like this movie. I think that a filmmaker has the right to make any movie they want, as long as no one was hurt – i.e., they do not actually hurt/rape an infant. A film has the right to exist solely to show violence, sex, gore, swearing, drugs, depravity, etc. I do not think films are morally obligated to have a meaning, or characters, or story. It is just often movies without these things suck (see: most of Phelous’ reviews). But in A Serbian Film, we have that rare movie that is depraved enough that it stands on its own depravity. I respect that.
And yes, I acknowledge the political meaning is bullshit. The meaning of this film is to show depravity, and it succeeds.
Also, guys, really. It is just a movie. No one was really hurt making it; no infant was raped. Relax.
Also, given how little you like this movie, Phelous. another one is 2007’s Sick Girl (not to be confused with the Masters of Horror episode of the same name). I thought it was pretty good, but I dobut a lot of people here would. The ending scene includes (SPOILERS) (VERY DISTURBING) they eponymous (sp.?) sick girl castrating a guy, then putting his foreskin on an iron spike, then using that spike as a strap on on another girl. It’s sick. (END SPOILERS)
I really don’t understand why everytime someone doesn’t like a work of art, he must say that it doesn’t mean anything and it’s only shit.
I don’t like abstract art. I can watch an entire gallery of Rotkho’s paintings for days without seeing nothing more than colored squared shapes that doesn’t mean anything to me. But this doesn’t mean that Rothko is not an artist and that his paintings are just pretentious shit. And maybe it’s not my fault either. I just miss “something” that other people, that like Rotkho works, have.
Ten years ago I met a serbian man: he fought in the Yugoslav Wars and he told me that he saw and did things that he can’t never forget. I didn’t ask him details but everyone of us can read what happened during those years: genocides, ethnic cleansings… things that make me sick just to think about. So, yeah, I’m really happy that I can’t undestand A Serbian Movie! Because I think, maybe, that man I met ten years ago can.
If this movie war made by someone that never saw directly any kind of violence at all, I could understand the criticism and the anger I see in some comments. But, come on: this movie was made by someone that lived a fucking civil war, someone that saw his own country shatters and maybe was even a soldier in that fucking war. If Eli Roth wants me to feel dirty and unclean I laugh at him and spit on his movie. If a man that grew up surrounded by atrocities wants me to puke my brain out to feel one time just like he felt every single day of his life for a long time, I don’t think he deserve insults.
(note: pargraphs do not seem to work for me on this site; sorry if this appears as one wall of text, that is why I am putitng the ——‘s for dividing pargraphs)
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niamere: Ah, someone who agrees with me. At last. I know, this is now my least favorite Phelous review (favorite is probably Birdemic, for the record). In his other reviews, even if I liked the movie (Hostel, Cabin Fever, Turistas, etc. come to mind, I have VERY low standards for horror films), I enjoyed his review, and could understand where he was coming from. Even if I could not, at least he was just giving his opinion, not pronouncing moral judgment on the film. I ABSOLUTELY agree that no one ever forced anyone to watch this, nor did it hurt anyone. And I also agree with what you said about “feeling” something during a horror movie. Years of watching extreme horror and whatnot have left me somewhat desensitized, it was nice to get a feeling of revulsuon.
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I mean, really, this movie is nothing but free speech. As a believer in absolute free speech, I daresay that “I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is in force here. I mean, look at me. I am rather homophobic. I just don’t like them. Sorry. Does that mean I am going to stop them from fucking each other, and getting married, or whatever it is they do? No. My personal opinion on something does not make it law. Conversly, just because someone doesn’t like A Serbian Film, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t exist.
This movie was brilliantly made, the scenery, the camera work, the soundtrack (audio in general) the acting is top notch.
… now the story its a big YMMV “deal with it” horror movie are suposed to make you feel something strong! Be it fear, disgust, or anything else in this category.
And guess what the movie did it well.
You can all have your “own opinion” on this.
But insulting the people that made this?
Anyone forced you to watch it?
Did it hurt anyone?
Guess not… Review the “product” not the people who made it
The movie was not “shit” you just all disliked it
i can’t see any of you doing better. Those guy have talent
SURE they should of putted it somewhere else (because its taboo BAAAAWWW)
((theres more movie like that, indie market is FULL of them, the mordum underground, the japanese scene, the korean scene… i mean GOD -_-))
PPS: i didnt enjoyed it for the gore or anything, enjoyed it because i FELT something for once during a “horror movie” and because the second time i watched it with a bunch of friend we laughted our ass off
/rant ((Bad english, i’m french, bla bla bla, etc.)
“i didnt enjoyed it for the gore or anything, enjoyed it because i FELT
something for once during a “horror movie” and because the second time i
watched it with a bunch of friend we laughted our ass off” ——
There is something seriously wrong with you. That is all.
Who are you, oh holy one, to tell me that something is “wrong” with me?
Hell i just know the big difference between “Movie” and “reality”
I don’t get offended by fake shit habitualy, but this movie got to me.
The second time i watched it, it was simply to gross out my friend, and it worked… for some of them.
YEP something is wrong with me because i’m able to review thing based on the talent put into them, and not let my own “perspectiv” get in the way.
i don’t claim this is art, i don’t claim that there is some fucked up “meaning” behind it.
I see it as a genuine Horror movie, i felt horrified. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
I feel so bad for you…this film…is just so BAD…I am not upset that this review is short…I’m glad it was short…my, god…why would anyone think this movie was a good idea? WHY???
I’m going to post something that you are really not going to like phelous. You should have done The Transformers: The Movie. The 86 one. Instead of this disgusting filth. I know that’s not a bad movie but it is the 25th anneverasry of it so why not?
How horrible that this kind of movie is allowed to be made.
I would rather watch Birdemic 10 times in a row than watch this movie once.
Hopefully standing on your head helped you forget.
Well i think it was pretty silly. At least the parts i’ve seen and heard about it in review. I’m not really offenced by that shit. Fcking, chopping someones head off and keep fcking, incest, some not really nice pedophilia(boys don’t turn me on), fcking newborn, dick fatality? Whatewer… They really trying hard to get some reaction and make their movie big using massive trolling. Well they didn’t get my attention, but i’ve got some laughs.
I can imagine how the creators of this movie thought this plot up…
Guy 1: Hey man our government sucks so bad, right?
Guy 2: Yeah it does! We’re being oppressed and we should do something constructive to show the rest of the world that we’re being oppressed!!!
Guy 1: Yeah man I know! But how should we do that???
Guy 2: Omg I know! Let’s make a movie!
Guy 1: Dude, man, we can’t… We’ll get killed if we make a movie about the oppression of our government…
Guy 2: Then we’ll have to be symbolic and subtle!
Guy 1: Yeah we will… But how bro?
Guy 2: Omg I just had the best idea everrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
Guy 1: Srsly??? Tell me man!
Guy 2: You know how our gorvernment screws us over right?
Guy 1: Yeah man I feel really butt fucked…
Guy 2: Son we should make a porn movie! But you know, the porn will be symbolic for our oppression!!!!
Guy 1: Okay but it should be a torture porn, seeing how our government kills people too.
Guy 2: Omg we’re cinematic geniuses!!!!!!
Guy 1: Best idea everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!
And so they made their movie, and it was the most subtle movie ever made with brilliant symbolism used throughout the movie.
Alright, being somebody who has always been interested in gore since early teen years, I have to say that I wasn’t disturbed at all when I watched this movie. Now, to somewhat justify why, I will tell you that -because- of my early interest in things like this, I soon went to college for criminal psychology and then even worked my way over to medical school so I could soon become a forensic Pathologist. What this means, is that I preform autopsies for a living for forensic teams, like seen in so many drama television shows today. Grouping that with my time spent studying the workings of psychology, especially the kind coupled with acts like this, I suppose you could say I formed a desensitation to it all. All in all, I didn’t mind the film because I could look past the upsetting things. I enjoyed your review, Phelous. Keep em coming.
I know I’m late in the game commenting on this review (but I just recently started watching videos on this site and was catching up) but I felt like giving my opinion becuase that’s the beauty of free will. I can see how some would find this film deep and provocative and politically aware and blah blah blah. Now please don’t take offence to blah blah blah, i merely use it like I would etc. But I can see how people like good ol Phelous here would be totally offended by it as well. People will spout out stuff like “we’re desensitized by violent and or sexual content” and I have to say that’s mostly bullshit. I watch violent films and sexual films, lord knows I do (I’ve seen a few John Waters films, The Machine Girl, and some Takashi Miike) I also enjoy Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. However, if I saw the stuff depicted in those films in real life I wouldn’t be like “AW MAN, THAT IS AWESOME!” or “AW MAN, THAT’S HILARIOUS!” I’d be more like “AW MAN THAT’S HORRIBLE!” or I’d throw up from the disgust of what was happening (hard to say since I haven’t come across this). Desensitized implies that people aren’t affected by real violence; but I’m sure the vast majority of people are. The stuff in movies and tv and video games AREN’T REAL! Oh sure Phelous has nobody to blame but himself for watching this movie, even if it was at the request of some people and some could say he was giving into peer preasure (or whatever), but he still gets his opinion. And his opinion is that this movie is a waste of celluloid and just mean spirited and gross. As for people going on about American’s torturing people, WELCOME TO THE HUMAN RACE! Other countries torture too, and I bet most use more violent tactics than we do (I could be wrong about this of course, but even so) and has been going on since forever. People would like to think we’re far too advanced now to use such barbaric methods, but come on people, really think about it. Sure we have modern things like TV, computers (which allow Phelous to review this stuff), cars, etc, but we still have the primal setting we’ve had since the very start of it all. People are savage in nature, even the most peaceful of people will have a moment or two of rage and act out in a possibly violent way. I don’t feel an oppressive government gives justification to make shocking moments such as incest and pedophelia. However, those people as free thinking human beings, have the right to make such a thing. Why you’d want to I have no idea, just seems super depressing. Maybe this was a way for the filmmakers to vent, and from what I can gather they certainly did. I’ll also agree about the ending, as if it wasn’t depressing enough they just had to come back and rape the dead family, starting with the boy. That’s just messed up. It’s also a little messed up to establish this family with them being all keen with talking about porn to their son. I know that kids can learn about this stuff at early ages, and there are parents who will be open about it, but I don’t feel most would be so non chalant about it. So yeah I can see how Phelous finds it hard to feel sorry for the family since they’re all kinda gross with each other. Newborn porn!? WHY?! And him screwing his own son is not some sort of artsy attempt to show a crappy government, it’s just poor taste and just so wrong. So Phelous I’m happy to tell you that I’m one of those people you saved from watching this movie. I would’ve been screwed either way by internet trolls because one side would be like “How can you judge a movie without seeing it?” or “You knew what you were getting into when watching it, so how can you judge?” so fuck it. People will bitch because it’s what we do best next to killing each other (and sometimes we do both at the same time). And while I like some of the movies on here he doesn’t care for (like Cabin Fever and the Resident Evil films, I’m ready for the backlash from people) I can see how he wouldn’t care for them. VIVA LA OPINION! Hey! I used another language besides english, that means I’m not just a silly ignorant American! YAY FOR ME! ^_^
who would defend this film? its a terrible mean spirited film that uses the excuse of saying it is “artistic” that’s bullshit and everyone knows it the people that made this film should be burned alive, it is fucking disturbing in the worst way… and there is being disturbing and going WAAAAAY to far!!! AND DO NOT SAY OOH ITS NOT REAL… no fuckin shit dumbass fuckin idiots movies are meant to make you feel like they are real and how is them pretending to fuck a baby and a little boy up the ass is any more differant than it actually happening… and they portray it to look real so shut the fuck up and if you saw that shit in real life you would cry like a bitch so go fuck little girls because that is clearly what you are into if you like this
What’s worse; the fact that garbage like this movie exists, or the fact that garbage people actually like it and will go as far as to defend it? And no, I don’t give a shit that it never actually happened in real life or is ‘just fictional’; they’re still showing it to us in clear as day detail. You might as well defend rapists, murderers and pedophiles after defending this movie.
I understand that everyone has their own opinion, but if your opinion is based on liking fucked up trash like this, then go fuck yourselves, you underdeveloped neanderthals.
OMFG no wonder you were so pissed off after watching that movie and only suffered watching it once. This is an absolutely disgusting excuse for a “movie.” There’s a special place in Hell for everyone involved with its creation. I am so sorry you had to go through that Phelous…. ugh…. I need some brain bleach….
… Eh…. I feel weird saying this but…. This movie really didn’t shock me at all, saw it with my friends, and we kind of agreed, there was no real horror aspect to this film, it was just scenes meant to shock and disgust for the sole reason of shocking and disgusting, but considering the stuff we have seen online, heck, even done much worse done as japanese hentai comics, I dunno, sort of failed in that department too for us.
Was actually kind of boring and way too drawn out to be honest.
Sure, its not a film that was deserved to be made, nor is it good by any stretch of the word, but didn’t feel like it did too much but offend people with weaker constitutions. In that respect, its actually kind of funny to me, but whatever, sorry you had to suffer through it either way.
That movie looked terrifying and seriously bad for your mental health. Even mine just watching some of that review. I dont know how notifications for comments work on your site so i feel bad for risking reminding you of this garbage film by commenting, but i just wanted to say thanks for handling the review so well. ie: not making jokes really and having it be a lot shorter than your other reviews. Yours is a job that cant be very easy
“This movie doesnt have a message and if it does I refuse to let anybody tell me  about it!!! This movie is horrible and everyone who tries to defend is horrible too!!!  I dont want to know if im wrong or why or anything!!!!! ”
This is the message of the review and a lot of comments here and other places as well.
Although the idea that the movie is some kind of analogy to the serbian government and political situation and history is pretty much completely illegitimate, the movie somehow appears to have to power to turn rational people into morons who refuse to listen to any new information or anyone who disagrees with him.
There is something about THAT idea that personally strikes me as much more sickening than any of the ideas presented in this movie.
(BTW a lot of this stuff, pedophilia, child porn, exploitation, beating up or killing prostitutes, incest, etc etc are all real things that happen every day all around the world. Â That is a much bigger issue and reflection on society as a whole than the issue that everyone seems to want to focus on, which is “how dare people show me bad things! Â how dare people write or think of bad things!! Â how dare people make movies about bad things!!!!”. Â A little less focus on what is basically censorship and a little more focus on stopping horrible things like child trafficking, etc, in REAL LIFE would be a great change in focus for those insipid among us. Â One way to help stop these things is to make art that brings society to focus on these things, but instead our society seems to want to focus on the art itself, as if that’s the REAL cause of the problems. )
I really gotta agree with you there. I don’t get the reaction of “Don’t even try to defend this in any way, otherwise you’re just as sick as the movie!”, eliminating any possible form of dialogue straight from the get go, like some sort of self-imposed censorship. There can be no other viewpoint whatsoever other than the one of absolute disgust. Guys, at the end of the day this is a piece of fiction like any other and can be discussed, it’s not a snuff film… I get it, it’s shocking to most people, personally I’m not easily disturbed, but still, I get it, but the movie could be more than just shock-value if you scratch the surface enough. Maybe there’s nothing more to it, but I find the intransigent opinion of most people and the demeaning of anyone with a different viewpoint that usually accompanies it to be the truly shocking thing here.
Yes, A Serbian Film takes your mind to really, really, really awful places, but as pointed out by disparityband, they are all too real things. If anything, this movie should be an eye-opener in 2 ways. The first as a reminder these things occur every waking hours of the day to countless real people. The second, as the vast disgust for this film can attest for, how uncomfortable people are with these topics still, in 2016, and how double standard they are. Murder in movies is more often than not widely accepted and glorified even, and the bloodier the merrier. But depict incest, rape, abuse and pedophilia… That’s too far. Why? Because it’s too disturbing to be reminded these things exist? It should be swept under the rug and never spoken off? Murder is fun though, so that’s cool. Doesn’t that strike anyone else as completely wrong?
But what do I know, I’m just a sick person… Probably. Maybe. Not really.
I would rather watch Where the Dead Go to Die, Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa, G-Saviour, and After Last Season all at once for 25 times than this plain crime against humanity (it’s so bad that it shouldn’t be called a movie).
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Ha, first
I WIN THE INTERNET
Damn. You beat me to it.
Yuck. That movie looked disgusting.
What went through the creeps’ mind when they made this?
If it’s any comfort, it took me a few days after just hearing some of the details of this film to stop being pissed off and disgusted whenever it came to mind. I’m pretty sure we’re all worse off for this piece of trash having been made.
Quick! Someone get this man some Gatorade!
I’m actually scared to watch this review…
I think that with these kind of movies the film makers just found a legal way of experiencing their sick and perverted fantasies. I don’t see how this is different from having roleplay during sex while filming it and getting a filmcompany to publish it.
Ok yea they’re not actually having sex and are killing people, but still they reenact it…I’m not really good at explaining sorry.
I’m sure the filmmaker had no fantasies of necrophilia or pedophilia when the film was written.
That’s like saying Anthony Burgess had dreams of raping women and having sex with 10 year old girls when he wrote A Clockwork Orange.
No. I agree this film was fucked up, and in no way made to be analyzed artistically during the making. But it’s got way better plot development than many horror films I’ve seen and in no way does the filmmaker deserve such disrespect for making a film.
Grow up, it’s just a movie.
A Clockwork Orange was banned for 19 years in the U.K. Stanley Kubrick even received death threats because of the sexual violence in the film, and it is still considered one of the best films ever made. People called him perverted and sick, and in no way did Kubrick make anything other than beautiful pieces of art.
[quote=Flash Bohemia]I’m sure the filmmaker had no fantasies of necrophilia or pedophilia when the film was written.
That’s like saying Anthony Burgess had dreams of raping women and having sex with 10 year old girls when he wrote A Clockwork Orange.
No. I agree this film was fucked up, and in no way made to be analyzed artistically during the making. But it’s got way better plot development than many horror films I’ve seen and in no way does the filmmaker deserve such disrespect for making a film.
Grow up, it’s just a movie.
A Clockwork Orange was banned for 19 years in the U.K. Stanley Kubrick even received death threats because of the sexual violence in the film, and it is still considered one of the best films ever made. People called him perverted and sick, and in no way did Kubrick make anything other than beautiful pieces of art.[/quote]
A Clockwork Orange presented it’s message in a far more subtle and satirical nature. Whereas A Serbian Film beats you over the head with it’s message by using a gimmicky shock value approach. My point being that Kubrick and Burgess didn’t need to resort to cheap tactics to make an interesting point. And that’s really why people hate A Serbian Film. It’s not necessarily the violence or it’s message, but how the movie so poorly executes those ideas.
@Flash Bohemia
What are you retarded? Or a pervert?
How can you compare A Clockwork Orange to this shit? A Serbian Movie is more in the league of “Salo or the 120 days of Sodom” or “Cannibal Holocaust”… And guess what those movies are still shitty and disgusting after 30 or so years or more since they came out.
Sure A Clockwork Orange has “strong sexual imagery and violence” for a MAINSTREAM movie at that time, but it was still pretty mild compared to some exploitation movies that came out around that time or just a few years later.
You simply CANNOT say “oh it’s just like that movie that was banned that now we all like and praise”… because it is NOT.
Movies like A Clockwork Orange did not focus only on sex and violence and were not playing only on shock value. Actually the violence and sex scenes in ACO are not the main focus of the movie, but are there to show that Alex is a disturbed young person.
Also the sex and the violence is pretty much tame, not too explicit, certainly compared to exploitantion movies of that time.
A Serbian film rivals illegal pornography! Sure it’s all fake… and that is only why owning that movie will not get your ass in prison… but still it is entrirely fucked up.
Also do we really want to accept movies that show scene like “newborn porn”..? No no we do no!
Oh Phelan, why did you put yourself through this?! I’m sure no one would have minded if you didn’t, not even Brad. Just reading a wikipedia page about this thing a while ago was more than enough for me.
I was glad when I saw this was a short review, I’m certainly loyal enough to watch any review you do but when I saw what movie it was I was pretty scared. Not much to say about the movie itself except I agree 100% with what you said. I was going to say it deserves all the rage you gave it, but it doesn’t, because it’s way too low to deserve anything you could give it at all. It’s just detestable and I really don’t know how anyone could make or enjoy such a thing. Ugh.
Now please take a break and watch something good, for your own sanity!
Oh good, I wasn’t the only one who felt like puking just after reading the Wikipedia article then…
As for the review itself… I know you didn’t have much choice, but I honestly felt you put too many clips into this review… yeah, even as it was. I might have actually preferred a completely clip-free, v-log style review for this one; would have saved Phelous the pain of having to rewatch parts of this for editing.
No, you guys aren’t alone. I read the wikipedia article after watching Brad’s vlog on it, curious what would be so horrible that he would beg people not to watch it. Aaaaaaaaaaaagh.
That’s when I read the wikipedia article, too. Ugh. The thing is just vile.
Thank you for not showing THAT scene. God, this movie is such disgusting trash.
I do not know how you could sit and watch there film fully i was starting to fill sick just watching the review. wish you could of warned us of how sick and wrong this film was. the people who made this are just well there isnt a word out there to say how fucked up they are… i feel so sorry for you having to watch it…
Wow, That is intense. I can’t believe you made it through that let alone had to clip and edit a review for it together. I can’t imagine anyone with any decent shred of humanity being able to watch this after watching what it’s about… You deserve to review carebears or something cuddly after this.
This movie is low…even for Eli Roth Standards sad to say. This is why i’m done watching the horror movie genre PERIOD. Nowadays, to make a horror movie, you gotta scorch it with torture porn, and extreme violent content to the point to going over-the-top with earning shock value that just seems ridiculous, overly-disturbing and sick. No more creativity, or making something thats enjoyable for people to watch (since thats why we watch movies in the first place, correct?). Especially with horror movies, they don’t scare no more, watching ’em is like the same feeling of living next to a John Lithgows character from Dexter, creeps you the hell out, andi don’t like going to movies to feel disturbed and creeped out. I mean really, They figure, “Hmm, Lets just clusterfuck more money into the machine of disposable cinema since I guess murder, rape, and pedophilia sell, right?”. I dunno what msg they were giving but it certainly wasn’t a anti-government conveyed msg. Like you said Phelous, it was a Mean-spirited movie, and i think the last thing we wanna do when we watch a movie is to feel like a pissed-off bag of shit thinking that humanity actually created something like that….oh yea, I heard Hostel III is coming out soon, new location is in Detroit lol!
A HOSTEL IN DETROIT?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! It’s bad enough having wannabee comedians and Robocop make fun of Detroit. But Hostel?
How many movies with “pedophilia” themes do you actually view on the market ? YES, murder is normal in cinema and rape is a bit more often as well. But these 3 combined are rare.
And they can do whatever they want, you don’t have to watch it. No one has the excuse that they didn’t know what they’ll watch, since this is not a mainstream movie. It’s only known for the shock-factor and that people are disgusted by it.
I agree that this is NOT good movie. I disliked it … and also thought it was rather boring.The reason why i watched it, was because Brad told us NOT too. He is a very though guy with lots of movie experience, and so i naturally got interested. Since this movie is only known as ‘snuff-like’ i prepared for some though time. And the movie then actually bored me nearly to death. Brad also thought that only this ‘newborn porn’ scene was the only really extreme thing in that movie. And here i have to disagree. The scene itself looked really really fake. This drives every kind of shock-value out of it. And it would have been more disturbing if they had not shown anything in picture and let you use your imagination instead. The way it is done, I actually think I even laughed a bit by the horrible execution. Couldn’t take the movie serious anymore.
The comments here however make my blood boil and shake my fists toward you disgusting people. How can you feel angered by this movie and critisice the people who produced it ? Figured many of the people getting ‘angry’ at this movie are also americans: YOU support RL TORTURE ! The producers made just a movie. But you are the real filth. Oh, boy … i can’t wait to see the sick fuck comments on TGWTG when people call the producers immoral. Americans are disgusting hypocrits.
And I hope Phelous knows, that his review will only make more people gonna watch this movie.
How dare I have my own opinion of this movie that doesn’t match your’s? Yeah really! Holy fucking shit!
Yeah it’s totally strange to be disgusted by this stuff for reals! I can’t believe it. All Americans support RL torture huh? That’s a really fucking stupid thing to say you know. I’m glad we have you on your high and mighty perch to judge what an entire country of people think.
If someone watches it AFTER this, too bad for them.
Wow, when I went to bed, I couldn’t sleep. I can’t believe this movie affected me so much. I guess I underestimated your warning. (not blaming you at all) I know what you mean now when you were trying so hard to forget it, I don’t think that was a joke. Well Good luck to you.
Predictable sarcastic reation from you. But I don’t care if your opinion is the same as mine or not. As I said, this movie is not good, but you knew beforehand what it is all about. So this is like playing an Ego-Shooter and then complaining about it being an Ego-Shooter. If a professional reviewer does something like that, it is typically frowned upon. It seems like such a person values his own opinion so much as to ignore target audiences (whoever it is here) and only values his own point of view. And I wouldn’t mind actually if this review would be entertaining. Which it isn’t. You’re just angry and not entertaining at all.
And as you said: Of course not every american supports torture. Still, the fact remains that they elected their torture-supporting government more than once. Saying that they ‘don’t agree’ is just another simple excuse. And neither do I see a lot of people demonstrating against it. Take a look at some american newspaper-comments or Internet-Forums and it seems to be the other way around. And if theres ANYTHING I know in my life, than it is the fact, that those exact people are the ones that force their ridiculous fake ‘morals’ on others. Hating on fictional works or our age of consent in europe for example.
First of all, and no offense meant to him here, I don’t think Phelous is a professional reviewer. Reviews like his are not meant to be in any way objective, they’re purely opinion and should be taken as such; you’re basically on Phelous’ personal site where he can post whatever he wants. If he feels like posting an angry rant video/reviewofsorts, that’s his choice; just as he can produce reviews meant more to entertain or inform or just funny Doctor Who video edits.
Second, I feel that grouping people together by any property they did not choose themselves, be it race, age, gender, sexual preference or citizenship/nationality, and then making blanket statements about them is offensive not only to the people you are targeting with your comments, but everyone else who may have ever been target of such discrimination… which tends to be pretty much everyone in the entire world these days.
Please, I’m asking you as a fellow human being with some sense of morality, stop and think before you accuse a whole group of people who just happen to be related by circumstance of something negative… it’s not only hurtful to a lot of people whom your statement doesn’t actually apply to, it also makes you seem like something of a fool.
Predictable non sense response from you. And if there’s ANYTHING I know in my life it’s that defending this crap is totally worth it so please continue. 🙂
Nice Comment, if your so gung-ho about it, go burn a flag and shut up then. This is about bad movies, not a political debate you dizzy moron…and even if it was about that, your hate-filled trash commentary sucks , nonetheless. Re-Elect Obama! – How do you like them apples?
First off, I’m an American and I don’t support torture. Here in California, I’ve attented several rallys against our country torturing anyone. Also, I never voted for the Bush administration. Actually most everyone I know didn’t vote for Bush or his cronies. I do know people that voted for Bush and I can honestly tell you that they didn’t vote for him because of their love of torture. Pretty much I don’t recall Bush running on a “let torture people” ballet. Yeah I know that there has been torture done by our military and police for that matter and no one I know is in support of it. I have no problem with you not liking his review because you felt that it wasn’t very entertaining but had it occured to you that Phelous actually really was offended by this movie? How dare he stated his opinion in a way that didn’t make you laugh. I for one liked the bit at the beginning where he was trying to forget the film so I can’t really say there was no humor in this review. I saw nothing wrong with your review. By the way, who’s pissed off at Europe for their age of consent? That’s news to me. Oh one one more thing about Bush’s elections, you are aware that many many people are contesting the results of both elections right? I’m sorry if I’m smug or offensive to you because really I don’t like to offend anyone but this particular comment kinda rubbed me the wrong way. You’re over generalizing me, my neighbors and people I love who are good people and not hypocrites or lovers of doing harm to another human being.
Also, what’s with this American shit anyways? I thought Phelous was Canadian.
It’s not like this guy’s opinion matters anyway; he’s a loud idiot who apperently judges an entire nation of over 300 million people by the comments on internet sites. He will clearly never amount to anything.
That’s true, all Americans think alike and support every action our government has ever made/sanctioned. Dumbass.
I never ever want to meet a person that watched it after watching this review. Anyone who says “I want to see more of this!” is a sick fuck.
LOL, yea i hate to be the 3rd person to say it, but that does sound stupid. First off, I understand about the “rare” ideas you were talking about that they had with this movie, but it doesn’t take just one or more to understand that sometimes an original idea with those elements just don’t mix well, or just shouldn’t happen at all because of the concept it’s aiming for, knowing its gonna fail in the end. Look at “8mm”, i’m not a big Nick Cage fan but it had some of the same elements that was used in the serbian movie, but it didn’t try to go too over-the-top or too far to defeat the logic of being taken seriously, in other words, you wanted to see Nick Cage fight back after uncovering his case in the film because the situation of the plot felt it needed to be taken that seriously. As for the “not to be taken seriously” feel you mentioned on ‘A Serbian Movie’, that only works for certain movies. Look at Punisher Warzone, the action and violence was a bit over-the-top and grotisque, but it was on a good level of it, plus its the Punisher, a comic book character, so what do you expect? Theres a way to make movies, and a way not to make ’em, and if the Director can’t see through that balance of craft out of the movie hes making, then he shouldn’t be directing at all, because all you have is a one-sided shit storm of angry people that spent the money to watch that crap, and a guy whos probably too dazed and amazed at his own work to not see the criticism in it, unless hes just doing it for money. 2nd, thanks for the anti-american comment you left. I’m glad you like to see all of us labeled as if we all follow the same ideology and hypocracy as everyone around us. But seeing that I don’t support RL torture, and stating myself not of nationality, but as a movie buff (despite what country i’m in), i think your comment is irrelevant, and not well thought out of. Besides, you watched the movie, i shouldn’t even be talking to you…yuck! your as disgusting as us “Americans”! (lol j/k)
Seriously, Phelous and any person whether they are an American or not are entitled to thier opinions regarding this film. Please remove the tree from your ass. Thank you!
You know at first I wasn’t going to say this, but after reading Phelous’ response I think I’m entitiled to say to. So here goes. Hey buddy how about a nice warm mug of shut the fuck up.
Wow…Just…wow. I’m sorry Phelous. I’d like to forget that this movie exists just from the review. I’m sorry you suffered so. Good luck in recovery sir. Good luck to us all.
Im at a loss for words. Could we please get these idiots to stop making horror movies. Yeah I know George Romero made gory horror movies guess what his were great because they had great stories and characters you idiots dont have the talent.
Umm…..WHAT IN THE HOLY FUCKBAR?! *brain shuts down*
This movie has hurt my soul and I’m ashamed for sharing the same plane of existence with it.
…I call it “The Aristocrats!”
I actually laughed pretty hard at that comment…kudos!
The most insulting thing about this travesty, other than the fact that it exists, is that the makers feel the desire to justify the product of their sick, perverted minds by claiming it has some sort of artistic message. Come on, you jackasses, just come right out and admit it: “Yes, we wanted to make the most disgusting, vile, grotesque film we could imagine, because violence, gore, and sexual abuse fascinate us, and because we get pleasure out of knowing that people will regret having watched it and despise themselves for letting their curiosity get the better of them. It has no other deeper purpose or meaning, and anyone who says otherwise is full of it.” At least if they had said this, they’d be being honest.
I turned this movie off after about 15 minutes and the only thing I could think of for days was “NUKE SERBIA”
Dude, not cool. Most of the people who live in Serbia had nothing to do with this movie and would likely be as reviled by it as most of the people commenting here. I know you meant that as a joke, but… genocide is not funny.
I come from a war-torn shithole too (Ireland). But really, I’m not serious about Nuking serbia, but the film did disgust me to the point that any sort of political sympathy they expected me to cultivate through watching baby-rape, was more akin to loathing and angst. I’m no prude, I even have the Guinea Pig box-set, but A Serbian Film disgusted me more than any other film I’ve ever seen. It bothered me more that Serbian kids on the internet reacted to people’s outrage with “OH YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND, IT’S POLITICAL SATIRE, IT’S METAPHORICAL” despite the fact the film makers themselves cite exploitation films as their favourite genre. My ‘Nuke Serbia’ comment is just an act of counter-trolling these folks. Tasteles of me? Yes. As tasteless as that movie and the pseudo-intellectuals who defend it? Not in a million years.
Phelous, I’m so sorry you saw this “movie”.
Treat yourself in the next video. Find a good but riffable horror film to flush the system before continuing on. How about a Hellraiser?
I know the laws here in Canadada, AND IT’S NOT RAPE IF THEY’RE DEAD!
I didn’t recommend this movie.
Though thanks to your review I will never bother watching it so you got that!
Like I recommended you should review The 13th Alley, that would definitely cheer you up after this garbage.
what. in. the. fuck.
now I know why you told us you wouldn’t watch the movie again. and now I know why you didn’t even tell us what movie it was. uuuuuuuuuuugh.
I hate to be the voice of dissent (not trolling, just saying my opinion), but I like this movie. I think that a filmmaker has the right to make any movie they want, as long as no one was hurt – i.e., they do not actually hurt/rape an infant. A film has the right to exist solely to show violence, sex, gore, swearing, drugs, depravity, etc. I do not think films are morally obligated to have a meaning, or characters, or story. It is just often movies without these things suck (see: most of Phelous’ reviews). But in A Serbian Film, we have that rare movie that is depraved enough that it stands on its own depravity. I respect that.
And yes, I acknowledge the political meaning is bullshit. The meaning of this film is to show depravity, and it succeeds.
Also, guys, really. It is just a movie. No one was really hurt making it; no infant was raped. Relax.
Also, given how little you like this movie, Phelous. another one is 2007’s Sick Girl (not to be confused with the Masters of Horror episode of the same name). I thought it was pretty good, but I dobut a lot of people here would. The ending scene includes (SPOILERS) (VERY DISTURBING) they eponymous (sp.?) sick girl castrating a guy, then putting his foreskin on an iron spike, then using that spike as a strap on on another girl. It’s sick. (END SPOILERS)
I really don’t understand why everytime someone doesn’t like a work of art, he must say that it doesn’t mean anything and it’s only shit.
I don’t like abstract art. I can watch an entire gallery of Rotkho’s paintings for days without seeing nothing more than colored squared shapes that doesn’t mean anything to me. But this doesn’t mean that Rothko is not an artist and that his paintings are just pretentious shit. And maybe it’s not my fault either. I just miss “something” that other people, that like Rotkho works, have.
Ten years ago I met a serbian man: he fought in the Yugoslav Wars and he told me that he saw and did things that he can’t never forget. I didn’t ask him details but everyone of us can read what happened during those years: genocides, ethnic cleansings… things that make me sick just to think about. So, yeah, I’m really happy that I can’t undestand A Serbian Movie! Because I think, maybe, that man I met ten years ago can.
If this movie war made by someone that never saw directly any kind of violence at all, I could understand the criticism and the anger I see in some comments. But, come on: this movie was made by someone that lived a fucking civil war, someone that saw his own country shatters and maybe was even a soldier in that fucking war. If Eli Roth wants me to feel dirty and unclean I laugh at him and spit on his movie. If a man that grew up surrounded by atrocities wants me to puke my brain out to feel one time just like he felt every single day of his life for a long time, I don’t think he deserve insults.
(note: pargraphs do not seem to work for me on this site; sorry if this appears as one wall of text, that is why I am putitng the ——‘s for dividing pargraphs)
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niamere: Ah, someone who agrees with me. At last. I know, this is now my least favorite Phelous review (favorite is probably Birdemic, for the record). In his other reviews, even if I liked the movie (Hostel, Cabin Fever, Turistas, etc. come to mind, I have VERY low standards for horror films), I enjoyed his review, and could understand where he was coming from. Even if I could not, at least he was just giving his opinion, not pronouncing moral judgment on the film. I ABSOLUTELY agree that no one ever forced anyone to watch this, nor did it hurt anyone. And I also agree with what you said about “feeling” something during a horror movie. Years of watching extreme horror and whatnot have left me somewhat desensitized, it was nice to get a feeling of revulsuon.
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I mean, really, this movie is nothing but free speech. As a believer in absolute free speech, I daresay that “I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is in force here. I mean, look at me. I am rather homophobic. I just don’t like them. Sorry. Does that mean I am going to stop them from fucking each other, and getting married, or whatever it is they do? No. My personal opinion on something does not make it law. Conversly, just because someone doesn’t like A Serbian Film, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t exist.
I love every review you’ve done… but this one?
This movie was brilliantly made, the scenery, the camera work, the soundtrack (audio in general) the acting is top notch.
… now the story its a big YMMV “deal with it” horror movie are suposed to make you feel something strong! Be it fear, disgust, or anything else in this category.
And guess what the movie did it well.
You can all have your “own opinion” on this.
But insulting the people that made this?
Anyone forced you to watch it?
Did it hurt anyone?
Guess not… Review the “product” not the people who made it
The movie was not “shit” you just all disliked it
i can’t see any of you doing better. Those guy have talent
SURE they should of putted it somewhere else (because its taboo BAAAAWWW)
((theres more movie like that, indie market is FULL of them, the mordum underground, the japanese scene, the korean scene… i mean GOD -_-))
PPS: i didnt enjoyed it for the gore or anything, enjoyed it because i FELT something for once during a “horror movie” and because the second time i watched it with a bunch of friend we laughted our ass off
/rant ((Bad english, i’m french, bla bla bla, etc.)
“i didnt enjoyed it for the gore or anything, enjoyed it because i FELT
something for once during a “horror movie” and because the second time i
watched it with a bunch of friend we laughted our ass off” ——
There is something seriously wrong with you. That is all.
Who are you, oh holy one, to tell me that something is “wrong” with me?
Hell i just know the big difference between “Movie” and “reality”
I don’t get offended by fake shit habitualy, but this movie got to me.
The second time i watched it, it was simply to gross out my friend, and it worked… for some of them.
YEP something is wrong with me because i’m able to review thing based on the talent put into them, and not let my own “perspectiv” get in the way.
i don’t claim this is art, i don’t claim that there is some fucked up “meaning” behind it.
I see it as a genuine Horror movie, i felt horrified. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Niamere off!
Ok, I’m glad that I passed up watching this movie.
I don’t see what’s the point of it. It’s not even my type of mindless fun either.
What were they Thinking?! O_______O
You’re a Gundam! 😀
That’s a bad movie! No cookie!
I feel so bad for you…this film…is just so BAD…I am not upset that this review is short…I’m glad it was short…my, god…why would anyone think this movie was a good idea? WHY???
I’m going to post something that you are really not going to like phelous. You should have done The Transformers: The Movie. The 86 one. Instead of this disgusting filth. I know that’s not a bad movie but it is the 25th anneverasry of it so why not?
How horrible that this kind of movie is allowed to be made.
I would rather watch Birdemic 10 times in a row than watch this movie once.
Hopefully standing on your head helped you forget.
Thank you for keeping this review short.
Well i think it was pretty silly. At least the parts i’ve seen and heard about it in review. I’m not really offenced by that shit. Fcking, chopping someones head off and keep fcking, incest, some not really nice pedophilia(boys don’t turn me on), fcking newborn, dick fatality? Whatewer… They really trying hard to get some reaction and make their movie big using massive trolling. Well they didn’t get my attention, but i’ve got some laughs.
I can imagine how the creators of this movie thought this plot up…
Guy 1: Hey man our government sucks so bad, right?
Guy 2: Yeah it does! We’re being oppressed and we should do something constructive to show the rest of the world that we’re being oppressed!!!
Guy 1: Yeah man I know! But how should we do that???
Guy 2: Omg I know! Let’s make a movie!
Guy 1: Dude, man, we can’t… We’ll get killed if we make a movie about the oppression of our government…
Guy 2: Then we’ll have to be symbolic and subtle!
Guy 1: Yeah we will… But how bro?
Guy 2: Omg I just had the best idea everrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
Guy 1: Srsly??? Tell me man!
Guy 2: You know how our gorvernment screws us over right?
Guy 1: Yeah man I feel really butt fucked…
Guy 2: Son we should make a porn movie! But you know, the porn will be symbolic for our oppression!!!!
Guy 1: Okay but it should be a torture porn, seeing how our government kills people too.
Guy 2: Omg we’re cinematic geniuses!!!!!!
Guy 1: Best idea everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!
And so they made their movie, and it was the most subtle movie ever made with brilliant symbolism used throughout the movie.
I’m dared to watch this movie, so wish me luck…
Alright, being somebody who has always been interested in gore since early teen years, I have to say that I wasn’t disturbed at all when I watched this movie. Now, to somewhat justify why, I will tell you that -because- of my early interest in things like this, I soon went to college for criminal psychology and then even worked my way over to medical school so I could soon become a forensic Pathologist. What this means, is that I preform autopsies for a living for forensic teams, like seen in so many drama television shows today. Grouping that with my time spent studying the workings of psychology, especially the kind coupled with acts like this, I suppose you could say I formed a desensitation to it all. All in all, I didn’t mind the film because I could look past the upsetting things. I enjoyed your review, Phelous. Keep em coming.
I know I’m late in the game commenting on this review (but I just recently started watching videos on this site and was catching up) but I felt like giving my opinion becuase that’s the beauty of free will. I can see how some would find this film deep and provocative and politically aware and blah blah blah. Now please don’t take offence to blah blah blah, i merely use it like I would etc. But I can see how people like good ol Phelous here would be totally offended by it as well. People will spout out stuff like “we’re desensitized by violent and or sexual content” and I have to say that’s mostly bullshit. I watch violent films and sexual films, lord knows I do (I’ve seen a few John Waters films, The Machine Girl, and some Takashi Miike) I also enjoy Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. However, if I saw the stuff depicted in those films in real life I wouldn’t be like “AW MAN, THAT IS AWESOME!” or “AW MAN, THAT’S HILARIOUS!” I’d be more like “AW MAN THAT’S HORRIBLE!” or I’d throw up from the disgust of what was happening (hard to say since I haven’t come across this). Desensitized implies that people aren’t affected by real violence; but I’m sure the vast majority of people are. The stuff in movies and tv and video games AREN’T REAL! Oh sure Phelous has nobody to blame but himself for watching this movie, even if it was at the request of some people and some could say he was giving into peer preasure (or whatever), but he still gets his opinion. And his opinion is that this movie is a waste of celluloid and just mean spirited and gross. As for people going on about American’s torturing people, WELCOME TO THE HUMAN RACE! Other countries torture too, and I bet most use more violent tactics than we do (I could be wrong about this of course, but even so) and has been going on since forever. People would like to think we’re far too advanced now to use such barbaric methods, but come on people, really think about it. Sure we have modern things like TV, computers (which allow Phelous to review this stuff), cars, etc, but we still have the primal setting we’ve had since the very start of it all. People are savage in nature, even the most peaceful of people will have a moment or two of rage and act out in a possibly violent way. I don’t feel an oppressive government gives justification to make shocking moments such as incest and pedophelia. However, those people as free thinking human beings, have the right to make such a thing. Why you’d want to I have no idea, just seems super depressing. Maybe this was a way for the filmmakers to vent, and from what I can gather they certainly did. I’ll also agree about the ending, as if it wasn’t depressing enough they just had to come back and rape the dead family, starting with the boy. That’s just messed up. It’s also a little messed up to establish this family with them being all keen with talking about porn to their son. I know that kids can learn about this stuff at early ages, and there are parents who will be open about it, but I don’t feel most would be so non chalant about it. So yeah I can see how Phelous finds it hard to feel sorry for the family since they’re all kinda gross with each other. Newborn porn!? WHY?! And him screwing his own son is not some sort of artsy attempt to show a crappy government, it’s just poor taste and just so wrong. So Phelous I’m happy to tell you that I’m one of those people you saved from watching this movie. I would’ve been screwed either way by internet trolls because one side would be like “How can you judge a movie without seeing it?” or “You knew what you were getting into when watching it, so how can you judge?” so fuck it. People will bitch because it’s what we do best next to killing each other (and sometimes we do both at the same time). And while I like some of the movies on here he doesn’t care for (like Cabin Fever and the Resident Evil films, I’m ready for the backlash from people) I can see how he wouldn’t care for them. VIVA LA OPINION! Hey! I used another language besides english, that means I’m not just a silly ignorant American! YAY FOR ME! ^_^
Paragraphs are a thing.
who would defend this film? its a terrible mean spirited film that uses the excuse of saying it is “artistic” that’s bullshit and everyone knows it the people that made this film should be burned alive, it is fucking disturbing in the worst way… and there is being disturbing and going WAAAAAY to far!!! AND DO NOT SAY OOH ITS NOT REAL… no fuckin shit dumbass fuckin idiots movies are meant to make you feel like they are real and how is them pretending to fuck a baby and a little boy up the ass is any more differant than it actually happening… and they portray it to look real so shut the fuck up and if you saw that shit in real life you would cry like a bitch so go fuck little girls because that is clearly what you are into if you like this
What’s worse; the fact that garbage like this movie exists, or the fact that garbage people actually like it and will go as far as to defend it? And no, I don’t give a shit that it never actually happened in real life or is ‘just fictional’; they’re still showing it to us in clear as day detail. You might as well defend rapists, murderers and pedophiles after defending this movie.
I understand that everyone has their own opinion, but if your opinion is based on liking fucked up trash like this, then go fuck yourselves, you underdeveloped neanderthals.
Thank you Phelan, for telling it like it is.
OMFG no wonder you were so pissed off after watching that movie and only suffered watching it once. This is an absolutely disgusting excuse for a “movie.” There’s a special place in Hell for everyone involved with its creation. I am so sorry you had to go through that Phelous…. ugh…. I need some brain bleach….
… Eh…. I feel weird saying this but…. This movie really didn’t shock me at all, saw it with my friends, and we kind of agreed, there was no real horror aspect to this film, it was just scenes meant to shock and disgust for the sole reason of shocking and disgusting, but considering the stuff we have seen online, heck, even done much worse done as japanese hentai comics, I dunno, sort of failed in that department too for us.
Was actually kind of boring and way too drawn out to be honest.
Sure, its not a film that was deserved to be made, nor is it good by any stretch of the word, but didn’t feel like it did too much but offend people with weaker constitutions. In that respect, its actually kind of funny to me, but whatever, sorry you had to suffer through it either way.
That movie looked terrifying and seriously bad for your mental health. Even mine just watching some of that review. I dont know how notifications for comments work on your site so i feel bad for risking reminding you of this garbage film by commenting, but i just wanted to say thanks for handling the review so well. ie: not making jokes really and having it be a lot shorter than your other reviews. Yours is a job that cant be very easy
“This movie doesnt have a message and if it does I refuse to let anybody tell me  about it!!! This movie is horrible and everyone who tries to defend is horrible too!!!  I dont want to know if im wrong or why or anything!!!!! ”
This is the message of the review and a lot of comments here and other places as well.
Although the idea that the movie is some kind of analogy to the serbian government and political situation and history is pretty much completely illegitimate, the movie somehow appears to have to power to turn rational people into morons who refuse to listen to any new information or anyone who disagrees with him.
There is something about THAT idea that personally strikes me as much more sickening than any of the ideas presented in this movie.
(BTW a lot of this stuff, pedophilia, child porn, exploitation, beating up or killing prostitutes, incest, etc etc are all real things that happen every day all around the world. Â That is a much bigger issue and reflection on society as a whole than the issue that everyone seems to want to focus on, which is “how dare people show me bad things! Â how dare people write or think of bad things!! Â how dare people make movies about bad things!!!!”. Â A little less focus on what is basically censorship and a little more focus on stopping horrible things like child trafficking, etc, in REAL LIFE would be a great change in focus for those insipid among us. Â One way to help stop these things is to make art that brings society to focus on these things, but instead our society seems to want to focus on the art itself, as if that’s the REAL cause of the problems. )
I really gotta agree with you there. I don’t get the reaction of “Don’t even try to defend this in any way, otherwise you’re just as sick as the movie!”, eliminating any possible form of dialogue straight from the get go, like some sort of self-imposed censorship. There can be no other viewpoint whatsoever other than the one of absolute disgust. Guys, at the end of the day this is a piece of fiction like any other and can be discussed, it’s not a snuff film… I get it, it’s shocking to most people, personally I’m not easily disturbed, but still, I get it, but the movie could be more than just shock-value if you scratch the surface enough. Maybe there’s nothing more to it, but I find the intransigent opinion of most people and the demeaning of anyone with a different viewpoint that usually accompanies it to be the truly shocking thing here.
Yes, A Serbian Film takes your mind to really, really, really awful places, but as pointed out by disparityband, they are all too real things. If anything, this movie should be an eye-opener in 2 ways. The first as a reminder these things occur every waking hours of the day to countless real people. The second, as the vast disgust for this film can attest for, how uncomfortable people are with these topics still, in 2016, and how double standard they are. Murder in movies is more often than not widely accepted and glorified even, and the bloodier the merrier. But depict incest, rape, abuse and pedophilia… That’s too far. Why? Because it’s too disturbing to be reminded these things exist? It should be swept under the rug and never spoken off? Murder is fun though, so that’s cool. Doesn’t that strike anyone else as completely wrong?
But what do I know, I’m just a sick person… Probably. Maybe. Not really.
I would rather watch Where the Dead Go to Die, Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa, G-Saviour, and After Last Season all at once for 25 times than this plain crime against humanity (it’s so bad that it shouldn’t be called a movie).
^*Where the Dead Go to Die, Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa, G-Saviour, and After Last Season all at once for 25 times in a row
I honestly wonder which movie is worse: this movie, Cannibal Holocaust, or Midori – Shojo Tsubaki (2016)?
^* the worst