 Man Bites Dog (1992) In this case, literally. The crew begins trying to objectively document charming serial killer Benoît as he goes about his duties, but as the film goes on, they work more closely with him, go drinking with him, and ultimately flat-out collaborate with him in crime. The body count is super-high, and not particularly funny – kids are killed, old ladies, defenseless women … at one point the entire crew assists Benoît in a brutal rape and double murder. The filmmakers don't turn away from presenting this stuff realistically, which is an odd way to present what is essentially an anti-violence message, but this is a wise move: You can't help but watch the goings-on without questioning the role the media, and even you yourself, have in perpetuating cycles of hate in the world. Shot in black-and-white on a shoestring budget, the movie prefigures Blair Witch in terms of blurring the line between cinema and reality. It's not a movie I'd prefer to watch more than once a decade or so, but that says something about its strength too. Some art is too strong to take in frequently, like some drugs, certain sexual expressions, and exercise.
Review by Suzie Cant |