Extreme cinema
Extreme cinema is a genre of film distinguished by its use of excessive violence, torture, and sex of extreme nature. The rising popularity of Asian films in the 21st century has contributed to the growth of extreme cinema, although extreme cinema is still considered to be a cult-based genre. Being a relatively recent genre, extreme cinema is controversial and widely unaccepted by the mainstream media.[1] Extreme cinema films target a specific and small audience group.[2]
History[]
The prehistory of extreme cinema can be traced back to censorship of art films and advertising tactics for classical exploitation films to Anglophone markets alongside later liberal representations of sex in the first half of the 20th century onwards.[3]
The name "extreme cinema" originated from a “line of Asian films that share a combination of sensational features, such as extreme violence, horror and shocking plots”.[4]
Controversy[]
Extreme cinema is highly criticized and debated by film critics and the general public. There have been debates over the hypersexualization that makes these films a threat to the ‘mainstream’ community standards.[5]
There has also been criticism over the increasing use of violence in modern-day films. Ever since the emergence of slasher-gore films in the ’70s, the rising popularity of extreme cinema has contributed to the casual violence in popular media.[6] Some criticize the easy exposure and unintended targeting of adolescence by extreme cinema films.[7]
Classification and guidelines[]
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) classifies extreme cinema films into an "R18" rating, which is defined as “special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.”[5]
Notable films[]
- A Serbian Film[8][9][10] (2010)
- Audition[11] (1999)
- Auschwitz[12] (2011)
- Bad Taste[12] (1987)
- Begotten[12] (1990)
- Benny's Video [12] (1992)
- Blood Feast[12] (1963)
- Braindead (Dead Alive)[12] (1992)
- Caligula, unrated version[12] (1979)
- Cannibal Holocaust[13][14] (1980)
- Crash[12] (1996)
- The Devils[12] (1971)
- Dogtooth[11] (2009)
- Faces of Death[15] (1979)
- Funny Games[11][16] (1997)
- Hellraiser[15] (1987)
- The Hills Have Eyes[15] (1977)
- Hostel[15] (2005)
- The Human Centipede[15] (2009)
- I Spit on Your Grave[15] (1978)
- Ichi the Killer (2001)[17]
- In the Realm of the Senses[18] (1976)
- Irréversible[11][10] (2002)
- I Stand Alone[19] (1998)
- Last House on the Left[20] (1972)
- Man Bites Dog[20] (1992)
- Mark of the Devil[20] (1970)
- Martyrs[8][10] (2008)
- Masking Threshold[21][22][23](2021)
- Mysterious Skin[20] (2004)
- Oedipus Rex[20] (1967)
- Oldboy[16] (2003)
- Pigsty[20] (1969)
- Pink Flamingos[20] (1972)
- The Poughkeepsie Tapes[20] (2007)
- Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead[20] (2006)
- Rambo 4[20] (2008)
- Re-Animator[20] (1985)
- Relic[24] (2020)
- Requiem for a Dream[20] (2000)
- Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom[14] (1975)
- Saw (2004)[25]
- Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist[25] (1997)
- Stille Nacht[25] (1969)
- Sweet Movie[25] (1974)
- Taxidermia[10] (2006)
- Thriller: A Cruel Picture[25] (1973)
- Un Chien Andalou[25] (1929)
Notable directors[]
- Early Peter Jackson (aforementioned Bad Taste and Dead Alive)[12]
- Early Wes Craven (aforementioned Last House on the Left and original Hill Have Eyes)[20][15]
- Uwe Boll[12]
- Bruno Dumont[19]
- Lars von Trier[26]
- Takashi Miike[10]
- Gaspar Noé[26]
- Pier Paolo Pasolini[14]
- Sion Sono[27]
- Herschell Gordon Lewis[12]
- Jim Van Bebber[20]
- Lloyd Kaufman[20][25]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Dirks, Tim. “100 Most Controversial Films of All Time.” 100 Most Controversial Films of All Time. Filmsite, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
- ^ gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
- ^ Frey, Mattias (15 March 2016). Extreme Cinema: The Transgressive Rhetoric of Today's Art Film Culture. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813576527 – via Google Books.
- ^ Lee, Eunah. “Trauma, excess, and the aesthetics of the affect: the extreme cinemas of Chan-Wook Park.” Post Script 2014:33. Literature Resource Center. Web. 7 Feb. 2016.
- ^ a b Pett, E. “A New Media Landscape? The BBFC, Extreme Cinema As Cult, And Technological Change.” New Review of Film and Television Studies 13.1 (2015): 83-99. Scopus. Web. 9 Feb. 2016
- ^ Sapolsky, Barry S., Fred Moliter, and Sarah Luque. “Sex and Violence in Slasher Films: Re-examining the Assumptions.” J&MC Quarterly 80.1 (2003): 28-38. SAGE Journals. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
- ^ Sargent, James D., Todd F. Hetherton, M. Bridget Ahrens, Madeline A. Dalton, Jennifer J. Tickle, and Michael L. Beach. “Adolescent Exposure to Extremely Violent Movies.” Journal of Adolescent Health 31.6 (2002): 449-454. JAMES MADISON UNIV's Catalog. Web.
- ^ a b "Extreme Cinema: Top 25 Most Disturbing Films of all time – part3 - HNN". horrornews.net. 23 August 2010.
- ^ "Extreme Cinema". Edinburgh University Press Books.
- ^ a b c d e The 30 Most Extreme Movies of the 21st Century So Far « Taste of Cinema
- ^ a b c d Mattias, Frey. "Extreme Cinema: The Transgressive Rhetoric of Today's Art Film Culture". Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Extreme Cinema: List of Disturbing Films Compendium A-D - HNN". horrornews.net. 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Extreme Cinema: Top 25 Most Disturbing Films of all time – part2". 23 August 2010.
- ^ a b c "Cultivating Extreme Art Cinema". Edinburgh University Press Books.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Extreme Cinema: List of Disturbing Films Compendium E-K". 27 July 2019.
- ^ a b The 30 Most Extreme Movies of the 21st Century So Far « Taste of Cinema
- ^ How Ichi the Killer brought ultra-violence to the mainstream - BBC Culture
- ^ "Extreme Asian Horror - Cat III Asian Films". horrornews.net. 26 February 2019.
- ^ a b The New French Extremity: Bruno Dumont and Gaspar Noé, France's Contemporary Zeitgeist
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Extreme Cinema: List of Disturbing Films Compendium L-R". 30 July 2019.
- ^ Interview with Johannes Grenzfurthner on quepeliverehoy.es; 22 November 2021
- ^ "Masking Threshold: A True Macro Exploration of Existential, Ringing Madness" (iHorror); 26 September 2021
- ^ "MASKING THRESHOLD: Obsession Takes Hold In This Brutal Horror Film"; review in: Film Inquiry, 26 October 2021
- ^ What to watch at LFF: New extreme cinema|London Film Festival 2020|BFI
- ^ a b c d e f g "Extreme Cinema: List of Disturbing Films Compendium S-Z". August 2019.
- ^ a b "Against Happiness - Los Angeles Review of Books". 23 September 2015.
- ^ The 30 Most Extreme Movies of the 21st Century So Far « Taste of Cinema
Sources[]
- Lee, Eunah. “Trauma, excess, and the aesthetics of the affect: the extreme cinemas of Chan-Wook Park.” Post Script 2014:33. Literature Resource Center. Web. 7 Feb. 2016.
- Review of Film And Television Studies 13.1 (2015): 83-99. Scopus. Web. 7 Feb. 2016
- Totaro, Donato. “Sex and Violence: Journey into Extreme Cinema.” Offscreen7.11 (2003): n. pag. Web.
- King, Mike. The American Cinema of Excess: Extremes Of The National Mind On Film. n.p.: Jefferson, N.C : McFarland, c2009., 2009. JAMES MADISON UNIV's Catalog. Web. 10. Feb. 2016
- Malamuth, Neil. “Media's New Mood: Sexual Violence.” Media's New Mood: Sexual Violence. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2016.
- Fyfe, Kristen. “More Violence, More Sex, More Troubled Kids.” Media Research Center. MRC Culture, 11 Jan. 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2016
- Pett, E. “A New Media Landscape? The BBFC, Extreme Cinema As Cult, And Technological Change.” New Review of Film and Television Studies 13.1 (2015): 83-99. Scopus. Web. 9 Feb. 2016
- Dirks, Tim. “100 Most Controversial Films of All Time.” 100 Most Controversial Films of All Time. Filmsite, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
- Sapolsky, Barry S., Fred Moliter, and Sarah Luque. “Sex and Violence in Slasher Films: Re-examining the Assumptions.” J&MC Quarterly 80.1 (2003): 28-38. SAGE Journals. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
- Sargent, James D., Todd F. Hetherton, M. Bridget Ahrens, Madeline A. Dalton, Jennifer J. Tickle, and Michael L. Beach. “Adolescent Exposure to Extremely Violent Movies.” Journal of Adolescent Health 31.6 (2002): 449-454. JAMES MADISON UNIV's Catalog. Web.
External links[]
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