Wordiezett So much average

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

BA_Harrison In John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns, rare film collector Bellinger (Udo Kier) hires Kirby (Norman Reedus), the director of a cult movie theatre, to try and locate 'La Fin Absolue du Monde', an ultra-rare film so extreme in content (the desecration and torture of an angel!) that it is rumoured to cause chaos, violence and madness in its audience. Deperate for cash, Kirby agrees to try and find the film, but will he dare to watch it himself?Ahh, the irresistible lure of that elusive cinematic obscurity; the uncontrollable drive to see the ultimate in extreme movie-making: as a collector of the rare, forgotten, forbidden and just plain frightful, I fully understand how easy it is to become obsessed with tracking down those seemingly unattainable titles spoken of in revered tones by like-minded individuals. Director Carpenter also understands: this Masters of Horror episode has been specifically designed to resonate with any obsessive horror film fan who has ever gone against better judgement to watch something they may later wish they hadn't.As Carpenter's central character Kirby gets closer to his prize, continuing despite the obvious risks, viewers will undoubtedly be asking themselves if they would be so bold. It's a fascinating subject masterfully handled by one of the undisputed greats of the genre, who expertly blends his intriguing insight into the human psyche with Lovecraftian themes and intense gore (SFX experts KNB contribute to a very nasty beheading and the delightful sight of a man's intestines being wound through a film projector—strong stuff considering this was made-for-TV) to deliver a satisfyingly intense experience.7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.

BaronBl00d I have not seen all the Masters of Horror episodes(am working my way slowly through them now), but this one by John Carpenter is easily my favorite so far - and the best. Imagine if you will that there is a "lost" film out there that has the power to destroy its audience and then imagine a very wealthy man has hired a very good film finder to get him a copy. This is the basic premise behind this episode. Carpenter always is a cinephile's best friend paying a bit of homage here and there and creating an episode here that any true film-lover should find fascinating. Carpenter weaves his tale in an hour and it is fast-paced, tense, and gut-wrenching(literally and figuratively). I enjoyed the whole story of this lost, old French horror film, the tracking down of people who saw the film and managed to live, and the final installment dealing with people getting what they want. There are supernatural elements here and the gore is plentiful but not terribly too intrusive. The acting is first-rate with Norman Reedus playing the man paid to find the film and under the gun both financially and emotionally. Carpenter gives us Udo Kier, a horror "icon" to some degree, in the interesting role of the man who desperately wants the film no matter what the cost is. I loved the story but did find one problem that I just could not mesh with my logic or sense. It is the part where Reedus goes to France and meets a collector in a barn. What really happened there? It was not enough to make me lose interest or change my mind about what I thought was stunning filmmaking. Carpenter shows us he still is a force behind the camera. I know he has produced some less than stellar things in the last decade, but this is one of his best. That, for Carpenter, is quite a complement.

Aaron1375 Of the Master's of Horror movies I have seen (which there have been a few here and there) this still stands out as one of the more unique ones. Sure there is a bit of "In the Mouth of Madness" in it, but it still left me wanting to know what was going to happen. The master of horror to do this one is the same fellow who did "In the Mouth of Madness" John Carpenter and let me just say that it is pretty much better than any of his recent movies have been. Of course, it also shows me he has still got it and it makes me sad that there really have been no movies from him in a while that I can remember. This film revolves around a man who tries to find older films or rare films. He is hired on by a man to find this movie that sounds ominous and quite frankly is when one considers one of the props of said movie is a strange old looking man that looks as if something like wings have been chopped off his back. The man has to do a lot to find this film, all the while I am wondering what is one said film. It is a bit of a disappointed when they show the film, but then are they really going to be able to show me something that will supposedly make me mad? Still, very interesting and makes me wish John would write something at least one more time for the big screen.

Agnelin "Cigarette burns" is the second MoH episode that I watch, after "Imprint". It follows the owner of a movie theater who is still haunted by his past, and by his late girlfriend's father, who gave them the theater as a loan and is asking for his payment. The theater owner is contacted by an eccentric movie buff millionaire, with an extraordinary request: he must retrieve for him the original copy of an obscure movie called "Le fin absolue du monde", which is said to imbue in those who watch it instant and violent insanity. As the search for the elusive and sinister movie goes on, the young protagonist becomes more and more trapped by the evil aura that the movie and all the history around it exude...While it certainly reminds of movies like "Ringu"/"The ring", from what I have read (and as my personal conclusion, too), the mysterious and ill-awakening movie is only an excuse to tell a tale of increasing depravity and madness, and of how the effects of pure evil transcend the object that first contained or provoked it, as everything and everyone about the movie seems as damned and insane as the roll of film itself. In fact, you can see how the characters who as much as hear about the movie become infected with the evil that it radiates. Also interesting is the Bible-based detail about how, in order to make the movie, humans kidnapped an angel and tortured him, which unleashed God's wrath and punishment.The movie is well directed, and above all the suspense is extremely well built and paced. The ending also makes sense and the whole story is well resolved. It is also very gory and contains very disturbing imagery, but if you're used to watching horror and gore, this won't make your eyebrow go up.