"A tremendous,
Surrealistic recital that at times recalls the scatology
of Jodorowsky and the non-conformity of an early Lynch...
A brilliant nightmare from one of the genre names to look out for in
the
future" - Angel Sala, IMAGES DE ACTUALIDAD
MAGAZINE, Spain
"Far more disturbing than anything that has graced U.S. silver screens in the past 20 years...A pure piece of art that works simultaneously as a beautifully nasty horror flick and a thematically literate examination of the darkest existential concepts imaginable" - Patrick Owen, FANGORIA, usa
"Sadistic, cruel, nightmarish, disturbing and provocative... A unique journey into bizarre cinema" - Mario Dorminsky, CINEMA NOVO, Portugal
""(A) Canadian timebomb concealed in celluloid...so odd, aggressive, and perpetually vicious, one has to admire the spirit of the piece even if it can't be termed "enjoyable" in the traditional sense" - Nathaniel Thompson, MONDO DIGITAL, usa
"Retains a raw in-your-face integrity rarely glimpsed in horror movies today" - Carl T. Ford, UNRATED MAGAZINE, Britain
"An all-out epic assault on the senses" - Matthew Hays, MONTREAL MIRROR, Canada
"Subconscious
Cruelty comes across as a work of art, which breaks new
ground from the very beginning" - SITGES FILM
FESTIVAL CATALOG
"..all is filmed
with majestic camera movements that envelop the film
with a morbid atmosphere that is as poetic as it is
fascinating... Karim Hussain will undoubtedly become a director on the
level of the two Davids: Lynch and Cronenberg." -
STARFIX MAGAZINE, France
"...this is
not a simple film without thought or reflection, but a
necessary rebellion as we begin the 21st century..." - EL
PERIODICO, Spain
"The most disturbing Canadian film I have ever seen, but also one that manages to be poetic and thought-provoking." - Kier-la Janisse, CINEMUERTE, Canada
BOB SMITH, CHAOTIC ORDER #14, WINTER 2002
Subconscious Cruelty only took 6 years to make... Luckily it was actually worth the wait. Played out over 4 sequences each with fairly heavy religious overtones, it challenges the viewer both to be offended whilst also trying to enlighten. To see this as simply a shock statement would be not to see past the visuals into the critique of the modern need to always challenge religion or to try to exploit it. Therefore the film can almost be seen as almost pro-religious, a strange statement to make after initially paying witness to knife blowjobs, infanticide, cannibalism, masturbation etc. etc. Also worthy of mention is the knowing references to just about every horror director going from Argento-esque lighting to homage-like images via Jodorowsky, even the likes of Richard Kern seem to be included within the styles on offer. What I can say in conclusion is that whatever your view AFTER seeing this film (assuming you can get your hands on it) you certainly won't be forgetting it too quickly.
Read Tuomas Riskala's Article For ESPOO CINE
Read ZOMBIE GIRLS.NET's Review
Read CINEMA TOPICS' Review (in Japanese)
Read SYNOPSIS' interview with Karim Hussain
Read NONE SO VILE's interview with Karim Hussain and Mitch Davis
Click here to read a vintage MONTREAL MIRROR report on the film’s bust at Canada Customs
Post your own SUBCONSCIOUS review on the Internet Movie Database
