# Extreme cinema

Extreme cinema (or hardcore horror and extreme horror) is a subgenre used for films distinguished by its use of excessive sex and violence, and depiction of extreme acts such as mutilation and torture. The rising popularity of Asian films in the 21st century has contributed to the growth of extreme cinema, although extreme cinema is still considered to be a horror film-based genre. Being a relatively recent genre, extreme cinema is controversial and widely unaccepted by the mainstream media. Extreme cinema films target a specific and small audience group.

## History

The history of extreme cinema can be traced back to censorship of art films and advertising tactics for classical exploitation films to Anglophone markets alongside later liberal representations of sex in the first half of the 20th century onwards.
The name "extreme cinema" originated from a "line of Asian films that share a combination of sensational features, such as extreme violence, horror and shocking plots". Extreme cinema can be rooted as "Asian Extreme", the term for Japanese and other Asian films used to its excessive nature. Early examples of Asian Extreme such as Ring (1998) and Battle Royale (2000).

## Notable films

| Title | Year | Ref. |
| A Serbian Film | 2010 | |
| August Underground | 2001 | |
| August Underground's Mordum | 2003 | |
| August Underground's Penance | 2007 | [18][1] [19] |
| Act of Vengeance | 1974 | |
| Alipato: The Very Brief Life of an Ember | 2016 | |
| Angst | 1983 | |
| Antichrist | 2009 | |
| Audition | 1999 | |
| Auschwitz | 2011 | |
| Bandit Queen | 1994 | |
| Begotten | 1989 | |
| Benny's Video | 1992 | |
| Black Friday | 2004 | |
| Blood Feast | 1963 | |
| Caligula (unrated version) | 1979 | |
| Caligula... The Untold Story | 1982 | |
| Cannibal Holocaust | 1980 | |
| The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover | 1989 | |
| Cannibal | 2006 | |
| Crash | 1996 | |
| The Devils | 1971 | |
| Dogtooth | 2009 | |
| Dogville | 2003 | |
| Faces of Death | 1978 | |
| Fat Girl | 2001 | |
| Flower Of Flesh And Blood | 1985 | |
| Frontier(s) | 2007 | |
| Funny Games | 1997 | |
| Gandu | 2010 | |
| Grotesque | 2009 | |
| Gummo | 1997 | |
| The Green Elephant | 1999 | |
| Hacksaw | 2020 | |
| Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies | 1994 | |
| Hellraiser | 1987 | |
| Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | 1986 | |
| Hostel | 2005 | |
| The House That Jack Built | 2018 | |
| The Human Centipede | 2009 | |
| I Spit on Your Grave | 1978 | |
| I Stand Alone | 1998 | |
| Ichi the Killer | 2001 | |
| The Idiots | 1998 | |
| Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS | 1975 | |
| Infinity Pool | 2023 | |
| Inside | 2007 | |
| In the Realm of the Senses | 1976 | |
| Irréversible | 2002 | |
| Julien Donkey-Boy | 1999 | |
| Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love | 1996 | |
| Kinatay | 2009 | |
| The Machine Girl | 2008 | |
| Maniac | 1980 | |
| Man Bites Dog | 1992 | |
| Mark of the Devil | 1970 | |
| Men Behind The Sun Quadriology | 1988-1995 | |
| Melancholie der Engel | 2009 | |
| Martyrs | 2008 | |
| Masking Threshold | 2021 | |
| Matrubhoomi | 2003 | |
| Megan is Missing | 2011 | |
| Multiple Maniacs | 1970 | |
| Mysterious Skin | 2004 | |
| Naked Blood | 1996 | |
| Natural Born Killers | 1994 | |
| Nekromantik | 1987 | |
| Oedipus Rex | 1967 | |
| Oldboy | 2003 | |
| Paanch | 2003 | |
| The Passion of the Christ | 2004 | |
| Pieces | 1982 | |
| Pigsty | 1969 | |
| Philosophy of a Knife | 2008 | |
| Pink Flamingos | 1972 | |
| The Poughkeepsie Tapes | 2007 | |
| Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead | 2006 | |
| Rambo 4 | 2008 | |
| Re-Animator | 1985 | |
| Relic | 2020 | |
| Requiem for a Dream | 2000 | |
| The Revenant | 2015 | |
| Saani Kaayidham | 2022 | |
| Schramm | 1993 | |
| Snuff 102 | 2007 | |
| The Sadness | 2021 | |
| Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom | 1975 | |
| Saw | 2004 | |
| Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist | 1997 | |
| Snuff | 1976 | |
| Stille Nacht | 1969 | |
| The Substance | 2024 | |
| Suicide Club | 2001 | |
| Subconscious Cruelty | 2000 | |
| Sweet Movie | 1974 | |
| Taxidermia | 2006 | |
| Tetsuo: The Iron Man | 1989 | |
| Thanatomorphose | 2012 | |
| Thriller: A Cruel Picture | 1973 | |
| Trash Humpers | 2009 | |
| Tumbling Doll Of Flesh | 1998 | |
| Un Chien Andalou | 1929 | |
| Vase de Noces | 1974 | |
| What is It? | 2005 | |
| Where the Dead Go to Die | 2012 | |
| Who's Watching Oliver | 2018 | |

## Notable directors

* Catherine Breillat
* Carlos Reygadas
* Gaspar Noé
* Peter Jackson
* John Waters
* Wes Craven
* Uwe Boll
* Bruno Dumont
* Lars von Trier
* Takashi Miike
* Pier Paolo Pasolini
* Michael Haneke
* Eli Roth
* Sion Sono
* Herschell Gordon Lewis
* Jim Van Bebber
* Lloyd Kaufman
* Harmony Korine
* Khavn De La Cruz

## Controversy and legacy

Extreme cinema is highly criticized and debated by film critics and the general public. There have been debates over the hypersexualization that makes these films a threat to the 'mainstream' community standards.
There has also been criticism over the increasing use of violence in modern-day films. Ever since the emergence of slasher-gore films in the 1970s, the rising popularity of extreme cinema has contributed to the casual violence in popular media. Some criticize the easy exposure and unintended targeting of adolescents by extreme cinema films.
Pink Flamingos is inducted into the National Film Registry. Requiem for a Dream and Oldboy were named on the BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century. The behind-the-scenes look at Cannibal Holocaust was the subject of a Season 2 episode of the documentary series Cursed Films.
At the 97th Academy Awards, The Substance was nominated for five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Coralie Fargeat and Best Actress for Demi Moore (the former becoming the ninth woman nominated for directing).