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The Human Centipede (2009)

Director: Tom Six

Time Out rating

Average user rating

13 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

A sleek surgical thriller with disgust-inducing coprophiliac affectations, writer-director Tom Six’s is indeed six of one and half a dozen of the other. Abducted and drugged by the cadaverous Dr. Heiter (Dieter Laser), two female American tourists Lindsay (Ashley C Williams) and Jenny (Ashlynn Yennie) become part of a deranged medical experiment. Sutured together, mouth to anus, with male Japanese abductee Katsuro (Akihiro Kitamura), they form the mid- and tail segment of the surgeon’s prototype human centipede. Unfortunately, once the ungainly, composite creature has been created, there is nowhere for the film to go. Repeated escape attempts, a visit by two suspicious cops and some creepy, gliding camera movements generate a degree of suspense; but by failing to explore the potential of the Cronenbergian ‘body horror’ elements, Six substitutes cheap thrills and self-conscious sick-making for genuinely disturbing dread. Nevertheless, the slab-faced Laser makes a striking impression as the former separator of Siamese Twins, and although the blood-bath finale seems to preclude a sequel, the film’s success at horror film festivals means that the idea has legs. Part two, Full Sequence, is already being made.

Author: Nigel Floyd

Time Out London Issue 2086, 12 – 18 August, 2010

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User reviews of this film

Movie Ghost said...

Posted on Apr 30 2012 17:33 A friend of my partner said that if I wanted a really good(?) horror film, this was the one to watch, and I’ll admit, it’s a very disturbing film. Although the only thing truly horrifying was how very, very dreadful it was. Where do I begin to list it’s faults? There were so many to choose from.
The plot was so thin it was transparent, and so clichéd, you have probably seen this story a done to death just never quite this badly executed, (and I wish it had been executed, at birth!). The acting… OMG, What little dialogue there was, was ghastly and the two girls in the film were reduced to just moaning the greater potion of the film, but then what can you say when your mouth has been attached to the anus of the person in front of you?
A truly dreadful film, The Human Centipede should be squashed like a bug and left to rot in movie hell. The only scary thing about this film is that they decided to make a sequel.
Rating: 0 out of 10

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Danielle said...

Posted on Mar 26 2012 22:50 Biggest load of shite I have ever had the misfortune to watch. Not scary in the slightest....everything covered up therefore eliminating the gross out factor. Watch it to say you have watched it but thats about it,,,,,

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Hannah said...

Posted on Mar 03 2012 12:30 I may be alone in this view but I have been spoilt with the creme de la creme of psychopaths in cinema and seen so many horror films that have left me speechless and with something real and deeply disturbing to contemplate. Yet, dispite having all the potential to live up to these requirements THC just couldn't do it, no matter how much it desperately scrambled about amongst taboos designed to shock and sicken with no real meaning or purpose.
I am all for a bit of mindless violence, gore and taboo subject matter if it is fun... but this film wasn't fun and it wasn't -supposed- to be mindless either. Yes it is a sick film, so was Martyrs. The difference is, THC was more of a sick waste of time than anything else.

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Chantal said...

Posted on Dec 31 2011 14:23 This film is great because it is so sick! Watch it!!

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Jojo said...

Posted on Sep 23 2011 15:41 this was the most sick film ive ever seen, I like a good horror but this was deffo not a good one but had to watch to the end to see the outcome altho i did fast forward to make it end quickly!!!!!

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Tony said...

Posted on Apr 12 2011 17:58 Dull as hell. In today's climate of CGI and big budget movies, this just comes across as a tawdry TV movie with no appeal other than it covers a taboo nobody really cares about anymore. Waste of time

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Rogie said...

Posted on Dec 27 2010 03:09 It is pretty dumb for a commenter to proffer her or his opinion on a movie without having seen it. The perfect excuse for latter-day laziness - "I heard about it, and I have no intention of watching it, but it's terribly disgusting to think about" blah-blah-blah. Go back to (a real) school, o pretentious one.

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Rosie said...

Posted on Aug 16 2010 15:03 One of the best, and most memorable films I have ever seen.

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hsg said...

Posted on Aug 12 2010 14:04 Mike, I have no opinion of Human Centipede, but I will say that as soon as I hear someone say "I have not seen this film, but...", I completely disregard the rest of their comment.

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Lara Horovitz said...

Posted on Aug 31 2009 13:39 This is not really a horror film, black comedy would be more suitable. Overall not bad.

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Paul Anderson said...

Posted on Aug 31 2009 12:00 Absolutely disgusting. The sound effects alone in this film were enough to turn my stomach. 5 stars :)

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Russ Simon said...

Posted on Aug 31 2009 10:11 I watched it at FrightFest 2009 at Empire Leicester Square. What a superb Horror film, very enjoyable and a unique style. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this sick film .

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Don Arrow said...

Posted on Aug 31 2009 09:48 I can honestly say that this is one of, if not the best, horror film I have seen in my life! Truly original horror films have become rather rare, and it’s always great to find a good one.

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