Terrorama! (2001) watch online HD

I discussed this film with some friends of mine and it's amazing to see how strong and negative some reactions are.

***SPOILERS*** A simple story (group of terrorists kidnap a famous TV-personality and kill him) is just an excuse for the film its real deeper thoughts about our society that creates extreme unacceptable behaviour. Edwin Brienen chooses for his debut film a very manipulative way of telling the story and blocks every emotional involvement of the viewer on purpose with a theme like political terrorism. Rather than dealing with drama and deep emotions, he quotes Nietzsche and De Sade. Showing off his intellectualism is sort of irritating but seems also a trick to distract us viewers from the emotion behind the deed: the TV-host is a victim, but portrayed by Brienen (at the beginning of the film) as a conservative judgmental old prick. I understood some actors in this film come from the commercial TV-world in Holland (Mental Theo had a happy hardcore hit here in Germany early nineties) which make things even more bizarre (the bizarre political dialog they have to speak). The film questions moral and consequence and although hysterical during a lot of moments (Brienen's take on Lynch's the red room in Twin Peaks here transformed into a green room is way over the top and annoying), the attacks on 11 September and the murder of Theo Van Gogh (reading from the Koran while a couple is having sex) prove Brienen (unfortunately) right. In that sense is Terrorama a prophetic film (Brienen wrote and filmed it in 2000), one with an extremely bitter aftertaste though.

On an acting level is Esther Verkaaik amazing in her portrayal of a woman torn apart between emotions and political idealism. Kiki Classen (absolute beauty) makes a strong impression as the assistant of the TV-personality. Her scene in which she questions religion ("I'm searching for my own revelations") during a dinner date with him is the highlight of the film.

The film gained some positive reputation over the last years and was released on DVD as part of the Brienen-collection in 2008. The rough style of Terrorama is continued in Lebenspornografie but Brienen certainly became more Hollywood after. It's a pity though that this collection uses an old and very dusty copy of the film instead of a remastered one. I read they will release a 10years-anniversary DVD so lets hope they spend some money on a pixel-clear-copy as Terrorama absolutely deserves it!

Last week I went to the 'Bloed In De Polder' Film Festival in Rotterdam, where I saw a film called "Terrorama!". Director Edwin Brienen is a controversial radio personality for Dutch broadcasting station VPRO. The film was also surrounded by scandals, heavily exposed in Dutch tabloids. Rumours about pornographic scenes, drug abuse... so I expected a lot. But even I wasn't prepared for this!

"Terrorama!" is a film about a group of frustrated, angry people. They blame society for their traumatic experiences. So they kidnap TV host Gerard van Dongen, and confront him with torture and rape. The film starts as a theatre play, with long shots and monologues about failed love, misery and the justice of violence. When I was just about to fall asleep, the film changed its pace and even becomes funny at times. There is a hilarious dialogue about Kojak, and some freaky characters are introduced, adding a bit of trash 'chic'.

Things turn more grim, when the actual kidnapping starts. Suddenly the connection between the characters becomes clear. They're not just fooling around, they are terrorists for real. The second part of the film is far more serious and even disgusting. My stomach turned watching the sick rape of 'the blonde girl', and reaching the end of the film I was so depressed, I was quite relieved it was over.

So what the f*** did I actually see? By far the strangest Dutch film ever made. Obviously low-budget, sometimes bad acting performances. You can clearly see not everybody is a professional actor. Brienen chose to cast some real-life freaks, for example: a 250 pound dominatrix, a transvestite and some trashy prostitutes. Funny are the cameos by Dutch celebrities like Theo van Gogh (reading the Koran).

"Terrorama!" is a weird mix of radical political statements (especially a ridiculously long conversation between two women on a couch, talking about society in a lesbian atmosphere - Oh Fassbinder Where Art Thou?), extreme violence, trash and even art. Halfway the film a masturbating Jesus Christ figure shows up, flirting with a Nazi officer. I'm not sure about the meaning of this all, but quite extraordinary cinematography and editing though.

This is definitely NOT a mainstream film. I'm curious about the motives of the director why to make such a radical film. It's a complete 'mindfuck', and I wonder if Brienen wanted to make a Dutch "Salo". I'm not against immorality in films, but because of the lack of emotion in the characters, it's impossible to identify with them. Not my thing, this sick but fascinating production. Definitely the weirdest, most disturbing film I've seen in years. Curious about Brienen's next one. Rating: 5/10

I know, I know. This comment will not be looked kindly upon by all those (predominantly male 45+) viewers that gave this movie a 10.

Still ....

Shocking violence, rape and masturbation scenes. Yes. Long, rambling monologues about the reason of the universe. Check. G.V.D's (*) in about every sentence. Oh most definitely.

Altogether: hideously acted, very poorly filmed, incoherent, shocking only for the sake of shocking. In short pointless, painful to watch, surprisingly boring. The director should take up a more fitting job, say cleaning crude oil tankers. I fear for the careers of all actors/actresses involved.

(*) This means Godd*mm*t, you English-speaking people.