Subconscious Cruelty

A couple of days ago, the censorship did not allow the exhibition of "A Serbian Film" in Rio Fan Festival 2011 in Rio de Janeiro. A friend of mine mentioned that "Subconscious Cruelty" was another polemic film and I decided to watch it.

"Subconscious Cruelty" is indeed gruesome, gory, sick and disturbing, and one of the nastiest and pointless films I have ever seen. The film is divided is segments and it seems that the only intention of the director is to shock the audiences with a confused narrative and disconcerting impressive images. Paradoxically, the music score is very tender and beautiful.

Ovarian Eyeball - In the first segment, a naked woman is sliced by a sharp blade and an eyeball is removed from her belly. This surrealistic short is absolutely senseless.

Human Larvae – in this second segment, a deranged man that hates his sister that is pregnant kills her newborn offspring and she during the delivery. This short is one of the sickliest films I have ever seen.

Rebirth – in this third segment, a group of naked people rolls around mud and blood in another pointless segment.

Right Brain/Martyrdom – in this last incomprehensible segment, there are the visible intention to offend the Christians with religious symbolism associated with gore and sex.

Considering that I did not understand three out four segments, I really did not like this film. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

"Subconscious Cruelty" has to be one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen.Still it's extremely grim and gory at times,so fans of politically correct mainstream horror garbage shouldn't bother.The film mixes many wonderful visuals with plenty of sleaze and gore.It is extremely odd,vicious and disturbing,so fans of bizarre cinema won't be disappointed. My favourite segment from "Subconscious Cruelty" is "Human Larvae" which shows us a twisted relationship between a young man and his pregnant sister.The birthing scene is particularly nasty and not easily forgotten.The last segment "Right Brain/Martyrdom" has to be seen to be believed.It's incredibly harsh and blasphemous with scenes of genital mutilation and grisly torture.We see Jesus Christ captured by three naked females who mutilate him,ripping flesh from his chest,licking a wound on his knee and pissing on him.There is also a Jesus statue with a projection of a swastika on it."Subconscious Cruelty" is a truly memorable film that should be seen by fans of extreme cinema.Check it out.

This was definitely the most graphically disturbing film I've ever seen. Apparently, the sole purpose of the film is to shock and outrage people (according to the Stockholm Film Festival booklet), and I guess it does, but it doesn't really go any further than that. Or does it? I get the feeling that Karim Hussain has something to tell us, but it doesn't get through very well. I understand the reason for showing the things no-one dares to show, and I think that's good. But it is not presented very well, so people will not get the picture. The last section of the film is clearly a statement against American double standard of morality, and the modern mans loss of spirituality, and it is also the most intentionally apparent section.

The 'sound design' is great, very reminiscent to Lynch's Eraserhead. The music on the other hand, is most of the time inappropriate. The middle part of the film where people are indulging in an orgy with Mother Earth, is so badly scored the scene becomes silly, which is a shame. Hussain should have chosen music in the vein of Ligeti and Penderecki for a film like this (like Kubrick did).

If you want to see a shocking film that is dead serious all of the time, go for this one. Not for everyone, though. Or maybe it is?

The movie is poetic. Much of the scenery is cleverly chosen and represents imagery related to creation and the mockery of this world (or more so human nature). Opinions will vary, but to me this justifies the brutal "extreme" nature of the film, something many others lack. It helps that the imagination is not all which is utilized to find purpose in the atrocities taking place On screen, instead your offered a guide who narrates his own thoughts and concepts has he creates these acts of desecration. His acts of self perceived ultimate trauma.

Cons: there is a major lack of plot going on. Also quite boring at certain points (ie 15+ minutes of people having sex with the bleeding earth) Pros: this lack of plot is further depiction of human nature. Also the gore was very high quality and believable.

Going With a 7, but it can be easily understood how many are tempted to rate this a 3 or lower. Not the genre for everyone.

Now,this is something else indeed!!This is a masterpiece that is so vicious,dark,wondrous,unique,and truly poetic,that it left me completely flabbergasted!!The theme underlying the various images we are presented to,are as follows:The human brain is divided into two hemispheres,right and left.The left hemisphere represent logic and rational thought,whereas in the right hemisphere,dwells passion,creativity,intuition,and irrationality.The interesting question that are being asked,are;what if the right hemisphere were to completely dominate the thought-process?What if our internal "demons"were to be given free reign?What if we could kick little Mr.Logic to death?It is such a joy then,to see that the brilliant Karim Hussain and co.have constructed a satanic-dream-come-true,as an unflinching and blasphemous reply!!

It is stated somewhere that this film is meant to be pro-religious.What does this imply exactly?Certainly this statement rings true,if we take a closer look at the basis of all religions,which is exactly passion and irrationality!!And we all know the great "passion" that have been injected into the despicable witch/heretichunts and the crusades throughout the history of man.But which is it?Is it really a warning against letting our religious/irrational emotions get the better of us?And telling us to return to morality and dogma?If that's the case,then this is a blatant contradiction.If religion represent one aspect of irrationality,and as I've said irrationality is to be avoided,one would have thought that man's safe-haven would have been the right hemisphere,where logic and rationality resides.But then a return to morality and dogma is ridiculous,because that is religion for you,and religion is in it's very nature irrational.The result is that one has been going in circles,from avoiding passion and irrationality,to fully accepting them,in the dangerous and horrible form of morality and dogma,which is when you think of it only more commonly accepted.

As long as one have a religion to back up your violence and mad rantings,then it's justified isn't it?(Just take a closer look at what seemingly "logical" acts have been perpetrated in the moral-name of religion,the list is endless!!)In the end you are fooling yourself,in the end you are being just as irrational as the demon or the murderer.The major difference being;one has the guise of hypochrisy,the other is naked.I personally prefer the naked shape.As I said,I prefer to view this piece of art with the outlook of a free and passionate being(religious people would call this satanic,I guess),without the subconscious need to deceive myself.I viewed this film as a nocturnal perfection,wonderful darkness on celluloid,if you will.Everything is simply intelligent artistry;from the truly somber and ferocious "Human Larvae",the beautiful opener "Ovarian Eyeball",the surreal "Rebirth",to the profanating brilliance of "Right Brain/Martyrdom".The musical score is excellent,the same goes for filming/editing,special effects,and last but not least,the dialogue.You must all believe me,when I say that you have never seen anything like it,and most likely never will!!