Anthologies
irritate me. Perhaps this is mostly due to the inconsistencies and the mere
fact that a poor attempt to tie the fragmented stories together with a book-end
narrative never works. I also find that the amount of time allotted to each
story in most of these anthologies is just enough to annoy me with all of the
weighty exposition and provide one thrill. The result feels like watching the
dull part of three horror films without the climax of any.
Anthologies are irritating, but I
would not put The ABCs of Death in
this category. Thematically these films are tied together, but there is no
effort made to combine them in narrative. Viewers going into viewing of this
film will have a much better time if they realize that this is a collection of
shorts, each separate and merely catalogued alphabetically for viewing
enjoyment. As a matter of fact, there is nothing saying you have to watch these
films in order. It will make no difference in the viewing experience how you
watch these 26 short films, though attempting to sit and watch the entire film
in one sitting may test the patience of some less dedicated viewers.
This may not be a typical anthology,
but it is carries the same inconsistency in material that has become expected
with them. The difference between this film and the anthologies with three to
five short stories is the length of time we are forced to endure the weaker
aspects of the film. The film’s producers even provide the audience with a
disclaimer at the beginning of the film, almost seeming to warn us that they
had no creative control in the individual films from 26 different international
directors. They were each given a letter of the alphabet and told to make a
film about death using a word starting with that letter. Most shorts are around
six minutes, so it never lasts too long if they are absurd, disgusting or
simply dull.
Be warned; there are many shorts
within this list that are sure to disgust and offend. The Japanese filmmakers
have especially unique styles, though anyone who has watched a film from Sushi
Typhoon should be no stranger to the unique blend of violence, sex and humor.
It is also important to point out that though each of the films are about
death, this does not necessarily mean that these are all horror shorts. Some
filmmakers take a more comical approach, and there are even a few animated
shorts thrown into the mix.
This is not a film I would recommend
as light viewing. This is the type of movie which could easily be watched in
sections, and perhaps enjoyed more in moderation rather than enduring all 130
minutes at once. Though most shorts run at around six minutes, some of them are
rather intrusive to the senses. There is something in here to offend everyone,
something for everyone to hate, and also something to like. The only
consistency throughout this collection seems to be the shock factor in the
material. Some of the shorts shocked me simply due to the laziness of the
filmmaker or the lack of any coherence, while others are offensive in the
traditionally vulgar manner. There is animal abuse, fart jokes, falic weapons,
masturbation and even a killer turd. Half the fun of the collection is trying
to figure out what word the short is using for the letter, which is not
revealed until the end.
The special features on the Blu-ray
include behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes and making of features for
the letters A-D, F, H-J, P, R, T, V, W, and Z. Even more impressive is the
filmmaker’s commentary, which has over 30 filmmakers chiming in. Also included
is a promotional featurette, a trailer and a BD-Live feature with the short
film competition submissions.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 1-8/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
Disc Features: 7/10
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