Dr. Lamb (1992)

[Mofo Rising]

I don't remember how this made it into my viewing queue. I think it may have come up as an example of "truly disturbing films" that people like to recommend. From what I gather, it is one of the first Hong Kong films that really didn't flinch from showing the horrible stuff.

Anyway, this movie is based on an actual serial killer, a taxi driver who killed and mutilated several prostitutes, culminating in full-blown necrophilia and body mutilation.

It's not a great film. It's actually kind of interesting that what was "Category III" in 1992 is almost tame these days. Don't get me wrong, there's some stuff here that is not pleasant at all, but the shock has been devalued, and there have been films that are much better artistically that are more extreme. The Chaser is a phenomenal film, and it is much more extreme than this movie.

So this is another unpleasant film that deals with a serial killer. It's not the worst movie in the world, but it isn't too good either.

I won't fault you for seeking out a movie that is unpleasantly horrible, that's the reason I had this movie in my viewing list (I think). It's not very good, though. I think the reason people remember it is because it was one of the first films to be extreme, which Asian cinema is now well known for.

2 of 5.