The Life and Death of a Porno Gang Review on DVD from TetroVideo!
Any Serbian made flick of the nastier side of our beloved genre will probably always be forced kicking and screaming into a neat little box with a far more infamous Serbian movie that is the first thing your average horror hound thinks of whether they’ve seen it or not. The Life and Death of a Porno Gang is absolutely nothing like this. Many will probably head in thinking they’re up for something gruesome and eyebrow raising — well they’ll be rather disappointed because this is almost a comedy of the blacker kind.
Opening to our main player, Marko, who is a struggling director, we first see movie posters such as Pink Flamingos and Rocky Horror which add a lil bit of instant trash to the menu. He speaks to the camera, explaining how difficult it is to make films, etcetera. “Horror and fantasy aren’t profitable.” says his agent. We glimpse scenes of his rather awesome and disturbing student movie. Recently he’s had to work in commercials. Marko is introduced to the world of porn after witnessing a revolting toilet. “That is disgusting!” grumbled my Partner in Gore, Willow. The first words she had uttered throughout thus so far. She’s seen so many horrors and insanity only to comment on a pile of shit. Well, it was pretty ghastly. You could almost smell it!
These beginning set pieces are built like a mild comedy, especially a kitchen porn scene. Charming and funny… but you know the good times won’t last. Marko is given a load of cash by a producer called Cane to make a raincoat crowd feeder. So instead he makes a wild sex horror hybrid all about a plant which acts like an aphrodisiac accompanied by mutations and gore. Cane isn’t truly impressed: “Our wankers want simplicity! Not bullshit!” Marko is screwed royally because Cane’s brother is a brutal cop. He needs to get the money back, so instead chooses to go into hiding whilst trying to plan something.
He starts to gather a gang including ex-Cane film regulars, to make a live porn theatre on stage. The first opening night is a complete dick flop, then he gets his ass beaten, so he takes his troupe of oddballs out into the countryside to perform in backwoods Serbian villages. They’re a success on the first night. Afterwards a small old man approaches Marko. Frantz is looking for something new artistically, more extreme. “I’m a producer of a special kind of film — snuff films.” he wishes to offer Marko his services as producer for these kinds of flicks. The victims will come along, they’ll be willing, those with nothing to lose, nothing left. Marko is understandably unsure.
The president of the town hall meanwhile wants them gone, so they pack up and get ready to go, just as a middle-aged angry mob approach. Their second location is even worse. They’re arrested and tormented by the police. Afterwards the locals get them all and give them all a bumming. “Fuck with the town, they fuck with you.” mused Willow as I chuckled. The buggering continues for a while, then by the end our captives all start laughing, thus putting the randy bummers off. Brilliant.
Bruised, shaken, robbed, and sat on sore arseholes, a big decision must be made. “If we make these films, the actors will be volunteers who want to kill themselves. If we make a deal, Frantz will send the first one.” The group are at their lowest so reluctantly agree. Frantz is very happy.
The first guy arrives, body a mass of scars, wide-eyed, thrill seeking. He slices himself up for the camera whilst laughing aloud. He slowly bleeds out. The movie now turns gloomy and dark like a switch has been flicked. In-between the gang still do their field shows up and down the country, but they’ve changed somewhat — some closer, some distant, then they all trip out on mushrooms for five surreal minutes of screen time.
Stefan, our next volunteer is an ex-army sniper who’s seen too much, his eyes are haunted empty houses. He also has cancer and AIDS; he wants the money to go to his wife and kids. Sofija, playing burlesque girl, kills him on camera using a big mallet.
Then comes the night they slaughter a local criminal, and everything changes after one of their own is gunned down by police. The gang’s descent begins…
Watching The Life and Death of a Porno Gang , released by the ever reliable TetroVideo (accompanied by super loud sound quality and picture), the rich direction of characters and the scenarios which befall the gang of misfits shows a love of the creator for his babies. Mladen Djorfjevic should be proud, having fused horror, tragedy, grim comedy, and politics together in a stew which keeps you guessing as to what the next mouthful will be. Mladen has since moved away from this realm, into varied other subjects.
The Life and Death of a Porno Gang is not at all hardcore extreme, it’s gory, it has a lot of nudity, but it’s so filled with likeable characters that it’s so charming. We both loved it for what it was; a guy trying to make a living plus be accepted, basically falls, and takes everyone with him. It’s laugh out loud funny in parts, and feels very real, especially the blood and killings, but what is a bit deflating is the cast. They act exceptionally well, but not enough is found out about the people they are playing which seems a bit empty all said and done.
The Tetro release has (as I said) wonderful sound and picture qualities, plus comes with three short films by the director, along with galleries and commentaries. The Life and Death of a Porno Gang isn’t a classic of the genre, but it’s a pleasant well put together entertaining film. The effects are marvellous, by the way, courtesy of Miroslav Lakobrija, who has also worked on the new 2022 Hellraiser, as well as A Serbian Film, of course. Additional note, the deformed features of the little girl were actually real.
The Life and Death of a Porno Gang is highly recommended with a big crimson Severed thumb in the air from Jay Creepy and Willow Brian. Just don’t go in expecting a nasty gut-punching rollercoaster ride though, despite the extreme history of the country.
AKA: Zivot i smrt porno bande, Vida e Morte de uma Gangue Pornô, Leben und Tod einer Pornobande, Животът и смъртта на порнобандата, Zivljenje in smrt porno tolpe
Directed by: Mladen Djorfjevic
Written by: Mladen Djorfjevic
Produced by: Srdan Golubovic, Igor Kecman, Jelena Mitrovic
Cinematography by: Nemanja Jovanov
Editing by: Marko Glusac, MIlina Trisic
Special Effects by: Miroslav Lakobrija, Mirjana Acin
Music by: Janjar Loncar
Cast: Mihajlo Jovanovic, Ana Acimovic, Bojan Zogovic, Ivan Djordjevic, Srboljub Milin, Srdjan Miletic, Natasa Aksentijevic
Year: 2009
Country: Serbia
Language: Serbian (English Subtitles)
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 47 min
Studio: Film House Bas Celik
Distributor: TetroVideo
DVD SPECS:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Region: ALL
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
– Interview with screenwriter Antonio Tentori
– Interview with producer Tony Newton
– Patient 0 short film
– Last Drop short film
– Bloody Popcorn short film
– Gallery: behind the FX scenes
– Gallery: backstage
– Gallery official movie stills
– Original Trailer
