Delving into the Depths of Horror: A Review of “The Human Centipede 3”
In our “Terrifying Cinema” section, we present reviews of horror films that, for various reasons, haven’t achieved widespread theatrical release. Today, we dissect the grotesque world of “The Human Centipede 3.”
The film plunges us into the nightmarish reality of a prison managed by Bill Boss (Dieter Laser). Despite Boss’s brutal methods of suppressing any sign of disobedience, the prison’s statistics are appalling, with inmates responding to his violence with even greater ferocity. The state governor (Eric Roberts) issues Boss an ultimatum: rectify the situation within two weeks, or face termination. Desperate, Boss accepts his assistant Dwight’s (Laurence R. Harvey) proposal – inspired by the first two “Human Centipede” films, Dwight suggests stitching all the inmates together into one colossal chain.
From Cannibal Holocaust to Human Centipede: A Generational Shift in Horror
While “Cannibal Holocaust” and Lucio Fulci’s zombie films represented the pinnacle of extreme horror for a previous generation, Tom Six and his “Human Centipede” trilogy have become the new standard-bearers for modern audiences. The initial film, released in 2009, was a relatively conventional thriller about the victims of a deranged maniac. However, it became infamous for the maniac’s horrifying creation: a “human centipede” formed by surgically attaching victims mouth to anus.
The 2011 sequel amplified everything: more victims, more violence, and more extreme content. It also introduced a playful element, with postmodern references to its predecessor, a black-and-white aesthetic, and a deliberate imitation of “arthouse” cinema – less dialogue, more static shots. Six immediately announced a third installment, but it only materialized four years later, with the director once again drastically altering the series’ trajectory.
Postmodernism Squared: Meta-Horror and Social Satire
The postmodernism of the second film is taken to an extreme in “The Human Centipede 3.” The characters watch the first two films, and Tom Six himself plays a significant role (albeit poorly). Dieter Laser and Laurence Harvey, the central actors from the earlier installments, reprise their roles. More importantly, the film is a scathing satire that skewers everyone from politicians and the powerful to doctors and ordinary citizens who condone atrocities as long as they remain distant. Surprisingly, “The Human Centipede 3” is a rather intelligent film where the shock value serves a purpose beyond mere sensationalism.
Dieter Laser’s Unforgettable Performance
One of the trilogy’s strengths is Dieter Laser’s performance. He was excellent in the first film, and his role here is a continuation of that theme. He portrays a man consumed by absolute power with disturbing relish. His character communicates through screams and hysterical wails, devoid of principles or morality, driven only by an insatiable desire to dominate everyone around him. Yet, at the slightest hint of danger, Boss transforms into a terrified jackal, cowering in the corner and using anything as a shield. He is an extremely unpleasant and almost physically unbearable character, yet Laser’s performance is phenomenal. You wouldn’t be blamed for turning off the film after just half an hour, overwhelmed by the urge to strangle this vile creature. But that’s precisely the effect Tom Six intended.
A Descent into Depravity
But enough praise, this is “The Human Centipede 3” – a film inherently disgusting and repulsive. What horrors does Six have in store this time? The titular centipede only appears in the finale. Before that, we are subjected to scalding “water treatments,” graphic castration, and even an exotic kidney rape. While the third film may contain less explicit gore than its predecessors, it still has enough to ensure that viewers with weak stomachs won’t make it to the end. And that’s perfectly acceptable. It’s also perfectly acceptable that “The Human Centipede 3” will be met with scathing reviews, and Six will face another wave of condemnation and accusations of sadism. Time will tell, but there’s a strong suspicion that he has created a truly great film this time. Great, within its own twisted genre, of course.