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The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 70.88.94.134 (talk) at 21:40, 17 September 2010 (Six's anonymous surgeon is described as being "Dutch", therefor it is only reasonable and balanced to describe the physician who challenges Six's claim as being from "New Zealand" ..). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Human Centipede
Three people on their hands and knees are seen from below, through green-tinted frosted glass. They kneel in a line, with the heads of the second and third individuals obscured by the buttocks of the person directly in front. The first person in the line has an agonised look upon his face. Black, uppercase text at the top of the image reads "Their flesh is his fantasy". At the bottom of the image, white uppercase text displays the names of the leading actors, the film title and production credits.
Theatrical poster
Directed byTom Six
Written byTom Six
Produced byTom Six
Ilona Six
StarringDieter Laser
Ashley C. Williams
Ashlynn Yennie
Akihiro Kitamura
CinematographyGoof de Koning
Edited byTom Six
Music byPatrick Savage
Holeg Spies
Production
company
Six Entertainment
Distributed byIFC Films
Bounty Films (UK, Australia and New Zealand)
Release date
Running time
91 minutes[1]
CountryTemplate:Film Netherlands
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese
German
Budget€1,500,000

The Human Centipede (First Sequence) is a 2010 Dutch horror film written and directed by Tom Six. It stars Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie and Akihiro Kitamura. The film tells the story of a German doctor who kidnaps three tourists and joins them surgically, mouth to anus, forming a "human centipede".[2]

According to Tom Six, the concept of the film arose from a joke he made with friends about punishing child molesters by stitching their mouth to the anus of a fat truck driver.[3] Six has said in interviews that a Dutch surgeon assisted him with the design of the medical procedure and that the film is "100% medically accurate". However, the medical accuracy has subsequently been described as laughable and "rubbish" by a physician from New Zealand.[4] When approaching investors prior to filming, Six did not mention the mouth-to-anus aspect of the plot, fearing it would put off potential backers. The financiers of The Human Centipede did not discover the full nature of the film until it was complete.[3]

The Human Centipede received mixed reviews but several accolades at various international film festivals. The film was released in the United States on Video on Demand on April 28, 2010, and in limited release theatrically on April 30. Tom Six began working on a sequel, The Human Centipede (Full Sequence) which will be released in 2011.

Plot

Dr. Heiter kidnaps a truck driver by the side of a road. Later, two US tourists, Lindsay and Jenny, arrive at Heiter's house as they search for help after getting a flat tire. Heiter quickly drugs the women, when they awake they find themselves beside the kidnapped trucker in a makeshift hospital ward in the doctor's basement. Heiter informs the trucker that he is not a match for the women and kills him. When the women wake up, the trucker has been replaced by a new captive, Japanese tourist Katsuro.

The doctor explains to his captives that he is a world-renowned expert at separating conjoined twins, but dreams of making new creatures that share a single digestive system by joining separate individuals via their mouths and anuses. He explains that his previous experiment, a creature made of three Rottweilers, died. However, he explains how he will attach the three human subjects to each other to form what he refers to as a human centipede. The doctor then explains in great detail to his captives exactly how he will go about surgically connecting them. Lindsay attempts to escape, but is unsuccessful. Once the surgery is complete, the doctor begins training his centipede to perform tasks such as fetching newspapers. Katsuro, as the front part of the centipede, refuses to do as he is told, and the doctor beats him. When Katsuro defecates, Lindsay is forced to swallow his excrement and the doctor watches with great delight. However, Heiter eventually becomes irritated after being kept awake by the constant screaming of his victims and realizing that Jenny is dying from blood poisoning.

Two police detectives, Kranz and Voller, visit Heiter to investigate the disappearance of tourists in the area. After the detectives leave, Heiter informs his captives that Jenny will soon be replaced by two new parts. Katsuro stabs him with a scalpel and fails an attempt to rip out Heiter's jugular vein with his teeth, and the centipede attempts to escape as Heiter crawls after the trio. Katsuro faces the doctor with a piece of broken glass in his hand, confessing that he deserved what Heiter did to him because he treated his family poorly, before fatally cutting his own throat with the glass. At this point, the police officers break into the house, and Heiter crawls away to hide in the room with his swimming pool. Kranz is shocked as he discovers Heiter's victims and soon finds Voller dead in the swimming pool near an armed Dr. Heiter. Heiter and Kranz shoot and kill each other. Jenny and Lindsay hold hands as Jenny dies from her blood poisoning. Lindsay is left alone in the house, trapped between her deceased fellow captives.

Cast

  • Dieter Laser as Dr. Heiter
  • Ashley C. Williams as Lindsay
  • Ashlynn Yennie as Jenny
  • Akihiro Kitamura as Katsuro
  • Andreas Leupold as Det. Kranz
  • Peter Blankenstein as Det. Voller
  • Rene de Wit as Truck Driver
  • Bernd Kostrau as Dirty Man in Car

Production

Writing

The inspiration for the film came from a joke Tom Six frequently made to friends about punishing criminals such as child molesters by stitching their mouths to the anus of an overweight truck driver.[3] He saw this as the concept for a great horror movie,[5] and he began to develop the idea. Tom Six had previously worked as a director on the Dutch series of Big Brother and stated being able to observe people who "did crazy things when they were alone and thought they were not (being) watched."[6]

Six has said he was heavily influenced as a film-maker by the early works of David Cronenberg, as well as Japanese horror films.[7] The inclusion of a German villain was a conscious decision, based upon the German invasion of the Netherlands during World War II, and the subsequent Nazi medical experiments.[5] World War II also played an influence on the nationality of the other main characters (American and Japanese).[8] Six placed a Japanese male at the front of the centipede for two reasons: to create a language barrier between the doctor and the centipede (whose other members were unable to speak), and as he wanted a male and the Doctor to fight.[7]

Casting

Casting for the film initially took place in New York City and Berlin, with filming undertaken in the Netherlands.[9][10] Six said that during the casting process, a lot of actresses walked out of readings with disgust upon hearing the full nature of the role.[5] Ashlynn Yennie and Ashley C. Williams were selected as the female victims, giving each their first major film role. Having acted and written for a number of films and TV shows previously, Akihiro Kitamura was a relatively experienced cast member, as was Dieter Laser who had previously starred in the TV series Lexx.[11]

Directing

While seeking funding for the film, Tom Six pitched the idea of a surgeon who sewed people together,[7] but he did not initially reveal that the victims would be joined mouth-to-anus, fearing that it would put off potential investors. His backers did not learn the exact details of the film until it had been completed.[3] Before signing on, the actors were given an outline of the film's storyboard rather than a complete script.[12]

Filming

Dieter Laser remained in character as Dr. Heiter during filming. He stayed away from the other actors and crew between scenes to preserve a level of separation, and only ate food he had brought onto the set himself. Laser contributed dialogue for his character, and selected many of his character's outfits from his own personal clothing.[10] Due to the discomfort of spending long periods on their hands and knees, the actors playing the centipede were given massages at the end of each day of filming.[10]

Effects

A man and two women lie on a sofa in a living room with soft lighting and an abstract painting of conjoined twins on the wall. They lie in a line on their left side, facing the viewer, with the man at the front and the two women behind him. They wear only their underwear and have bloody bandages on their knees. The man's torso is out of shot beyond the right edge of the image. The first woman behind the man has her face obscured behind the man's buttocks and her hands are on his legs. The second woman lies in an identical pose behind the first woman. Behind the sofa is a man in his sixties with short dark hair, wearing a dark suit and red necktie. He leans over the three, looking at the first woman's head
Dr. Heiter surveys his completed human centipede. The heavy use of bandages in The Human Centipede allowed the film-makers to imply a much more graphic and disturbing idea than what is actually shown on screen throughout the film

The Human Centipede (First Sequence) contains relatively little explicit imagery, and much of the disturbing content is implied rather than shown directly.[13] Although very little of the actual surgical procedure is depicted directly,[14] Tom Six stated that he wanted the film to be 100% medically accurate[15] and claims to have consulted a Dutch surgeon during the creation and filming process.[3] While promoting the film, the film's creator has claimed that by supplementing the diet of the middle and back members of the 'centipede chain' with an IV drip that the chain members would be enabled to survive for 'years'[16].

Six claims that his special effects team designed the final composition of the centipede from sketches provided by his 'consulting surgeon',[10] and designed hardened underwear for the actors to wear with a rubber grip for the actor behind to bite onto, which created the illusion of the mouth-to-anus connection.[17]

Promotion and release

The Human Centipede was included in several film festivals around the world, including the 2009 London FrightFest Film Festival,[18] Leeds International Film Festival,[19] Sitges Film Festival,[20] and Screamfest Horror Film Festival.[21] In an interview with JoBlo.com, Tom Six claimed that the buzz surrounding the film led several studios to approach him with regard to distributing the film.[5] IFC Films distributed the film in 2010 in the United States and Canada. The film was released on Video on Demand on April 28, 2010; in a limited theatrical release on April 30, 2010;[22] and a wider U.S. release from May 7, 2010.[10] IFC Films has a history of releasing unconventional horror films, having previously distributed the Norwegian Nazi-zombie feature Dead Snow and the 2009 release Antichrist.[23]

The film will receive a national release in the UK starting August 20, 2010.[24] The film will be distributed by Bounty Films, a company who in the past have only distributed homosexually themed films[25] such as The Big Gay Musical.[26] The film was passed uncut by the BBFC and will be released with an 18 rated certificate.[1]

DVD/Blu-ray release

The Human Centipede will receive a DVD and Blu-ray release in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2010[27] and in the United States on October 5, 2010.[28]

Reception

Critical

Among more mainstream publications, Total Film described the film as a disappointment that proved itself to be a slow-moving, repetitive affair that has nowhere left to go by the hour mark.[18] Giving the film three stars out of a potential five, Empire stated that "underneath an extremely repulsive concept, this is a relatively conventional horror movie."[29]

Variety Magazine criticized the film's lack of any form of social commentary, stating that it couldn't "be bothered to expand upon its unpleasant premise, inviting audiences to revel in its sick humor by favoring Dr. Heiter… and characterizing the victims as shallow expendables."[30]

Entertainment Weekly was broadly positive about Dieter Laser's performance as the Doctor, and praised Tom Six's direction, saying Six "has put together his nightmare yarn with Cronenbergian care and precision."[31] However, EW posited "this is the most disgusting horror film of all time."[32]

The New York Times questioned whether the film was "a commentary on Nazi atrocities or a literal expression of filmmaking politics, [but] the grotesque fusion at least silences the female leads, both of whose voices could strip paint."[33]

Writing in the Chicago Sun Times, Roger Ebert did not assign the film a star rating (as opposed to awarding it zero stars), explaining that "[usually] I am required to award stars to movies I review. This time, I refuse to do it. The star rating system is unsuited to this film. Is the movie good? Is it bad? Does it matter? It is what it is and occupies a world where the stars don't shine."[34]

Among horror blogs the film also received attention. FEARnet gave the film a positive review, stating that it was a horror import that had the confidence and audacity to deliver something disturbingly different.[35] Conversely, Cinematical was critical, stating that, while a potential cult hit, all in all it wasn't really a very good film.[36]

A physician and critics in Eastern Cynic and Film Threat have dismissed Tom Six's claim that the film is "100% medically accurate" as "rubbish", "patently ridiculous", and "ludicrous".[4][37][38]

Accolades

Despite mixed reviews, the film won several awards at various international horror film festivals, including the following:

2009
  • Best picture at Fantastic Fest, Austin TX[39] and Best Actor (Dieter Laser)[39] in the horror category.
  • Best Movie at Screamfest LA[40]
  • Best Movie at Sainte Maxime International Horror Film Festival[41]
  • Best Movie at Ravenna Nightmare Film Festival[42]
  • Best Ensemble Cast at South African Horror Film Festival[43]
  • Audience award at Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival, Estonia

In May 2010, Internet humor site I-Mockery released a flash game of the film on Newgrounds, which mimicked the classic Centipede arcade game.[44]

A pornographic parody of the film, directed by Tom Byron and entitled The Human Sexipede, will be released in October 2010.[45]

Sequel

A sequel, titled The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence), has been planned for theaters in 2011, with filming starting in London in June 2010.[46] Full Sequence will supposedly include a centipede composed of twelve individuals.[47] Full Sequence will feature a largely British cast, and will have the tag-line '100% medically inaccurate'.[6] Tom Six has stated that with the first film will get audiences desensitized to the idea of a human centipede, preparing them for the idea of a much more graphic and disturbing sequel, First Sequence being "My Little Pony compared with part two."[6] Tom Six has claimed that he is developing ideas for a third part, but wants to see what will happen with the second part first.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE (FIRST SEQUENCE)", British Board of Film Classification, 2010-06-22, retrieved 2010-06-26
  2. ^ Karina Longworth (2010-05-06), "The Human Centipede: Girl-Man-Girl Interrupted", LA Weekly, retrieved 2010-05-09
  3. ^ a b c d e Clark Collis (2010-04-30), "'Human Centipede': Director and star of the year's most disgusting horror film spill their guts", Entertainment Weekly, retrieved 2010-05-10
  4. ^ a b David Farrier, "Full interview with Human Centipede doctor - Video", 3 News Com of New Zealand, retrieved 2010-09-05
  5. ^ a b c d "SITGES 09 INTERVIEW - Tom Six/Human Centipede", JoBlo.com, 2009-10-22, retrieved 2009-11-13
  6. ^ a b c Jason Solomons (2010-08-19), "Film Weekly hooks up with The Human Centipede and experiences Pianomania", The Guardian, retrieved 2010-09-08
  7. ^ a b c d Mr Disgusting (2010-04-29), "Tom Six Answers YOUR Questions About 'The Human Centipede'", Bloody Disgusting, retrieved 2010-05-08
  8. ^ screenjabber (2009-09-01), "The Human Centipede writer, director Tom Six", youtube, retrieved 2009-11-13
  9. ^ MrDisgusting (2009), "Human Centipede: The First Sequence Star Ashlynn Yennie", Bloody Disgusting, retrieved 2009-11-11
  10. ^ a b c d e Dan Persons (2010-05-01), "Mighty Movie Podcast: Turn Your Head and Scream: Tom Six on The Human Centipede", Huffington Post, retrieved 2010-05-11
  11. ^ Peter Jolly (2009-07-07), "Human Centipede", Morningstarr*, retrieved 2009-11-12
  12. ^ "Human Centipede: The First Sequence Star Ashley C. Williams", Bloody Disgusting, 2009, retrieved 2009-11-11
  13. ^ Robert Saucedo (2010-05-09), "Bad Movies Done Right — The Human Centipede", Inside Pulse Movies, retrieved 2010-05-10
  14. ^ Peter Paras (2010-04-29), "Review: The Human Centipede Cannot Be Unseen", E! Online, retrieved 2010-05-09
  15. ^ Michael O'Sullivan (2010-05-07), "Movie review: 'Human Centipede' delivers slick, schlocky horror", The Washington Post, retrieved 2010-05-09
  16. ^ Steve Dollar (2009-11-10), "Sitges Film Festival 2009: A Q&A with Tom Six About His Barf-Bag Classic, The Human Centipede", Paste Magazine, retrieved 2009-11-18
  17. ^ Steve Dollar (2010-04-30), "'Human Centipede' Akihiro Kitamura Gets a Leg Up", 24 Times Per Second, retrieved 2010-06-02
  18. ^ a b Jamie Graham (2009-08-31), "Film News FrightFest 2009: The Human Centipede Review", Total Film, retrieved 2009-11-14
  19. ^ Leeds Film Festival, The Human Centipede (First Sequence) - 23rd Leeds International Film Festival, retrieved 2009-11-17
  20. ^ Sitges Film Festival, The Human Centipede (First Sequence) - Sitges Film Festival, retrieved 2009-11-17
  21. ^ Uncle Creepy (2009-09-04), "The Human Centipede Slithers to Screamfest LA '09", Dread Central, retrieved 2009-11-11
  22. ^ MrDisgusting (2010-03-30), "Super Creepy Sketches from 'The Human Centipede'", Bloody Disgusting, retrieved 2010-05-10
  23. ^ "IFC Films Acquires Knuckle-Biter 'Human Centipede'", Bloody Disgusting, 2010, retrieved 2010-01-12
  24. ^ Nick McCaffery, "Get your sick bags ready kids – The Human Centipede IS coming", BritFilms.tv, retrieved 2010-07-01
  25. ^ Adrian Morrison (2010-05-19), "Eureka signs Bounty Films", Cue Entertainment, retrieved 2010-06-26
  26. ^ David Jenkins, "No 'Human Centipede' for UK cinemas?", Time Out, retrieved 2010-06-26
  27. ^ UK Film Distributors Association, "UK Film release schedule, August 20010", UK Film Distributors Association, retrieved 2010-07-14
  28. ^ "DVD/BLU-RAY DATES: "GIALLO", "HUMAN CENTIPEDE", "S&MAN", ETC.", Fangoria, retrieved 2010-08-06
  29. ^ http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=136905
  30. ^ Peter Debruge (2009-10-05), "The Human Centipede: First Sequence", Variety, retrieved 2009-11-17
  31. ^ Clark Collis (2010-04-13), "'Human Centipede': Is this the most disturbing horror film of all-time?", Entertainment Weekly, retrieved 2010-04-20
  32. ^ Hoob (2010-04-16). "Exclusive Interview: Ashley C. Williams from The Human Centipede". YouBentMyWookie. Orlando: Simple Press.
  33. ^ Jeannette Catsoulis (2010-04-30), "Movie Review - The Human Centipede", The New York Times, retrieved 2010-05-06
  34. ^ Roger Ebert (2010-05-05), "The Human Centipede", Chicago Sun-Times, retrieved 2010-05-10
  35. ^ Scott Weinberg (2009-10-15), "Review: 'The Human Centipede (First Sequence)'", FEARnet, retrieved 2009-11-17
  36. ^ Todd Gilchrist (2009-10-27), "Screamfest Review: The Human Centipede (First Sequence)", Cinematic, retrieved 2009-11-17
  37. ^ Patrick Hipp, "Human Centipede.... Irresponsible Journalism", The Eastern Cynic, retrieved 2010-09-07
  38. ^ Leslie Gornstein, "Who Wants Horror Flicks to Be "Medically Accurate"?", eonline.com, retrieved 2010-09-07
  39. ^ a b "Feast your eyes on Fantastic Awards 2009!", Fantastic Fest, 2009-09-29, retrieved 2009-11-17
  40. ^ BC (2009-10-26), "Human Centipede' Wins Best Film At Screamfest", Bloody Disgusting, retrieved 2009-11-17
  41. ^ Palmarès 2009, 2009-11-05, retrieved 2009-11-17
  42. ^ Alessio Gradogna, A Ravenna trionfa "Human Centipede", retrieved 2009-11-17
  43. ^ "2009 South African HORRORFEST WINNERS", South African Horrorfest, 2009, retrieved 2009-12-10
  44. ^ Dave Itzkoff (2010-05-25), "'The Human Centipede' Gets the Video-Game Tribute It Deserves", The New York Times, retrieved 2010-05-26
  45. ^ http://news.avn.com/articles/Tom-Byron-Pictures-Enters-Parody-Market-407276.html
  46. ^ Mr Disgusting (2010-04-20), "12 Man Creature in 'The Human Centipede: Full Sequence'!", Bloody Disgusting, retrieved 2010-05-08
  47. ^ Uncle Creepy (2009-10-19), "Human Centipede Sequel Chatter: The Human Centipede II - The Full Sequence in 2010", Dread Central, retrieved 2009-11-17
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