The Art of Self-Harm

I don't really have the right words for Art of Self Harm, but I'll try. This documentary hit me in a way I wasn't prepared for. I've seen a lot of films that talk about pain or trauma, but I've never seen one that just lets it exist the way this one does. There's no voice telling you how to feel, no cheesy narration, no fake resolution. Just raw, unfiltered truth.

Jonathan Doe did something really rare with this, he didn't flinch. He let the stories breathe, even when they were hard to hear. You can tell he actually listens to people, and that makes all the difference. The trust between him and the subjects is so clear, and honestly, it made me feel like I needed to reexamine how I think about people who hurt in ways I don't understand.

It's unlike any documentary I've ever seen. It's rough around the edges in the best way possible, no polish, no pandering, just real life, even when it's hard to look at. I'm not sure I'll ever forget this one.

And that grand finale at the end! Chef's kiss.

White Gardenia is name in the modern underground of mutilation that's been the talk of the extreme horror in the last couple years. Me being a fan of actual story based content never really liked the whole White Gardenia shtick. But I did find myself enjoying this documentary. Definitely interesting to know what's in the mind of an absolute nut case and the friends he hangs out with, why he does the things he does and how his body feels through the various self abuse.

Now the documentary suffers from being a bit over long. It definitely could have been paced better. And the interviewer could have been better but overall that's just nitpicking. This documentary really brings it on home to what makes this guy tick and it pretty intense visually. Definitely made for the more hardcore of taste. And is a fascinating watch.