I actually watched the trailer for this one a while back and kind of lost track of it. But thanks to the good folks over at Twitch, my interest has peaked once again, and I’ve discovered that the ultra-violent and destined-to-be-controversial Serbian Film will have its American debut at SXSW. Go figure. I doubt Sundance would have allowed such a maniacal looking film, and even Slamdance may have steered away from it. But now it’s here, and make no mistake, this is a truly insane work of cinema. The trailer itself almost laughs at the audience with a sort of sadistic glee.

First time writer, director, and producer Srdjan Spasojevic is the man responsible for this blood and porn fest, and he actually has something extremely valid to say with this flick. Over the past few years, Serbia’s film industry has been growing at an immense rate, turning out some of the biggest festival hits as well as some of the most violent films in recent history. Apparently, the director of the Film Center Serbia has actually been cited defending the current trend toward blood and gore cinema, making the claim that it can be a very legitimate expression of the country’s political history and continuing troubles. Serbian Film has truly taken violence to a whole new level though, and I’m curious to see how this film does at SXSW. I’d like to be able to check it out for myself in the near future.

Before I you watch the trailer I should warn you THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK.

It is disturbing, violent, and grotesque. You might feel the need to take a shower afterwards. I can only imagine what effect the full length film has. Read what Todd Brown of Twitch has to say about it.

At the Cannes festival in 2009 I stated publicly that I couldn’t imagine a more transgressive film than Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist coming down the line any time soon.  Having had the chance since then to witness Serbian Film I now say that I was very, very wrong.  This is a film that left me feeling dirty and assaulted, a film that will surely spark protest and deservedly so.  But it is also something far more than just exploitation - a factor that makes it all the more powerful and disturbing. ~Todd Brown

Check out the synopsis below and the trailer below that.

Milos, a retired ex-porn star, now leads a normal family life with his beautiful wife, Maria and five year old son Stefan in tumultuous Serbia inn a modern era of transition, trying to make ends meet. A sudden call from his former colleague, still hot porn actress Layla, will change everything. Aware of his financial problems, Layla introduces Milos to Vukmir - a shady, mysterious, menacing and politically powerful figure in the porn business who makes Milos an offer he can’t refuse. A leading role in Vukmir’s new production will provide financial support to Milos and his family for the rest of their lives. Milos is hesitant at first, because a contract insists on his absolute unawareness of the script they will shoot or the dramatic situations that Vukmir is going to put him through during filming. Finally, he agrees, driven by the urge of security for his family, protecting it from the impending poverty so dominant in Serbia today. From then on, Milos is drawn into a maelstrom of unbelievable cruelty an mayhem devised by his employer, “The Director”, of his Destiny, Vukmir. Relentless in his attempt to make an ultimate artistic “snuff-porn”, the one that has never been seen, using poor people as his acting cannon fodder, and unleash it upon the hungry eyes of the world. Vukmir and his cohorts will stop at nothing to complete his “vision”, and will go to unspeakable lengths to achieve it, using even innocent children as props. In order to escape the living cinematic hell he’s put into and save his family’s life. Milos will have to sacrifice everything: his pride, his morality, his sanity, and maybe even his own life. In a Serbian “Heart of Darkness” where life is cheaper then a candy bar, in a struggle with enemies powerful beyond belief and just as violent and pathologically evil, the chances of surviving are abnormally thin.

-William Gutheil