August Underground (2001)

The "story" in this annoying little movie consists of home movies shot by one of two serial killers. The camera follows them around as they indulge in all manner of disgusting deeds, whether they're putting human victims through pure hell or just raising trouble in general. (For example, they act out inside a convenience store.)Prefiguring the "torture porn" genre began by movies like "Saw" and "Hostel", "August Underground" works like a mash-up of "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" and "The Blair Witch Project", except that it *really* ups the ante in terms of extreme human depravity, and that it lacks any sort of craftsmanship whatsoever. It may be one of the most disgusting movies that this viewer has ever seen. Its fans may argue for its sense of immediacy, or the fact that it's so vivid and so committed to portraying filth on film. But it's still impossible to want to spend time with the characters here. Apparently, the movie *does* have some sort of script, by Allen Peters and director Fred Vogel, but it feels like it was ad libbed for its interminable 71 minute run time. The effects are plenty tacky, but still have the power to thoroughly distress an audience.If one really wants to see a serial killer epic based in some sort of reality, they're much better off watching or revisiting "Henry".Three out of 10.

I am not sure this would be classified as a 'true' horror movie. Instead, the horror in this movie lies in the fact that it is something 'new'; the somewhat of a shock you get because everything is so unexpected. For example, you are afraid of bugs, they are ugly and disgusting – Now imagine this bug in a different form. Maybe it has a different color and makes weird noises. You will remember this bug because it is so different, and the difference from other bugs you are used to makes it even more disgusting. This is how I would describe this movie.The two main protagonists seem to consider themselves to be at the top of the food chain; the world is their playground and the people in it are there solely to be used for entertainment. The protagonists do everything in a really nonchalant way, and regardless of how friendly others are towards them, they always see them as objects rather than people. This is the biggest reason why I raised my eyebrows, and questions like 'What are they doing, and why?' popped up in my head.At first, I was not really sure I wanted to watch this movie, because of what people said about it and how extreme it is. In all honesty, the movie is not that brutal and chaotic as I expected. The pure violence portrayed in this movie is not as out of this world as someone might expect. We are so desensitized to this type of extreme violence nowadays that we get to see hammers, chainsaws and axes being used to chop off this and that even in mainstream Hollywood movies. It is not the visual violence that is disturbing in August Underground, but the concept of it and the atmosphere. It is more connected to the real world than in other movies, and the fact that this actually can happen (and probably has) in the real world, together with the previously mentioned attributes makes this movie quite unique and disturbing in a way we rarely see.

Pretty much every review of this I've read has been very negative which is surprising but I kinda understand though I don't share that opinion. Don't get me wrong its not the "sickest film ever" either. Not even close.I think the film wasn't actually that boring even though mockumentary films can easily be very tedious. There was a lot of stuff happening though some of it was kinda pointless. The concert scene and the statue scene mostly(the statue part was actually kinda funny). It probably would've been a lot more tedious if they had just spent the entire film with the torture. Its an interesting look into the life of these two guys who are some what believable. At least the acting is decent. Another big thing that people are whining about is the mockumentary style of shooting i.e shaky hand-held camera with shitty video quality. It doesn't make me sick but if you get motion sickness easily then I don't see you enjoying this movie. I actually am a big fan of that style but I guess its a matter of taste.Overall it seems to be popular to hate this movie even though it really doesn't deserve that much hate. The acting is good and the special effects are well done. Its not bad, its pretty average and has something different to offer. Don't expect a deep plot or social commentary though, just sit back and enjoy some mockumentary fun!

I remember leafing through a copy of rue morgue magazine in the Summer of 07. mostly to check whats going on with new gore releases and happened to stumble on an article about toe tag pictures mainly the august underground trillogy. I have to say my attention was thoroughly caught upon finishing said article. I have to say i was ab it leery though when i finally sat down to watch the first film at least. I had read and heard so many things about this film that i was filled with apprehension as well as intrigue.Now first things first i didn't mind August Underground, Now Whether or not it warranted to ever increasingly over the top sequels is something I'm still not sure of. However i digress the film its self is among many other adjectives is very original.It's a little less then an hour of a murder and torture spree all caught on a shaky hand-held camcorder in extremely graphic detail.The best way to describe it i guess would be if henry: portrait of a serial killer if it were shot in the same manner as cannibal holocaust. i actually liked this film for the fact that it pushed boundaries and was very fearless and unflinching in its depiction of evil. I Rather liked how it did not glorify murderer's like so many slasher films do. How figures like Jason,Freddy,and Micheal have almost become these folk hero's. These monsters are shown for what they truly are. Nasty antisocial people who care nothing for human life and live only to torture and kill.I liked the fact that this film along with many other like last house on the left,cannibal holocaust,necromantik,the exorcist brought back a sense of danger to horror. It made the viewer really question the director as well.It made me at least wonder what this director was capable of if he was willing to go this far. horror films like music to me can get rather stagnant and sometimes needs that jolt. What i like most is the fact that with most horror there is a mind set that its only a movie and you'll be safe at the end credits. A sort of mental safety net. This film takes that net away and forces the viewer to confront the idea that this could happen to them.this film is not for mainstream horror fans. It is only for certain people and if you found this disturbing do and i repeat do not view mordum or penance especially mordum.