I was not prepared for this movie. I knew by the trailers that it was about voluntary surgery for art but I had no idea what I was getting into or how dark it would get. From the beginning I was made uncomfortable, but completely understood and appreciate why.
As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice, celebrity performance artist Saul Tenser publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin, an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed. Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.
Please check the trigger warnings before watching. I wish I had but still appreciate this movie however as a mom of a little boy, it was incredibly difficult to watch.
I think I should say that my opinion of this movie and review is likely effected by the fact that I am someone who has chronic pain due to parts of my body being misshapen from birth. Since this movie deals with chronic pain, lack of pain, and the body growing in ways that can harm or evolve us, as well as the fact that our bodies – AFAB bodies, chronically ill bodies, disabled bodies – like those in the moves are political – well, it had an effect.
Saying this movie was intense is an understatement. The body horror is not shied away from. The camera stays with each second of the disfigurements, surgical incision, etc.
The movie is also oddly beautiful in the way sepia photography and H. R. Giger art is beautiful. It had a feel of the movie eXistenZ to it as well.
The themes of openness and concealment, the question of What is Art?, the connection people have to what we create and question of where does what happens to us end and creation from it begin…its a lot to process and yet I think it is asked beautifully in these quiet moments.
I don’t recommend this movie to all horror fans. I think it takes a certain stomach to digest.
