Review of The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009) by Jeffrey M — 16 Feb 2013

With it's disgusting premise and exploitative nature, Human Centipede probably does not warrant much being said about it. For what it is and what it wants to be, it is successful in that it creates a truly menacing villain, Dieter Laser, and puts characters in situations that are shocking to even modern standards. The 'acting' and dialogue is rough at first, but seems to find it's stride towards the mid and latter portions of the 'film'. It would be hard to argue that it rises much above torture porn, but director Tom Six does seem to have a knack for tension building, with one specific scene involving two detectives having a particularly well crafted sense of pace and build-up. That, and an unpredictable last act, make it a step above a B movie, while still being a novelty by and large. Recommended only faintly for those with the sensibilities.

3/5 Stars.