In this day and age, independent films are not a rare breed. Any schmoe with a video camera and some spare time on his hands can make a "movie". What is rare is when there is actual raw talent behind the camera. The kind of subtle talent that you know will lead all creative parties involved onto bigger and better things. This is tough to find, but you know when you've discovered it, you just know when it works. When Absu Films sent over a screener for their first full length feature August Underground I didn't know what to expect, and I had no idea what I was in store for.

The serial killer video diary is nothing new. If you've seen films like Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer or Man Bites Dog, then you know what I'm talking about (you can even site Blair Witch; there are some similarities). August Underground is a bit different, in a couple of respects. The viewer is given the chance to tag along with 2 sicko murderers as they document their so called "badness". There are no opening credits; the video just starts rolling. The quality is less than stellar, which was done for effect, a crystal clear digital home movie would not have worked. The scenes are long and are not edited, aside from the few jumps here and there in which the camera would have been turned off and then on again. This is unique in the sense that the viewer is led to believe they are viewing random events, abandoning a narrative all together. Some of us know better, but I understand what the filmmakers were trying to do, and they pulled it off in that respect. How else does August Underground stand out in a crowd? In it's raw brutality and unflinching representation of unspeakable acts of horror. I'm not kidding folks, you have never seen anything quite like this and neither have I (and I have seen some sick shit in my life). The serial killers lair is not complete without a victim, and the first one we are introduced to is enough to scare viewers away. A young girl, stripped completely naked and tied to a chair, covered in blood (as well as her own urine and feces) is tormented and tortured. When we first see her, her nipple has been cut off, and the madness doesn't stop there (there's a disemboweled and castrated young man in the bathtub as well). The two tormentors go for a drive, and pick up another girl. They convince her to show off her goodies, and ultimately sexually abuse her, only to pummel her to death for a grotesque finale. Does the madness stop there? Not by a long shot, there is so much more to shock and disturb throughout the 70-minute running time. I don't want to give it all away, part of the effect of watching August Underground is not knowing what these depraved minds will think of next.

Many of the scenes in August Underground work, and if you didn't know any better you'd think you were watching a snuff film. The violence and effects are very convincing, maybe too convincing? Along with the effectiveness, unfortunately comes the scenes that are not so effective. The scenes in the basement with their female victim work (each time they come back she is worse for wear and her wounds more infected). There is a scene in which they torment a store clerk and some shoppers at a convenience store, which is also quite effective. The story seems to drag a bit when they check out a slaughterhouse, or spend time rolling around with a couple of prostitutes near the end. It's a simple matter of math when I say there is good and bad; it's a matter of, which is outweighed. I can honestly say, (don't be mad mom) that the good definitely outweighs the bad (there I said it, now I'm DEFINITELY going to hell). This is one sick film, but it is not a mistake, and shock value is hard to obtain without coming off as cheese, and Absu films pulls this off in spades.

The sick yet talented mind behind this film is Fred Vogel. Fred Vogel is also the onscreen killer followed by his buddy with the camera. Fred Vogel was an instructor at Tom Savini's School of Make-Up and heads a company called Loaded Dice Effects (keep an eye out for them). Apparently Fred has worked on many independent films as well as big budget productions such as Dogma. This comes as no surprise as I said before the effects in August Underground are nothing short of amazing (I've dabbled in effects and I know it's not easy).

It's not easy to shock and disturb. You can hold a piece of poop in front of someone and make him or her say yuck, sure that's easy. However, to truly shock and disturb, to really get into someone's head, is not so easy. August Underground does this, and does it well. August Underground succeeds in showing us what serial killers are exactly. Sick and depraved minds that are not to be taken lightly. If you are a casual fan of horror, Screams, Urban Legends, and I Know What You Did Last Summers, then stay away from this film. However, if you are a fan of intense horror from the 70's through today (I'm talking the Fulci's, D'Amato's, Argento's, Guniea Pig Series, etc.) and you have a strong stomach (and conscience) then you owe it to yourself to take a look at Absu Film's August Underground. It's guaranteed to shock, sicken and disturb you, like it did to me and I thank them for that. Kudos Absu, you are the Ruggero Deodato's of your day!