Extreme cinema is a subgenre used for films distinguished by its use of excessive sex and violence, and such various extreme nature as mutilation and torture. It recently specializes in genre film, mostly both horror and drama.

Reception

The rising popularity of Asian films in the 21st century has contributed to the growth of extreme cinema, although extreme cinema is still considered to be a horror film-based genre.^[1] Being a relatively recent genre, extreme cinema is controversial and widely unaccepted by the mainstream media.^[2] Extreme cinema films target a specific and small audience group.^[3]

History

Still from Caligula (1979), known for its graphic sex scenes.

The prehistory of extreme cinema can be traced back to censorship of art films and advertising tactics for classical exploitation films to Anglophone markets alongside later liberal representations of sex in the first half of the 20th century onwards.^[4]

The name "extreme cinema" originated from a “line of Asian films that share a combination of sensational features, such as extreme violence, horror and shocking plots”.^[5] Extreme cinema can be rooted as "Asian Extreme", the term for Japanese and other Asian films used to its excessive nature. Early examples of Asian Extreme such as Ring (1998) and Battle Royale (2000).^[6]

Controversy

Extreme cinema is highly criticized and debated by film critics and the general public. There have been debates over the hypersexualization that makes these films a threat to the ‘mainstream’ community standards.^[7]

There has also been criticism over the increasing use of violence in modern-day films. Ever since the emergence of slasher-gore films in the ’70s, the rising popularity of extreme cinema has contributed to the casual violence in popular media.^[8] Some criticize the easy exposure and unintended targeting of adolescence by extreme cinema films.^[9]

Classification and guidelines

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) classifies extreme cinema films into an "R18" rating, which is defined as “special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.”^[7]

Notable films

Notable directors

• Early Gaspar Noé (I Stand Alone, aforementioned Irréversible and Carne)^{[62][63][64][65][66]}
• Early Peter Jackson (Bad Taste and Dead Alive)^[17]
• Early John Waters (aforementioned Multiple Maniacs and Pink Flamingos)^[67][68][69]
• Early Wes Craven (1972's Last House on the Left and 1977's The Hills Have Eyes)^[41][20][70]
• Uwe Boll^[17]
• Bruno Dumont^[71]
• Lars von Trier^[62]
• Takashi Miike^[12][72]
• Pier Paolo Pasolini^[22][73]
• Eli Roth^[74][20]
• Sion Sono^[75]
• Herschell Gordon Lewis^[17]
• Jim Van Bebber^[41]
• Lloyd Kaufman^[41][60]

Legacy

Pink Flamingos was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2021.^[76]

Requiem for a Dream and Oldboy were named on the BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.^[77]

As the other examples in media, it can be seen in Japanese works, television, and video games as varied that are related to or inspired by extreme cinema due to its subject to its nature (eg. Berserk,^[78] Game of Thrones,^[79] Redo of Healer,^[80][81] 2007's Manhunt 2,^[82][83] 2018's Fear and Hunger,^[84] and 2022's Martha is Dead^[85]).