I rarely get scared or creeped out by horror movies anymore...but this one hour "Masters Of Horror" installment by John Carpenter really got under my skin and stayed there.
Mr. Ballinger, played by an ice-cold Udo Kier, is a collector of the rare, priceless and profane. He hires the financially and emotionally troubled Kirby Sweetman (Norman Reedus of Boondock Saints fame) to track down a copy of a rare and notorious film called "La Fin Absolue Du Monde" - The Absolute End of the World. The film was reportedly destroyed after its one and only premiere, during which the audience went mad and a bloody, murderous riot resulted. Kirby, badly in debt and haunted by his own bloody ghost of the past, goes on the hunt for the obscure film and encounters evil not only in those who have been touched and corrupted by the film but within himself as well, for the unholy "La Fin Absolue Du Monde" does not simply drive its viewers mad but destroys them completely, turning their fears and sins against them.
The tone of this movie is genuinely disturbing throughout and the performances are intensely convincing, particularly by Udo Kier and Norman Reedus. Standout scenes include a vicious execution via machete and an upsettingly heartbreaking scene featuring a frail, angelic creature being tormented by Ballinger. A horrific climax involving Ballinger, a knife and a film projector was extremely flinch-worthy. The few clips we are shown of the fictional "La Fin Absolue Du Monde" are riveting and creepy and one wishes that it could be made into an actual feature length film.
Thank you John Carpenter for managing to deeply disturb me with this short film! Very impressive!
Mr. Ballinger, played by an ice-cold Udo Kier, is a collector of the rare, priceless and profane. He hires the financially and emotionally troubled Kirby Sweetman (Norman Reedus of Boondock Saints fame) to track down a copy of a rare and notorious film called "La Fin Absolue Du Monde" - The Absolute End of the World. The film was reportedly destroyed after its one and only premiere, during which the audience went mad and a bloody, murderous riot resulted. Kirby, badly in debt and haunted by his own bloody ghost of the past, goes on the hunt for the obscure film and encounters evil not only in those who have been touched and corrupted by the film but within himself as well, for the unholy "La Fin Absolue Du Monde" does not simply drive its viewers mad but destroys them completely, turning their fears and sins against them.
The tone of this movie is genuinely disturbing throughout and the performances are intensely convincing, particularly by Udo Kier and Norman Reedus. Standout scenes include a vicious execution via machete and an upsettingly heartbreaking scene featuring a frail, angelic creature being tormented by Ballinger. A horrific climax involving Ballinger, a knife and a film projector was extremely flinch-worthy. The few clips we are shown of the fictional "La Fin Absolue Du Monde" are riveting and creepy and one wishes that it could be made into an actual feature length film.
Thank you John Carpenter for managing to deeply disturb me with this short film! Very impressive!