August Underground (2001)
AKA: August Underground 1
Year: 2001
Directed by: Fred Vogel
Starring: Fred Vogel (Main Killer), Allen Peters (Cameraman)
Country: USA
Language: English
Runtime: 01:10:22
Genres: Gore-Gruesome-Splatter, Rape/Sexual Violence against Women, Rape/Sexual Violence against Men, Scat, Killers, Snuff, Torture, Captivity/Kidnapping
Plot – Spoilers:
August Underground came out a couple years after the Blair Witch Project but smashed the night-vision out of that one as far as American found-footage/home-video films was concerned. There is something so real about the way it’s been shot – anyone who’s ever recorded rubbish with their friends will instantly identify with the conversations the two characters have, the way the edits happen and more. Director Fred Vogel is the guy we see throughout, while co-writer Allen Peters plays the cameraman. The plot is nothing much – two friends travel around murdering and torturing women and men in the sickest ways possible.
Within the first minute of the movie, Fred turns to us and says, “You’re gonna love this.” Truer words haven’t since been spoken in effed-up cinema as we are introduced to the first victim – a naked tied woman with one of her nipples shaved off. The cameraman giggling away at Fred’s antics is like the audience goading him into deeper depravity.
It’s not like the two have their senses blinded to the stench of the rotting bodies, pus, shit and puke. On at least a couple of occasions, the vileness is so foul and overpowering, they uncontrollably vomit, adding to the stink that we can almost smell off our screens. So it’s more like a couple of guys on an insane bender determined to not quit any time soon. There are also some homely shots of dogs and farm-life, just to give us a breather here and there.
Favourite Scenes – Massive Spoilers:
Every torture scene with its long unedited takes is unblinkable, but the scene of the tattoo artist getting revived to the sight of his dead brother with a voiceover by the cameraman is cruel, yet hilarious. As if pleased with himself, Allen says, “I should do stand-up.”
