You can’t discuss the union of sex and violence without “Caligula” — one of the most explicit and controversial films of all time.
We continue our look at sex and horror (check out parts one and two) by exploring a heavily touted recut of one of the most infamous films of all time — a shockingly explicit, heavily censored cinematic disaster whose absolute failure is the stuff of legend… but one that still keeps people talking forty-five years later.
Where do we even begin when talking about Caligula?
The stories behind the constantly changing screenplay are interesting. It is ironic that actors refused huge paydays based on moral grounds, considering how fast and loose people are willing to play with their principles in Hollywood. The pornography, aftermath, and critical reevaluation are all important parts of the film’s mythos.
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut attempts to release the movie as intended by its original writer, Gore Vidal. It also includes an additional animated opening sequence and gives Helen Mirren’s character more importance.
Almost 100 hours of footage were used to give audiences what was intended. How well does it work?
The first red flag is that Vidal’s vision does not exist.
As soon as director Tinto Brass was brought on, Caligula went through heavy rewrites. Which means the new release is more of the same. It’s just a whole lot longer. Whether this is good or bad will depend on your initial opinion of the movie. In other words, the latest cut adds nothing.
Just because something is pointless, does that mean it is bad?
We once again discuss how even necessary nudity can be superfluous. We also explore sex carnivals in ancient Rome, gorgeous set pieces, and over-the-top performances.
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut is something else, but is it worth watching?
You can currently catch the film in select theaters, followed shortly by a streaming and Blu-ray release.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
Episode 372 ‘Ebola Syndrome (1996)
It has been a bad week for people who enjoy physical media. ‘GTA VI’ is not getting a physical release, Playstation games are not getting physical releases after next year, and Sony deleted over 550 movies from user libraries. We also talk about the awesome summer box office.
Sometimes it seems like the days of good old fashioned extreme horror are gone. It was fun to look for movies that everyone talked about but few people had actually seen. In today’s world, it is easy to find any movie that you have heard about. And the worst offenders are nowhere near as bad as they are supposed to be.
At least that is our opinion. But can you blame us? When we hear that movies like ‘Terrifier’ are supposed to be extreme horror, it is hard not to think this way. We decided it was time to take a look back. We literally went to a category that have previously made us feel uncomfortable.
‘Ebola Syndrome’ is a Category III Hong Kong movie that checks off all the boxes for extreme horror. This movie has all the trigger warnings. Despite the constant racism, misogyny, and assault, there is a shockingly good film here. It is funny, creative, and well-done. But is it worth watching?
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
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Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
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