by James Olny

Created on: February 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Stop counting on American films to be the most violent thing you've ever seen. Even this new cinematic magic enhanced shock gore crap can't even begin to compare with foreign movies as far back as the 70s. Back in the 70s, Italian cannibal movies such as Cannibal Holocaust pretty much set the stage for gore. In many instances, those involved with the film were brought to trial under the pretense that the images they depicted (without special effects mind you) were so haunting and realistic that it was believed they were actually murdering inhabitants of tribal villagers to make their movies. To illustrate how well these cannibal movies were made, there is a scene in Cannibal Holocaust that depicts a man killing a live turtle in order to eat it, and has been lauded as one of the most disturbing and disgusting scenes on recorded film.

If you really want to watch a depraved movie, check out "Salo ou les 120 journes de Sodome", also known as "Salo" and "120 Days of Sodom" (in English) which is based on the manuscript by Marquis de Sade while he in a french prison. The manuscript is thought to be one of the most graphic, violent and depraved stories ever written, though vehemently defended, even by such staunch feminists as Simone de Beauvoir. In short, it is about 4 wealthy perverts hole up in a secluded castle with their assortment of victims and the prostitutes they hire along as accomplices. The idea is that they will listen to stories of depravity as outlines by the prostitutes in order to inspire their actions for those next 5 months. The 5 months are broken into "seasons" and each season, the sexual and violent crimes they commit to their victims, who are all CHILDREN ages 12-15. The seasons are the simple passions, the complex passions, the criminal passions and the murderous passions. In the end, most of the accomplices (aside from prostitutes) and most of the children are murdered as their crimes become more warped, depraved and inhuman.

A great example of one of the most violent movies to ever exist is the Japanese film "Men Behind the Sun", also known as "Black Sun 731." This movie, directed by T.F. Mou, is about the horrible war atrocities committed by Japan's very own Unit 731 during World War 2. This includes such tortures as biological warfare experiments, strapping prisoners to crucifixes while detonating mines around and under then, activating rapid decompression chambers with a victim inside, actual autopsy footage and severe animal cruelty such as feeding a live cat to hundreds of starving rats, and then burning all the rats alive. This movie was so graphic and ill-received in Japan that the director got complaints to the extent of death threats. The violence in this movie is so graphic and appalling that it easily ranks near or even at the very top of the list of most violent movies ever produced.

Simply put, America sucks at violence. Even the Saw series or Hostel can't hold water any better than a sieve in comparison to it's older and more grotesque siblings. If you want violent movies, look into these and similar movies, you'll probably be surprised and quite revolted.

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