5) Man Bites Dog
A mockumentary that tracks the murderous activity of a serial killer and frames him as if he were a minor celebrity, Man Bites Dog is disturbing in concept, unsettling in execution and terrifying in how it ultimately plays out. Shot in the early nineties in grainy black-and-white photography, the film enraged critics upon its release, and whilst it remains one of the most undeniably sickening experiences you’re likely to have watching a movie, the originality of the premise and its thought-provoking suggestions make Man Bites Dog a piece of cinema worth seeing. Even if only for the one time.
The camera crew passively observe Ben as he goes about his daily routine of killing innocent victims, but soon becomes consumed by their work to such an extent that they begin to actively partake in the evil doings themselves. It begins with them helping Ben to move a body, and the line between filmmaker and subject blurs to the point where it is rendered indistinct. When he’s not caught up in one of his malevolent urges, Ben is charming, friendly, and even intellectual. In a similar manner to the likes of Michael Haneke’s Funny Games, Man Bites Dog forces the viewer into a period of sticky self-reflection about how they digest violence, feeling hauntingly authentic in its realist composition.
If the stinging social commentary and unblinkingly fearless execution of Man Bites Dog wasn’t discomposing enough, the story behind the story has its own unsettling aura. The movie fell victim to several censorship-forced amendments, most noticeable of which was the promotional poster having its main image changed.
Originally, Ben is depicted firing a revolver towards an unseen victim, whilst a blood-stained pacifier twirls above them. This was later altered to a set of teeth dentures. Banned in certain countries, the movie remains regarded as an atrocity in particular corners of the world. A sense of unease seems to hang about the picture, a sensation only accentuated and enhanced by the suicide of director/editor Remy Belvaux in 2006.
