extreme cinema
{{Short description|Film genre with excessive violence and sex}}
File:Saw movie series props (5134032571).jpg films, which are notorious for depicting extreme graphic violence]]
Extreme cinema (or hardcore horror and extreme horror{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2024 |title=Extreme horror |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/books/gore-guts-blood-extreme-horror-has-made-it-to-the-mainstream-is-that-a-good-thing/ |website=The Michigan Daily}}) is a subgenre used for films distinguished by its use of excessive sex and violence, and depiction of extreme acts such as mutilation and torture. 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 horror film-based genre. Being a relatively recent genre, extreme cinema is controversial and widely unaccepted by the mainstream media.{{cite web |last=Dirks|first=Tim |url=https://filmsite.org/controversialfilms.html |title=100 Most Controversial Films of All Time |publisher=Filmsite |date=9 February 2016}} Extreme cinema films target a specific and small audience group.[http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/project/C6FD3EB5-9542-4A98-B2E1-3F2E834B88FF gtr.rcuk.ac.uk]
History
=Precursors and Early Influences=
Human fascination with taboo content—violence, sex, and the transgressive—stretches back millennia. Ancient Greek theatre regularly depicted gruesome myths (deities dismembering mortals, sacrificial rites) and moral extremes, while Roman gladiatorial games broadcast real‑world violence as mass spectacle. This enduring interest laid the groundwork for modern entertainment’s exploration of extreme themes, but the true nature of extreme content in entertainment began in the early 20th century.
Paris’s Théâtre du Grand‑Guignol (1897–1962) formalized the “shock horror” aesthetic, specializing in plays rife with blood, dismemberment, and psychological terror. Its visceral on‑stage gore directly inspired filmmakers to pursue similarly explicit imagery on screen, bridging ancient taboos and modern cinematic transgression. The movie Un Chien Andalou (1929) was one of the first kinds of films that was labelled as extreme cinema.{{Cite web |title=Extreme cinema {{!}} EBSCO Research Starters |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/film/extreme-cinema |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=en}}
= Video nasties era =
In Britain, the unregulated home‑video boom of horror titles—later dubbed “video nasties” by the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association{{Cite web |date=2020-09-24 |title=Video Nasties |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/education-news/video-nasties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924204745/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/education-news/video-nasties |archive-date=2020-09-24 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=British Board of Film Classification}}—prompted prosecutions under the Obscene Publications Act and led directly to the Video Recordings Act 1984. Over forty films were seized or banned, illustrating how graphic on‑screen violence had become a flashpoint for censorship debates. In Italy, Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust (1980), blended documentary conventions with animal cruelty and dismemberment. Its found‑footage realism led to legal investigations{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Steve |date=2011-09-15 |title=Cannibal Holocaust: 'Keep filming! Kill more people!' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/15/cannibal-holocaust |website=The Guardian}} and helped inaugurate the modern “found‑footage horror” subgenre, including movies such as The Blair Witch Project (1999).{{Cite web |date=2024-10-31 |title=10 great found-footage films |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/10-great-found-footage-films |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=BFI |language=en}}
Mondo-style shockumentaries like Banned from Television (1998) and Traces of Death (1993), which compile graphic real-life deaths without educational framing, have been criticized for breaching standards of taste and some have been banned in several countries including the UK.{{Cite web |last=BBFC |title=Traces Of Death |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/traces-of-death-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mdkznzq |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bbfc.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=BBFC |title=Banned From Television |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/banned-from-television-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzyynzu |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bbfc.co.uk |language=en}} A 1997 incident involving a Pennsylvania woman who lodged formal complaints after renting Traces of Death drew public attention to its release.{{Cite book |last=(2) Kerkes; Slater |first=(2) David; David |title=Killing for Culture |publisher=Creation Books |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-871592-20-7}}
= Asian Extreme era =
In the late 1990's and early 2000's, Western critics coined “Asian Extreme” for a wave of Japanese and other East Asian films that combined supernatural horror with graphic violence and sexual transgression. Key early entries include Ring (1998), Audition (1999), Battle Royale (2000), Ichi the Killer (2001) and Oldboy (2003). Directors such as Takashi Miike and Park Chan‑wook pushed splatter and torture visually to new levels. Although not all films in this category reach the extremity of later entries, their violent and transgressive content helped coin the label "extreme cinema" in Anglophone criticism. This era also marked a shift where extreme content was not just for shock, but became a form of cinematic stylization.
= New French Extremity and Balkan Shock Cinema =
In a 2004 Artforum essay, James Quandt labeled a cluster of early‑’00s French films “New French Extremity,” noting their blend of arthouse style and unrelenting body horror. Films such as Irréversible (2002), À l’intérieur (2007), and Martyrs (2008) typify this period’s formal experimentation and nihilistic violence. Irréversible became the most notable of these due to its graphic 10-minute long rape scene and graphic violence in a scene where a man beats another character to death with a fire extinguisher.{{Cite web |last=BBFC |date=2020-08-05 |title=Irreversible |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education/case-studies/irreversible |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bbfc.co.uk |language=en}}
In post‑Yugoslav Serbia, A Serbian Film (2010) exploited taboos of sexual violence towards children and necrophilia as bleak allegories of political and cultural exploitation.{{Cite news |last=Kohn |first=Eric |date=2010-03-15 |title='A Serbian Film' Shocks Midnight Audiences At SXSW |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-27420 |access-date=2025-04-17 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}} This film tested contemporary obscenity laws and reaffirmed extreme cinema’s status as marginal and was banned in six different{{Cite web |last=Tsatsaki |first=Artemis |date=2020-03-23 |title=5 Movies That Were Banned For More Than 10 Years (& 5 That Are Still Outlawed) |url=https://screenrant.com/movies-banned-outlawed-still-lifted/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} countries.
= American avant-garde experimental films =
With the shift from physical “video nasties” to online VOD, micro‑budget directors continue to provoke bans for uncontextualized violence. The Bunny Game (2011), for instance, was banned in the UK for its depiction of a prostitute being abducted and subjected to prolonged sexual and physical violence, with the company citing that the content would risk potential harm towards the public, and would violate the Video Recordings Act 1984.{{Cite web |last=BBFC |title=The Bunny Game |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-bunny-game-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mziymzm |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bbfc.co.uk |language=en}}
A similar film in this category of extreme cinema is E. Elias Merhige's 1989 cult classic Begotten.[https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/begotten-tumblr-gore-merhige Begotten: The Most Disturbing Avant-Garde Film Ever Made – Paste Magazine]
Notable films
Notable directors
- Catherine Breillat[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Genre_Trouble_and_Extreme_Cinema/Ex4-DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Genre Trouble and Extreme Cinema: Film Theory at the Fringes of Contemporary Art Cinema - Google Books][https://www.google.com/books/edition/New_Extremism_in_Cinema/mdlvAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 The New Extremism in Cinema: From France to Europe - Google Books]
- Carlos Reygadas
- Coralie Fargeat{{Cite web |last=Gingold |first=Michael |date=2024-09-18 |title=Exclusive Interview: Coralie Fargeat unleashes “THE SUBSTANCE,” the year’s best and most extreme horror film |url=https://rue-morgue.com/exclusive-interview-coralie-fargeat-unleashes-the-substance-the-years-best-and-most-extreme-horror-film/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Rue Morgue |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Erbland |first=Kate |date=2025-01-23 |title=Coralie Fargeat and ‘The Substance’ Smash the Horror Ceiling with Historic Best Director Nod |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/results/oscar-nominations-the-substance-coralie-fargeat-make-history-1235085797/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}
- Gaspar Noé[https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2021/06/irreversible-extreme-cinema/ Extreme Cinema – Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible – Flickering Myth]{{Cite web |last=Repp |first=Mark |title=The 30 Most Extreme Movies of The 21st Century So Far |url=http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/the-30-most-extreme-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far/4/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=Taste of Cinema – Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists |date=14 May 2015 |language=en-US}}
- Peter Jackson
- John Waters[https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2020/06/extreme-cinema-the-most-shocking-movies-of-all-time/ Extreme Cinema: The Most Shocking Movies Of All Time – Flickering Myth]{{Cite web |last=Eaker |first=Alfred |date=2015-07-02 |title=JOHN WATERS' MULTIPLE MANIACS (1970) |url=https://366weirdmovies.com/john-waters-multiple-maniacs-1970/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=366 Weird Movies |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2016-08-03 |title=John Waters brings back Multiple Maniacs: 'Of course I went a little too far' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/03/john-waters-multiple-maniacs-baltimore-criterion |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
- Julia Ducournau{{Cite web |date=2021-09-24 |title=French films and new extremities |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/features/french-films-new-extremities |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=BFI |language=en}}
- Wes Craven{{Cite web |date=2020-05-01 |title=Extreme Cinema – The Last House on the Left (1972) |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2020/05/extreme-cinema-the-last-house-on-left-1972/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=Flickering Myth |language=en-US}}
- Uwe Boll
- Bruno Dumont{{cite thesis |last1=Nicodemo |first1=Timothy |title=The New French Extremity: Bruno Dumont and Gaspar Noé, France's Contemporary Zeitgeist |date=21 August 2013 |url=https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1586/ }}
- Lars von Trier{{cite web |date=23 September 2015 |title=Against Happiness – Los Angeles Review of Books |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/against-happiness/#!}}
- Takashi Miike[https://www.slashfilm.com/1142535/when-takashi-miike-heard-he-could-do-anything-for-masters-of-horror-he-put-that-to-the-test/ When Takashi Miike Heard He Could Do 'Anything' For Masters Of Horror, He Put That To The Test|/Film][https://gizmodo.com/takashi-miike-manga-iphone-15-pro-youtube-japan-horror-1851314159 One of the World's Most Extreme Horror Movie Directors Made a 19-Minute Film for Apple|Gizmodo]
- Pier Paolo Pasolini[https://offscreen.com/view/extreme Sex and Violence: Journey into Extreme Cinema – Offscreen]
- Michael Haneke
- Eli Roth[https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3547379/butcher-block-eli-roths-flesh-eating-viral-frenzy-cabin-fever/ (Butcher Block) Eli Roth’s Flesh-Eating Viral Frenzy ‘Cabin Fever’ – Bloody Disgusting]
- Sion Sono[http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/the-30-most-extreme-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far/2/ The 30 Most Extreme Movies of the 21st Century So Far « Taste of Cinema]
- Herschell Gordon Lewis
- Jim Van Bebber
- Lloyd Kaufman
- Harmony Korine
- Khavn De La Cruz{{Cite web |date=2012-03-01 |title=A Conversation with Khavn De La Cruz |url=https://filmint.nu/a-conversation-with-khavn-de-la-cruz/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=FilmInt.nu |language=en-US}}
== Controversy and legacy ==
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.{{cite journal |last1=Pett |first1=Emma |title=A new media landscape? The BBFC, extreme cinema as cult, and technological change |journal=New Review of Film and Television Studies |date=2 January 2015 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=83–99 |doi=10.1080/17400309.2014.982910 |s2cid=146431677 }}
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 1970s, the rising popularity of extreme cinema has contributed to the casual violence in popular media.{{cite journal |last1=Sapolsky |first1=Burry S. |last2=Molitor |first2=Fred |last3=Luque |first3=Sarah |title=Sex and Violence in Slasher Films: Re-examining the Assumptions |journal=Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly |date=March 2003 |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=28–38 |doi=10.1177/107769900308000103 |s2cid=143908234 }} Some criticize the easy exposure and unintended targeting of adolescents by extreme cinema films.{{cite journal |last1=Sargent |first1=James D |last2=Heatherton |first2=Todd F |last3=Ahrens |first3=M.Bridget |last4=Dalton |first4=Madeline A |last5=Tickle |first5=Jennifer J |last6=Beach |first6=Michael L |title=Adolescent exposure to extremely violent movies |journal=Journal of Adolescent Health |date=December 2002 |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=449–454 |doi=10.1016/S1054-139X(02)00399-3 |pmid=12457577 }}
Both The Exorcist and Pink Flamingos are inducted into the National Film Registry.[https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/descriptions-and-essays/ Brief Descriptions and Expanded Essays of National Film Registry Titles|Library of Congress] Requiem for a Dream and Oldboy were named on the BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.[https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films The 21st Century's 100 greatest films – BBC Culture] The behind-the-scenes look at Cannibal Holocaust was the subject of a Season 2 episode of the documentary series Cursed Films.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/cursed-films-season-2-trailer-shudder/|title='Cursed Films' Season 2 Trailer Reveals More Mysteries and Oddities From Famous Films|first=Shane|last=Romanchick|date=March 25, 2022|website=Collider}}[https://movieweb.com/cursed-films-best-episodes/ Cursed Films' Episodes, Ranked - MovieWeb]
At the 97th Academy Awards, The Substance was nominated for five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Coralie Fargeat and Best Actress for Demi Moore (the former becoming the ninth woman nominated for directing).{{cite web |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |last2=Moreau |first2=Jordan |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Oscar Nominations 2025: 'Emilia Pérez' Leads with 13 Nods, 'Wicked' and 'The Brutalist' Follow with 10 |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/oscar-nominations-emilia-perez-wicked-the-brutalist-1236282041/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123141944/https://variety.com/2025/film/news/oscar-nominations-emilia-perez-wicked-the-brutalist-1236282041/ |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Beatrice |date=January 23, 2025 |title='The Substance' Scores 5 Oscar Nominations, Including Best Picture |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-substance-oscar-nominations-2025-1236114963/ |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Beatrice |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Oscars: Coralie Fargeat Gets Sole Female Best Director Nod |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/women-best-director-nominations-oscars-2025-1236115056/ |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite journal |last1=Totaro |first1=Donato |title=Sex and Violence: Journey into Extreme Cinema |journal=Offscreen |volume=7 |issue=11 |date=2003 }}
- {{cite book |last1=King |first1=Mike |title=The American Cinema of Excess: Extremes of the National Mind on Film |date=2009 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-3988-1 }}
- {{cite web |title=Media's New Mood: Sexual Violence |url=https://www.medialit.org/reading-room/medias-new-mood-sexual-violence |website=Center for Media Literacy }}
- Fyfe, Kristen. "More Violence, More Sex, More Troubled Kids." Media Research Center. MRC Culture, 11 Jan. 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2016
- {{cite journal |last1=Pett |first1=Emma |title=A new media landscape? The BBFC, extreme cinema as cult, and technological change |journal=New Review of Film and Television Studies |date=2 January 2015 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=83–99 |doi=10.1080/17400309.2014.982910 |s2cid=146431677 }}
- Dirks, Tim. "100 Most Controversial Films of All Time." 100 Most Controversial Films of All Time. Filmsite, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
- {{cite journal |last1=Sapolsky |first1=Burry S. |last2=Molitor |first2=Fred |last3=Luque |first3=Sarah |title=Sex and Violence in Slasher Films: Re-examining the Assumptions |journal=Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly |date=March 2003 |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=28–38 |doi=10.1177/107769900308000103 |s2cid=143908234 }}
- {{cite journal |last1=Sargent |first1=James D |last2=Heatherton |first2=Todd F |last3=Ahrens |first3=M.Bridget |last4=Dalton |first4=Madeline A |last5=Tickle |first5=Jennifer J |last6=Beach |first6=Michael L |title=Adolescent exposure to extremely violent movies |journal=Journal of Adolescent Health |date=December 2002 |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=449–454 |doi=10.1016/S1054-139X(02)00399-3 |pmid=12457577 }}
External links
- [https://horrornews.net/6520/extreme-cinema-top-25-most-disturbing-films-of-all-time-part1/ Extreme Cinema:Top 25 Most Disturbing Films of All Time on Horror News]
- [https://bloody-disgusting.com/tag/butcher-block/ Butcher Block articles about extreme cinema on Bloody Disgusting]
- [https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2016/american-extreme/introduction-american-extreme/ Introduction: American Extreme on Senses of Cinema]
{{Horror film}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Extreme Cinema}}
Category:Film and video terminology