Bloodsucking Freaks
Year: 1976
Grade: B
Country: USA
Director: Reed
Reviewsardu’s theater of the macabre specializes in shows depicting the torture and death of girls. in the opening scene sardu speaks to the audience (and also to us) saying that if this is too much for you then remind yourself that it’s not real, and if it’s not enough then imagine that it is. there are comments from the audience like “that’s not real” and “that’s not art,” etc. this all serves as an introduction to the film and provides a frame for what we are about to see. what follows is some truly macabre stuff. at one point a “doctor” drills into a woman’s head, inserts a straw and drinks the contents. at another sardu and his midget henchman use a woman’s butt as a dartboard. some of the other gags are funny ala dead alive, but most of it is trying to be shocking, not funny. to write it off as a shock flick like “faces of death,” or something along those lines, would be too easy, and ultimately incorrect. because of the framing that the first few minutes provide and some references throughout, there are actual issues raised here. what is art, what is exploitation, what is funny, and what is depraved? that’s for each person to decide. i thought it had a little bit of everything. it clearly objectifies women and some would be offended by that. were the actors themselves being exploited? why are you watching this film? are you one of those who the theater critic character alluded to who watch a show because you’ve heard how obscene or shocking it is? i am. i watched the movie because it was referenced as one of the most shocking films of all-time. i have no qualms about that. i think this is an easy film to write off as trash, but it’s a harder film to recognize for what it is: a fairly well-done independent cult film that is mildly entertaining, partially exploitative, partially funny, partially philosophical and ultimately fairly challenging. it’s a gray world, people.