Review of The Act of Killing (2012) by Charlie M — 23 Feb 2015

This is possibly one of the most grueling and breathtaking documentaries I've ever seen. It's centered on remorseless murders who have slipped into casualness of old age. It is the most haunting portrayal of the mundanity of evil. They speak so proudly of their streamlined process, which caused the least amount of blood-flow: a wire. In their minds they are war heroes recanting great battles as they literally danced on the graves of their enemies. Encouraged then lauded by their government, this is a part of the world where war crimes are defined by the victors.

So, what's to be gained by watching such effervescent nostalgia over thousands of "lesser people"? This is a brutal watch, but it's treated with such objectivity that it remains fascinating. The dark side of humanity that is innately selfish, violent and corrupt, and often murders go unpunished and live happy lives. By the end of the film there is some sense of the toll inflicted on a killer's' psyche, but it takes putting themselves in the role of the victim to gain any sense of empathy.