Featured Image Credit: Media Blasters
Topics: Horror, TV and Film, Film
Michael Slavin
Many viewers this weekend after hearing much of the hype about how Terrifier 3 is the most depraved movie ever put to film may come out thinking that to be the case.
If you ask other film fans, however, that title is already taken by another strong contender.
Another movie, dubbed the ‘most depraved film of all time’, has similar accolades to Terrifier 3.
Cause ambulances to be called to the screening? Check. Sick bags on the seats in fear of viewers throwing up? Check again.
Such disturbing and unsettling scenes that someone passed out at one of the early screenings? Look at that, a third check.
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Where this film goes even further, however, is that it was banned from release in multiple countries, a feat which Terrifier 3 was unable to achieve.
Check out the trailer here and see what you think - though be warned, it's pretty gross:
The film in question Ichi the Killer is a 2001 cult horror movie from the legendary Takashi Miike.
Miike is a prolific Japanese filmmaker, having directed 117 projects since his debut in 1991. Another one of his films, Audition, has also reached a similar level of infamy.
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Ichi the Killer follows the protégé of a mob don who investigates his mentor’s brutal murder.
Nao Omori stars as the titular Ichi, with Tadanobu Asano also starring as the equally sadistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara. Asano is one of the most well-known Japanese actors internationally having appeared in Shogun and the Thor films in addition to his extensive domestic catalogue.
To give context for how shockingly depraved the movie is, the British Censorship board, known as the BBFC, cut three minutes and 21 seconds from the film - only 27 seconds less than was cut from A Serbian Film.
Ichi the Killer was also banned outright in Norway and Malaysia, and has been banned for distribution in Germany.
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One five-star review of the film on Letterboxd said: “Honestly, without exaggeration, the most depraved film of all time.
“I've been putting this off for six years and after testing the waters by venturing into Visitor Q (Sorry God), I've finally found the guts to watch it, turns out it's just as twisted, absurd and gory as I've expected it to be; I beg you, don't see me as some sort of delusional maniac for saying this, but I love it, really, every inch of it.
“Now I feel dirty all over, please avoid at all cost, curiosity has cost me my innocence, no religion can save me from this one”.
Despite this, the film was featured on various Letterboxd lists of depraved films everyone should watch.
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Another review of the film, from Kim Newman of Empire Magazine said: “For those with an appreciation for weirdness, this is an extremist on form.”
Meanwhile, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian said: “It's the kind of deeply horrible and bizarre movie that really can only be viewed from between your fingers, or behind the sofa, for most of its two-hours-plus running time.”
For many, that will be enough to put you off - or interest you.