Now, one of the reasons that we are captivated by horror cinema - is for the incredible display
of creative talent from special effects artists and visual designers that somehow manage to
capture the physical form of nightmarish monsters and gruesome creations, breathing life into
an idea from a script all the way to the silver screen.
Sometimes though, their creative talent is a little too real - and historically, in some
cases any way, it’s left audiences a little -- too shocked, to say the least.
And horror cinema - particularly grindhouse and splatter horror - sometimes just so happens
to BE a little -- too - real.
Well, let’s take a look shall we?
Hello horror fans, and once again welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube, Top
5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we circumvent the BBFC - and
take a look at the Top 5 Horror Movies That Were Almost Too Real.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from 1987’s Evil Dead 2 - and in no way
is it tied to this list, I just love it and thought it was rather fitting.
So in the immortal words of Ash Williams.
Let’s go.
Kicking off at Number 5 - A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin, 1971
For those of you that don’t know, giallo cinema was a very specific style of Italian
horror, particularly tied to the mid-to-late 1960s, which often employed murder mystery
tropes with dramatic suspense building, peaked with bursts of slasher violence and fantasy
eroticisim.
It’s not for everyone, but it had a massive impact on later American slasher horror - and
perhaps one of the most intriguing examples of giallo cinema is 1971’s A Lizard in a
Woman’s Skin, directed and written by Lucio Fulci.
Well, as chance would have it - legendary special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi was
actually tied to this film before his work on Steven Spielberg's E.T - and his eye for
visual nasties was so convincing that it actually landed the director in an Italian criminal
court.
During the events of the film, the lead character Carol finds herself wrapped up in a LSD-fuelled
crime story involving murderous dreams and mind bending altercations - and at one point
finds herself confronted with four vivisected dogs, their chests open and their hearts still
being.
The physical effects were so convincing that the courts charged Lucio Fulci with animal
cruelty, and the director faced a two-year prison sentence.
In the end, Carlo Rambaldi had to present the animatronic creations in front of a court
- where the charges were eventually dropped.
Now, that’s a close call.
Coming in at Number 4 - Guinea Pig: Flowers of Flesh and Blood, 1985
Perhaps one of the most controversial depictions of horror cinema in the whole of Japanese
history, if not the rest of the world.
The Guinea Pig films are a series of six Japanese horror films from the early 1980s and 90s
- based off of the filmmaker, Hideshi Hino’s, own horror manga series of a similar nature
- that depicts incredibly graphic and grotesque Japanese body horror and violence.
Now listen, this style of horror cinema isn’t really for me - but fringe filmmaking has
often pushed the boundaries, so that the mainstream can further develop the genre as a whole.
But, on the flip side - Hideshi Hino’s work had a pretty rough time, to say the least
- and the filmmaker had to constantly prove that no one was actually hurt or murdered
during production.
Well, in a bizarre turn of events - that involved Charlie Sheen of all people - it had The Guinea
Pig series being investigated by the FBI.
In 1991, actor Charlie Sheen was given a copy of the second film in the series, Flowers
of Flesh and Blood - and after watching it, Sheen mistook it for a genuine snuff film
- claiming that the graphic depictions on screen were so lifelike that there was no
way special effects could have pulled it off.
He was so convinced that he contacted the FBI to report it, only to find that they were
in fact already investigating the filmmakers - who were then summoned to a Japanese court
to prove that the special effects were fake.
Must have been all of that Tiger Blood.
Swinging in at Number 3 - August Underground, 2001
Alright - let’s not beat around the bush.
This film isn’t for me, and after speaking to a few of you in the comment section a few
months back - it’s not for most people, really.
Although, there is something to be said about director Fred Vogel’s audacity to make this
film - and the fact that August Underground was even made is worthy of a commendation.
Vogel intended to make the most messed up film he possibly could - and he did exactly
that.
Written, directed and produced by Fred Vogel, with a writing credit going to his offscreen
supporting actor Allen Peters - August Underground depicts the exploits of a serial killer named
Peter Mountain while being filmed by his unseen accomplice.
The thing is though, Fred Vogel’s sadistic cinematic interpretation was a little too
real for some.
While travelling to Canada to attend the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear in Toronto - Vogel
was arrested at the airport - pending charges of transporting obscene materials into Canada
- after copies of August Underground and its sequels were found by customs officials that
he intended to sell at the convention.
Vogel was held for roughly ten hours in customs prison, while his films were sent to Ottawa
for analysis.
Eventually, he was released without charge - and ultimately, Vogel probably got the reaction
that he’d been hoping for all along.
Next up at Number 2 - Snuff, 1976
And
much like August Underground, the creators of Snuff actually made this film with the
intention of convincing people that it was real - in what proved to be one of the most
calamitous and opportunistic turn of events in horror history.
In 1971 - notorious Grindhouse husband and wife duo Michael and Roberta Findlay, had
made a low-budget exploitation film known as Slaughter, filmed in Argentina on a budget
of 30 thousand dollars.
And well, obviously - it was terrible - and suffered a string of limited releases - until
it was picked up by Allan Shackleton, an independent low budget film distributor, where he kept
it in his archive for four years.
Until 1976 - when the urban legend of snuff cinema was at its highest peak, and Shackleton
figured he could cash in.
He retitled it Snuff, as well as refilming the ending - this time depicting what appeared
to be a real murder after the filmmakers had supposedly finished rolling.
The audience saw the crew members brutally murder the films lead actress before cutting
to black and removing the films credits.
To add insult, it was also marketed with the tagline - The Film that could only be made
in South America -- where life is cheap.
And well, it worked.
The public genuinely believed that it was a snuff movie, and contained video evidence
of a murder.
So much so, that Shackleton and crew were investigated by the District Attorney of New
York - who wasn’t appeased until he actually saw the lead actress alive and well.
Obviously, she was - but still.
I’d consider that a pretty close call.
And finally - at our Number 1 spot - Cannibal Holocaust, 1980
And it has to be really.
Perhaps the most notorious exploitation film of all time, that eventually saw the films
creator, Ruggero Deodato, charged with multiple counts of murder after it’s release in 1980.
Cannibal Holocaust is a title synonymous with exactly how far filmmakers can push the boundaries
of cinematic violence and depravity - but in the end, has proved to be a retrospection
of the ethics of journalism, the exploitation of developing countries - and the nature of
an expansive society versus indigenous peoples.
Also noted as one of the most important found footage films of all time, Cannibal Holocaust
depicts a multi-layered narrative, initially focusing on a team of film crew members who
go missing in an area of the Amazon rainforest known as the Green Inferno - a title later
used by Eli Roth in his own homage to Deodato’s work.
After its release, the world was so shocked by the depiction of graphic violence that
the vast majority of the public were convinced it was real, exacerbated by a rumour that
several actors had indeed been killed on camera while filming.
Of course, Deodato was eventually cleared of all charges after the film’s actors finally
appeared in a television interview - but the legacy of Cannibal Holocaust lived on.
Well, unfortunately folks, I hope that you’ve enjoyed this list - but that’s all we’ve
got time for in today’s video - why don’t you let us know your thoughts in the comment
section down below.
Before we depart, let’s read out some of your more creative comments from over the
past few days.
First up, Catharina_ell says -- I’ve seen Lucy’s Instagram story - and I have to say,
you sing good!
-- Well, Catharina, all I can say is I’m glad that Instagram stories are only temporary!
Hey, also, what can I say.
Karaoke is serious business.
Go big, or go home - or sing Bring me to Life by Evanescence like my girl Rebecca Felgate.
Next up, Daniel norse Northey says -- Jack you could narrate anything, your awesome mate
-- Well Daniel norse Northey, that’s incredibly kind of you pal - and I’m glad that you’ve
said that because I was actually planning on reading out an anthology series of Ikea’s
best instruction manuals, and you’ve just give me the confidence to carry it out.
Just kidding.
Well on that note, cheers for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell, and I’ll be see you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.