Taxidermia (2006)

Review by Tim-O



Directed by Gyorgie Palfi
I've never considered myself a fan of art house horror films and after recently sitting through the self-indulgent snoozer "Antichrist"(by Lars Von Trier); I felt that was confirmed in spades. However, this week I watched "Taxidermia" by Gyorgie Palfi. "Taxidermia" is a Hungarian film that was recommended by a friend who stated it was the most f***ed up movie that he's ever seen. Of course, like any good movie hound, I jumped at the challenge and queued it in my Netflix streaming and waited to be unimpressed. Unimpressed is hardly the word for what I experienced watching this film.

"Taxidermia" follows three generations of men that spans from World War II through the communist era and finally to today. First, a depraved hospital orderly, who seems to have a fetish for fat women and bestiality, spawns an outrageously obese son that becomes a speed eating champion(!), who in turn goes on to raise his own offspring, a waif of a boy freakishly obsessed with taxidermy. How about them apples?!?

The final third of “Taxidermia" is where some real "horror" can be found. The whole crazy taxidermist angle and what finally becomes of him in the end is one of the most shocking twists I've ever seen. I don't say that lightly, either. The rest of the movie is what is considered an "absurdist" comedy. It's very dark, disturbingly funny, and absolutely unique. It also has an excess of things that most would find shocking, tasteless, disgusting, and completely bizarre. I found it fascinating and hypnotic. The film is full of scenarios and images that I can confidently assure you have never seen before, and still, I found the narrative coherent enough to stay interested and see what would happen next. It is subtitled and has a heavy Eastern European atmosphere to it. So, keep that in mind if those things are deal breakers for you.

"Taxidermia" is one of those films that are impossible to truly explain. You really have to see it for yourself. It really did remind me of what artsy fartsy films can be when done with a warped imagination and sick sense of humor. The best way I can surmise a recommendation for this movie is to say that, if you like movies like Eraserhead and Delicatessen, you'll love this movie. If think those films are crap, you will loathe this film. I happen to love those films and I loved this one. If nothing else, it's a great test to see if you're as much of a sicko as I am. C'mon, I know you are. Give "Taxidermia" a chance.

I dare ya! 8/10