Rating of
N/A
Media Satire and Pervasive Humour
cacb3995 - wrote on 02/26/18
With the simple premise of a small documentary crew closely following the antics of a serial killer, “Man Bites Dog” takes the category of mocumentary filmmaking to a whole new level. We follow Ben (Benoit Poelvoorde, who also produces and co-directs), a charismatic and yet highly dangerous psychopath, who is the subject of a documentary shot by Rémy (Rémy Belveux, who serves as a director and editor for the film) and André (André Bronzel, who’s also the cameraman for the film). We are drawn into Ben’s life, his family, his friends, his everyday habits, but just when we think he is a regular human being albeit with some very dark humour, his actions turn to ultra-violence and his rationalization of them makes it all the more disturbing and yet strangely satisfying at the same time.
For a 1992 belgian film, “Man Bites Dog” was way ahead of its time. Thematizing complex topics such as media violence, journalistic integrity and morality in the part of media/content creators, the film brings to the forefront a variety of issues that will make many viewers uncomfortable, even today. But this is exactly the reason why this film is important and why it should be more widely seen: it is a very actual satire that brings up questions of the media world and our moral stance towards it. As the movie progresses, we see how the documentary crew slowly degenerates and revels in the same twisted acts that give Ben his kicks, posing the question, without giving any definite answer, how are they better than their subject matter?
Full review at: https://breakingthefourthwallsite.wordpress.com/2018/02/26/man-bites-dog-media-satire-and-pervasive-humour/
