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While “Paranormal Activity 2” and “Saw 3-D” are the mainstream Halloween offerings this October, it’s sometimes fun to look for a recent DVD release that is slightly off the beaten path. It’s nice to find something that hasn’t been viewed a zillion times already for those interested in staying in and experiencing a few scares with some friends.
Last year at this time I recommended “Trick ‘r Treat.” This year, I nominate “The Human Centipede.”
A Dutch horror film directed by Tom Six, “Human Centipede” claims to be a 100 percent medically accurate horror movie exploring the creation of a human centipede by a mad scientist. The scientist stitches three human beings together, conjoining them in a line with the connective organs consisting of the anus and lips.
Yes, you read that right.
The film starts by following two American tourists Lindsay and Jenny as they travel through Germany. When their car breaks down in the middle of a storm they come across Dr. Heiter’s isolated home and soon multiple horrific events unfold.
If anything, “Human Centipede” is a film that relishes its place within the horror genre. It is fitting that the general concept — tourists traveling through Europe have horrible things happen to them — is shared by both “Hostel” and “An American Werewolf in London.” It often moves from comedy to horror, but only under the darkest of circumstances.
This is not for the faint of heart or those prone to queasy stomachs. Just as Dr. Heiter is experimenting upon his victims, Six is experimenting on his audience, poking and probing, seeing how far he can push a person and how much we can take.
Aside from its unique premise and supposed accuracy, the flick boasts some incredible performances by Dieter Laser as Dr. Heiter and Ashley C. Williams as Lindsay. Laser plays the evil genius with a flourish reminiscent of Dr. Strangelove. The character bounces between quiet fury and outright insanity like a pinball, and Laser sells it wonderfully.
Williams does a commendable job playing multiple shades of terror. Like Jamie Lee Curtis in the original “Halloween,” Williams assays a real character rather than a scream machine, and even with her mouth stitched to a human being’s behind, she comes across as a real person in a terrible situation that we hope will be able to survive, and that makes all the difference.
The plot is fairly light, but that plays to its strength. By the title and premise, we know exactly what to expect, and Six knows what the audience came for. He doesn’t try to make a comment upon society or explore greater themes; he just dives right into the appalling details, examining conjoined triplets of the worst kind in all its glory.
“The Human Centipede” is not your typical horror film. Twisted and gleefully sadistic, I can’t imagine anyone will be following its lead anytime soon. With a sequel already in the works, one can only imagine where Six’s twisted imagination will dare take us next, and if anyone will be strong enough to follow.
Grade: B+
