For Hardcore Horror Fans Only. Trauma will most definitely leave you Traumatised
What do the words “extreme horror” mean to you?. To me, its that feeling in your gut, that feeling when you think to yourself “who in the right kind of mind would like this sort of shit” then you realise, “oh, that would be me”.
When my screener comes with a warning, and from Artsploitation Films nonetheless, I need to be prepared and mentally able for vieiwng. I don’t think I could have ever been prepared for the madness in Trauma.
For one, I have never seen A Serbian Film, nor do I ever want to. It’s not that’ll it’ll scare me, I just found out the ending before it was released and I decided to draw the line there and then.
With Trauma, I had no idea what to expect. I will tell you this though, I had to take a break after about 8-mins in, take a deep breath and say “what in the name of Christ have I gotten myself into”?.
In a nutshell, (and I won’t explain the intro) 4 friends on holiday in Chile get lost and stumble across an old local bar. My first thoughts of this bar were it was like something straight out of Fabrice Du Welz’s, Calvaire (The Ordeal). It ain’t a nice place and the locals don’t seem used to having females around.
Fast-forward about 15-mins
All the ladies have settled into their holiday home. It’s time for some sexy dancing, some drinks, let the partying commence.
Their party time is disturbingly cut short when one of the girls notices a man staring at her through the window. One of the girls says something like “maybe, he is harmless”. If you’re a horror lover, you know that this sicko is most definitely not here to bring them a neighbourly welcoming gift.
The girls have no idea what horror and cruelness await them. They are viciously attacked turning their beautiful ideal holiday into the worst living nightmare possible.
I really don’t want to go into the plot too much. It’s a very straightforward plot: 4 friends get lost and get attacked by some crazy locals. It’s the nastiness that follows. I found myself on more than one occasion, bug-eyed and putting my hand over my mouth in shock at the level of violence on-screen.
Is this for everyone?
That’s a big FAT, no! Although, hardcore horror fans will find that Trauma maybe and could be the long-awaited return of extreme horror. In my opinion, it was the French who lead the way in terms of nastiness and extreme horror. After viewing this depraved masterpiece, I was in shock. I can safely say that South America can do it just as good, if not better than everyone else. I want more of this madness, I forgot how a good piece of disturbing cinema can affect you. That’s what horror should do!. Trauma will be lingering in the dark corners of my mind for some time.
9/10 Words by Gary Gamble Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
