PopHorror Let's Get Scared
My feeling is that humankind deserves worse, deserves to be depicted much worse than I have done.
–Srdjan Spasojevic (director A Serbian Film)
Most horror fans eventually hear about the extreme films. You know, the ones that push the limits for the viewer and act like a rite of passage. They include films like: The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence), Martyrs, Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom, and last, but not least, A Serbian Film. The latter film involves sexual acts, violence, and disturbing content – so disturbing that it was banned in multiple countries on its release and remains so to this day. Having watched the film a few times, I was excited to have an opportunity to watch the new documentary film directed by Stephen Biro, A Serbian Documentary. Honestly, I was really dying to know what the hell the filmmakers were thinking, and I was not let down.
Synopsis:
A Serbian Documentary offers an unfiltered look at one of cinema’s most controversial films, “A Serbian Film.” Hilarious, sexy but intense, this documentary provides a unique angle on a film that has sparked debates and outrage globally. Culled from over 162 hours of exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and featuring all new interviews by cast and crew, this documentary pulls back the curtain on the extreme experiences, creative visions, censorship, and artistic passion put forth. Be forewarned: it’s not just an informative look, but also an outrageous blend of ferocity and humor that promises to challenge your expectations. If you thought you knew the story behind “A Serbian Film,” think again.
To understand why A Serbian Film contains some of the content it does, it’s important to understand a little about the violent, tragic history of Serbia. The country has known little but violence and war for over 100 years, including both World Wars, several assassinations, communist rule, multiple civil conflicts, and the horrors of ethnic cleansing. Amidst all of this, the people of Serbia were constantly, as one critic of the film put it, “getting fucked.” So why not make a film that depicts the spirit of what Serbia is like for the Serbian people?
While the initial idea for the film came from Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi’s dark European “snuff-style” porn films, the writers, Aleksander Radivojevic and director Srdjan Spasojevic, understood that there was no way to avoid the violent political history of the country. Spasojevic himself called it “a diary of our own molestation by the Serbian government. It’s about the monolithic power of leaders who hypnotize you to do things you don’t want to do.” They also wrote A Serbian Film as a fuck you to the country’s censors that have historically put filmmakers in a chokehold – suppressing all free thoughts and ideas.
I was not prepared for how much humor there was among the cast and crew who were making a film with such shocking content. One of my favorite parts was learning that the actor who played the villain Vukmir, Sergej Trifunovic, signed up for the movie before he even read the script. Then he read the script and was thinking OH NO! But he still did a great job. Another fun moment was the absolute delight of the man who composed the music, Sky Wikluh, when the director did the unthinkable for Serbia — he paid!
Extreme films like A Serbian Film have never been for everyone. But if you have watched the film or just want to know what all the fuss is about, I can 100% recommend A Serbian Documentary! You may be genuinely surprised how much your view of the film may change after watching this doc!
A Serbian Documentary had its world premiere on August 22, 2025, at FrightFest. Keep an eye out for its release from Unearthed Films, coming soon!
