2. Man Bites Dog (1992)
A Belgian serial killer called Ben, is being filmed by a documentary crew. He frequently goes into long tirades about various subjects - it seems that Ben is quite the philosopher. However his rants are nothing compared to the ferocity and frequency of his serial killings. He kills an old lady merely by shouting in her face. A lot of other murders occur and the really troubling thing about the film is the documentary crew being slowly drawn into Ben's murderous web, effectively becoming his accomplices. For example, they join in with the rape of a heavily pregnant woman and force her husband to watch. They then kill the husband and disembowel the woman. Ben and the crew perpetrate more despicable acts and become so inured to violence that when Ben kills a friend at the table of his birthday dinner, nobody lifts an eyelid despite the fact they are all covered in blood. The crew dispose of the body for Ben. Someone out there has figured Ben and his actions out. They kill his parents and his girlfriend, ramming a flute up the latter's rectum. Ben announces to the camera that he is quitting the serial killing business, but an unseen gunman opens fire on Ben and the crew, effectively ending their escapades there and then. An incredibly brilliant but incredibly hard film to watch (I own a copy on DVD but it has been in its shrink wrap since 2006 - I have watched the movie twice on VHS years ago), Man Bites Dog is classic NC-17 fare and a good reason why the rating is in place. Ben is simultaneously an annoying and a charismatic person. You think he is a sound guy, but then he does something utterly diabolical and throws it in your face. The way that the film crew is sucked into casual murder with Ben, is the most horrific part of the film. Serial killing becomes banal and just another every day activity for the crew. Ben's killings become more outrageous and gratuitous and the crew cover up for him. The documentary nature of the film adds significant realism and a casual horror to the proceedings. It is a film that may make you nervously giggle and it will definitely nauseate you. It is a brilliant piece of film making that is highly unique and inventive, but by golly, its ultra extreme nature necessitates an NC-17 rating just so unsuspecting folk know what they are getting in to.