Review: "Begotten" (1989)

Background:

Begotten is a 1989 American experimental silent horror film written, directed, and produced by E. Elias Merhige. (From Wikipedia)

Release: October 24, 1989 (Montreal World Film Festival)

Director: E. Elias Merhige

Genre: Silent Horror, Psychological Horror, Avant-Garde Horror

Plot:

God disembowels himself with a straight razor. The spirit-like Mother Earth emerges, venturing into a bleak, barren landscape. Twitching and cowering, the Son Of Earth is set upon by faceless cannibals. (From IMDB)

My Thoughts:

Do you remember the 2010's era of YouTube? I am specifically referring to the over-saturation of "Real Ghost Videos" or "Found on the Deep Web" content. Even the Creepy Pasta community flooded any YouTube clone to give off the facade that you stumbled upon a mystery. Clips of this movie could easily be placed on shock sites with no context and go viral. As an OG, "Begotten" is to Avante-Garde Horror as MCR is to Elder Emo's.

"Begotten" is a raw nightmare. A visual representation of a disturbed subconscious coming to the forefront. And just as confusing.

This silent film, unnerves you and makes you question what you are seeing. Now, according to Wikipedia, the plot is as follows (spoiler alert).

Inside a small shack, a robed figure – described as "God Killing Himself" in the credits – disembowels himself with a straight razor, and dies after cutting open his abdomen and removing some of his internal organs. A woman, representing Mother Earth, emerges from his mutilated remains. She brings the corpse to arousal, and uses his semen to impregnate herself.

I normally don't spoil anything, but you will have a better time knowing what you are going in to rather than trying to make sense of it. Honestly, there isn't much to make sense of. This movie takes the traditional approach to art; Intention and Perception. The plot describes the intent but as you watch it, the intent becomes lost. Rather than a point that is punctuating and consistent, the visuals take you on a (Toadstool) journey.

Everything is shot in some variation of negative. It's done fantastically!

I sat in the dark as this silent film somehow swallowed me up then shit me out. Upon finishing, I felt like I lost precious time, was lied to (over hyped), and switched to Always Sunny...

However, I couldn't help but find myself thinking about the graphic displays of rape, murder, suicide. I felt like I just watched a snuff film and felt dirty. As the day progressed, I couldn't help but obsess over putting the pieces together.

Why did God gut himself and slowly bleed to death?

Why was Mother Earth raped to death?

Why was The Son of Earth forced to watch before he himself is murdered?

I had to go back and watch it again, and I recommend you do the same. This movie is a giant (enjoyable) WTF ride.

In summary, this is not a "scary movie". This is not a typical horror movie. This is a rusty paperclip scrapping at your brain, rub the bridge of your nose kind of horror movie. I could only assume Cyber-Crime detectives have the similar response to reviewing video evidence. You don't want to understand the upset, but somehow you need to understand it. "Begotten" feels like you want to hate it, but end up loving it for the aesthetic.

Would Watch Again? You need too
Would Recommend? Yes, it is the deranged cousin of Eraser-Head
Watch With Kids? They won't understand what they are seeing, but visually will disturb them.
Favorite Moment? Carrying away Mother Earth.