Horror is such an open genre. Over the years, the movies we love have taken many faces. Over the years, we have welcomed new facets to our beloved genre with open arms. Thrillers, Suspense and even Drama’s when done right can be considered horror. The most notable in recent memory, that encompasses all the aforementioned genres was Nicolas Winding Refn’s cult hit The Neon Demon. You can read my spoiler free review of it here.
My reasoning for this introduction boils and ghouls, is to try to show how wide-spread our beloved films have become. When Silence of the Lambs first came out, not many jumped to the consideration of it being a horror film. But now, it is a staple or even a flagship film in horror. Which our own Baron Craze graciously inducted into our Horror Hall of Fame a few months back.
Over the weekend, I had the privilege of viewing one of those genre blending films I was alluding to above. As always, I prepped my bag of popcorn, my adult barley beverage and dimmed the lights. Let’s take a glance at We Are the Flesh (2016).
Spoiler Free Synopsis
Set in a ruined world in the not too distant future, we follow a man left alone to his own devices. He is handy. Able to produce crude alcohol from fermented old bread loaves, that he can use to trade for goods such as fresh eggs. A young brother and sister, starving and afraid come upon the lonely man. He offers the siblings food and shelter on one condition. They must ‘do as he says’. What does that imply? Just what did these wayward siblings get themselves into?
We Are the Flesh was directed in Mexico by first time feature filmmaker Emiliano Rocha Minter. His work behind the camera was quite impressive, bringing a desolate and dark underbelly that you didn’t want to know existed, to life. The film starred Noe Hernandez, Maria Evoli and Diego Gamaliel. All three have exceptional performances. Kudos to them for creating Minter’s vision and enduring wild, very demanding roles. I’m sure it was mentally and emotionally draining during filming.
We Are the Flesh is an enigma. It is a depraved, unforgettable film. To some, this flick will be a taboo-filled fetish/exploitation film that pulls no punches. To others, this film is multi-layered covering the basest of ideals. Life, Death and Rebirth. I think I sit somewhere on the fence in this spectrum. I will need another viewing soon. This is a film that will sit with you long after the credits roll. It is an artistic, yet sadistic and horrifying journey into the mouth of madness. An unforgiving phantasmagoria of fantasy and horror, blurring the lines of pure sensuality, fantasy and reality. Most will not have the stomach for this type of film. But, I like to consider myself a horror completest, so nothing is unwatchable…
…YET.
IMDB: 4.8/10
ZombiSurvivor: 7.0/10
If my myriad of descriptive adjectives piqued your interest We Are the Flesh had a small theater release January 13th, 2017. The movie will be distributed by the illustrious folks at Arrow Films and be released on February 14th, 2017 on Blu-ray/DVD. You can pre-order at Amazon.com here.
-ZS
