Trauma (2017) Review

I'm a huge fan of any kind of art that pushes any boundary it can. Extreme horror is a place where these boundaries are constantly pushed, albeit to differing degrees. The majority often cite A Serbian Film as an anger inducing piece of cinematic trash made simply to push the buttons of those who would not expect to see what that film contains. It seems to escape the public that these films aren't made to be enjoyed. Endured, yes, but there is no enjoyment in watching such atrocities being perpetrated on others in cinematic nightmares. Yet some of us seek out these films, wanting to be shocked, repulsed, offended or to experience any other feeling these films can stir up in their viewers. 

 

Trauma is another entry into the annals of extreme cinema, but I feel this one hit much harder than anything I have seen before. The film does not go anywhere near as far as A Serbian Film does in its extremity, but Trauma hits so much harder in so many different ways.

The film centres on four women who enter a town populated by creepy men who attempt to intimidate the women. From there things continually get worse as the atrocities increase time and time again. At the start, I felt so sorry for the child who is subjected to such trauma, and even though this child becomes an absolute monster, It was harrowing seeing what he was subjected to, and I continued to have sympathy for him, at least until the women began being raped and tortured.

Maybe I felt this sympathy because the man we see perpetrate the rape, torture and murder of the female characters begins the film by having traumatic experiences of his own (incest and infant molestation, which the latter thankfully takes place off camera). His indoctrination into committing such traumatic experiences as a child certainly creates a monster in the boy. One that is let loose to great extremes throughout the movie. Yet it also shows how this man has been shown these things, and their mixture of abuse, poverty and mental illness has created him in the same mould as his abusers were made. This isn't to say that this man is to be sympathised with, but it certainly gives greater depth to his character and the lengths he goes to. 

While nothing in Trauma feels sexually explicit, the attack and rape scenes are filmed with such honesty, the camera fixed on what is happening to the victims of these men. Its as disturbing as it is unflinching. These scenes are incredibly harrowing, and I have to admit that I may have considered not watching any more until I felt more at ease with what I was seeing. Of course I talked myself out of that, but the thought was there.

Trauma doesn't show the victims as weak or pathetic in any way. They are simply overcome by brutality, torture and trauma of the events that happen. By the end of the movie, the ones who survive certainly give back what they've experienced, and it suited the tone of the film perfectly.

Trauma is as hard hitting as an extreme horror movie can be. But the depths it reaches in its depravity, its brutal honesty and trauma inducing exploits is simply like nothing I have ever seen before. Trauma went to some very dark places indeed, and it certainly didn't stop there. This film will shock, disgust and make you feel sad, uncomfortable and repulsed in the extreme. I cannot give a greater recommendation than that. 

Darkest Regards...

Dani.