Movie Review: The Human Centipede

In the last 10 to 15 years, with the success of the Saw and Hostel films, many horror movies have fallen under the moniker "torture porn," in which various people are violently and graphically manipulated through numerous inventive methods. But while these films explode on the screen with blood, guts and relative carnage, are they really scary? OK, the Hostel films do carry a certain "this could really happen" type of fright to them, but they're made more for the gore than psychological terror. So, where does The Human Centipede fall into the mix?

The Human Centipede is not gory. It's not even scary. But, it's one of the most effective horror films of the last 10 years. How can that be? Because this film sits with you long after you see it. The events that transpire are truly horrific. And it's bolstered by the fact that what happens is quite medically possible.

The film centers on two young American girls traveling through Germany. On their way to a party, their car gets a flat on an isolated, wooded road. Rather than stay in their car and wait for a helpful passerby who's not a pervert, they head off into the woods in the pouring rain. They come upon a nice looking house out in the middle of nowhere. It's here they meet Dr. Heiter (brilliantly played by Dieter Laser), a renowned surgeon who specializes in separating conjoined twins.

Herr Doctor isn't quite right in the head as he is planning on using his special talents for joining people these days rather than separating them. And just how does he join them? Ass to mouth! Oh, the humanity!

The Human Centipede is one of those movies that you have to see to believe. You will find yourself recommending it to everybody you know, but you probably won't want to watch it a second time. It's a brilliant example of a true horror movie. ***** out of *****. Check out the trailer below!