Talented songwriter, character actor, and horror/exploitation icon David Hess passed away over the weekend. “The Mad Hessian” was a brooding and familiar face in dozens of nasty genre titles that depicted rape and torture — his most memorable role being the violent and vile gang leader in Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left. The 1972 film is a gruesome meditation on the evil inherent in all of humanity, presenting an unflinchingly brutal portrait of depraved indifference in Craven’s rough-cut first feature. The virtues of Hess’ filmography are often obscured by their repute, but Last House and other films contained more thematically complex ideas than the gory savagery hinted at by their premises. This got us thinking about other films that are difficult to watch, but worthwhile — challenging, but not merely gratuitous. With that, here are ten cringe-worthy titles that are still absolutely worth your time.
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Hey there, families! Planning a big summer vacation? Hitting the road to see all the sights — but needing that perfect vehicle for the family getaway? Then allow us to direct you to eBay, item number 290534486341, a 1992 Dethleffs Advantage Mobilehome. The $150,000 price tag is a little steep, especially considering that it doesn’t have any air conditioning — which could be a little problematic during that August trip to the Grand Canyon. But it’s worth every penny, because the ’92 Dethleffs Advantage is the property of certifiably insane Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier.
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The opening sequence of Antichrist is an oscillation between, “oh, isn’t this lovely” and, “oh c’mon, give me a break.” In many ways, it’s a fractal for the remainder of the picture, as well as Lars Von Trier‘s entire career to date. Every frame in the destined-to-be-debated Antichrist might sever audience reactions more precisely than its notorious scissor wielding sequence, but there is no denying its visual appeal. It has a video-game-like clarity that pushes digital to a place celluloid snobs never dreamed it could breach. But while the images are breathtaking, the content is often cheesy, overwrought, and borders on parody.
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A few months back we posted the trailer for Lars Von Trier’s upcoming horror flick/torture porn Antichrist. If you remember, the film was creating a lot of buzz for two reasons: 1. It features some hardcore genital mutilation. 2. Von Trier said some silly stuff at Cannes about being the best film director in the world. (Side note: While the critical reception was mixed, we think it’s funny that two separate reviews included the word “fart.”) Read More »
