Aftermath

The gore is well done, the production values are top notch. Nacho Cerda is obviously a gifted filmmaker. But this movie did sicken me at the same time, because of how real they made everything look, this is definitely a movie to hide from the kids.

This really isn't a movie. Hell, there really isn't even a story (nor is there talking). It's just some shock content and an overly long opening credits (around 5 minutes, which is absurd for a 30 minute film). While it's not exactly art it's definitely different. The film concerns a morgue where some morticians are doing autopsies. Later, one of the morticians proceeds to violate a female corpse while he's alone. The film features full-body nudity although I'm not sure if the bodies were fakes, real corpses donated to "the arts", or actors with prosthetic effects. Either way you see full-bodied nudity (both genders).

There's a weirdness to the whole thing. The scene with the morticians just going over their bodies is somewhat surreal. There's a bizarre character development that takes place despite the lack of speech and most of the mortician's face being obscured. His eyes convey his bizarre curiosity as he examines one of the men's naked frames, seemingly stopping on the genitalia. Later on when he starts with the female he seems to gingerly cut free her clothes. He plays with his blade delicately against her skin... then he guts her open. And a little after that the film really starts to get graphic, although I will say that he only uses one hand to examine her... There's a definite progression to the depravity.

It's a film that I wouldn't really think I'd be interested in but there was a certain oddity to this premise. And while the initial legitimate autopsies were harder for me to watch, a morbid curiosity better kept my attention for the second half especially since it was almost downright funny in places. I'm honestly not sure what they were going for with this, though. It's short, it's a little weird, but mostly it's just pointless. All the same it's really not bad and somehow has a strange charm to it. Ultimately it's more silly than disturbing, almost like an angsty teen's attempt to be edgy.

first of all i cant necessarily complain because i knew what i was getting into. being jaded though i didn't heed any warnings. Im sorry people can say that this film is art and they are welcome to there opinion, but what ever they saw in this film i did not. maybe I'm bias in the fact that necrophilia in general gets under my skin. i couldn't even sit through nekromantik,and this film has all that times 10. However unlike nekromantik,aftermath doesn't try to make the subject matter erotic or stylized in anyway what so ever. All it does is place a very real and very ugly truth and puts it out unapologetically for all to see. when it comes to gore and the really unpleasant stuff,the only thing worse then this is maybe august underground mordum. this film is not for most people. in fact i know gore hounds who couldn't handle this. This film is not a test of manhood and showing this to your friends could easily get you labeled as sick. you have been warned.

Oft lamented gore short in the same vein as 'Necromantik', though arguably a superior product.

A coroner performers his daily duties of managing the dead, but when the day ends and all others go home the dead are his to do what he pleases.

Timeing in at a mere 30 minutes and lacking any spoken dialogue, the film is very short on story. Aside form a couple quick bits out side of the operating room, the film doesn't concern itself with story details; it already knows exactly what it wants to show you. That being the graphic dismemberment and eventual sexual desecration of the dead. Showing as much of the process as the (very convincing) corpse effects will allow, hardly a detail is spared from view.

The coup de grace is, of course, meant to be the ultimate act of intercourse with a gutted out body, yet that was not the scene that affected me the most. A different scene involving a more real-world process of preparing a cadaver was (to my mind) more disturbing. It was so simple, by the numbers and unemotional, and no matter what I will be there someday.

Technically the film is outstanding. Effective camera use, perfect lighting, and a great use of both music and excellent sound effects. It could be argued that the film needs something resembling a story to further flesh out, and I would both agree and argue against it. Without a deeper story, the gory visuals do lose some emotional impact, but adding to much more would have thrown off the pace and dulled the impact of the film.

Definitely shocking, undeniably well made, but to simple to garner more than a curiosity viewing. Genre fans only please.

8/10

Using no direct dialogue, Nacho Cerda employs pure cinematic technique to create a horror powerhouse in AFTERMATH.

There is no plot, just a sequence of events leading up to the "rape" and desecration of a female corpse.

Mozart's "Requiem" accompanies the imagery.

Once again, as is common with films of this nature, sound design plays a large part in the film's effectiveness. I say "once again" because we have a pattern here. Strong, potent films by the likes of directors such as Gasper Noe (IRREVERSIBLE), Ruggero Deodato (CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST), Yasaharu Hasebe (ASSAULT JACK THE RIPPER), Augustin Villaronga (IN A GLASS CAGE), and now, Nacho Cerda, are notable for the acutely attuned, aural instincts of their highly talented creators.

AFTERMATH is a beautiful film, a gorgeously crafted gaze into the world of necrophilia and loneliness.

Cerda's GENESIS is equal in its technical department, but it lacks the power of its predecessor.

The additional, non-Mozart music cues, are simply perfectly placed and emotionally fierce.