August Underground (2001)

August Underground redefines the word dreck as it seeks to, in the director’s own words, act as the home video of a serial killer.

The film is structured to reflect this, much to its detriment; it meanders between extreme violence and meaningless scenes of mind numbing boredom. It seems Fred Vogel wanted to create the illusion that there are many hidden killers among us; alas, all he has convinced us of is that he, individually, may have women chained up in his basement.

Unlike some other blights on film, such as Cannibal Holocaust, this film seeks to offer no observation or statement about its extreme contents. Really, the film functions more as a test of practical effect methods combined with guerrilla filmmaking; but it cannot be said that this created something that was ultimately entertaining.

The formula for this film is well-trod territory. So how did Fred Vogel manage to get it so wrong? Interviews with the director reveal his preoccupation with violent and offensive imagery comes at the expense of all else. Every component of this movie buckles under Vogel’s inability to elevate his creative sensibilities beyond being weirdly aroused at the sight of blood.

The reviewer notes that they are often more receptive to extreme cinema than many traditional viewers. Still, this film engages in extremity with nothing to show for it, paying a steep quality price in the process.

A vomitorium of the vicious and the vile, the film revels in meaningless suffering. As exploitation cinema, it is fairly dull, losing its shock value early, mostly boasting a significant disgust factor instead. After a good look in the light of day, it is apparent that August ought to have remained underground.