Some movies you watch, some you endure. The Mutilation Man drags you, naked, over broken glass.
Writer/director Andy Copp has crafted a brutal, agonizing experimental film, calling to mind the best work of Alexjandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch. The Mutilation Man begins with the burial of a young boy, who later emerges from his premature grave as a grown man (Terek Pucket giving an astounding performance). This man, in an attempt to reconcile the childhood abuses inflicted upon him by his drunken father (played by the terrifying cult director Jim [Dead Beat at Dawn] VanBebber), becomes the star of his own horrific sideshow, tearing his flesh with blades, broken glass, multiple piercings, all to the delight of his animalistic followers. It is almost as if the man is trying to surgically remove his torment, excising his emotional pain through intense physical pain.
The Mutilation Man is as hard to watch as it is impossible to look away. The movie is almost dialogue-free, and takes place in a world filled with external horrors: animal people devouring both the dead and the alive, fetish queen angel/demons that may have been born from the lead character's mind -- not to mention the mutilations themselves, which are so realistic, you may wonder if you're watching a documentary.
The strong and jarring visual style is one of the strengths of Copp's movie, not to mention his bravery at presenting such a film. This isn't a fun ride, nor is it a thrill-a-minute (lead actor Pucket himself has disowned the film). Copp wants his audience to work, to find meaning in The Mutilation Man's seemingly free-form images; this isn't a movie for everyone. (Know what you are getting into before watching this movie, or else you run the risk of seeing it as a pretentious waste of time. In which case, you would be utterly wrong.)
Not a perfect film by any means, though mentioning its drawbacks would be nitpicking. (Such as: Despite the short running time, the non-linear storytelling makes the pacing drag a little.) The Mutilation Man is recommended for those who want to see something different, something thought-provoking and challenging. Something gory without being a "for-gore's-sake" type of film. This is a movie with a lot of demons, and hopefully, they were worked out during production. Regardless of your reaction to this film, however, it should be agreed that Andrew Copp is a filmmaker to watch in the future.
Check out Allen Richards interview with Andy Copp in the SCAN #8, available through Draculina Publications.
The Mutilation Man can be ordered through Sub Rosa Studios.
Visit Copp's own website at: Apparition Films.