A Serbian Film Blu Ray Review (Unearthed Films)
A Serbian Film (aKa Српски филм and Srpski film) is a 2010 Serbian exploitation film co-written, produced and directed by Srđan Spasojević (The ABCs of Death and Whereout) in his directorial debut. It was co-written by. Aleksandar Radivojevic (Tears for Sale, E-Snuff, Judgement of the Axe, Luminous, and Whereout). It was produced by Dragoljub Vojnov (Round Trip, Breakdown, Miss, Black Maria, and Awakening from the Dead). It was censored all over in the world for it’s original release.
Milos (played by: Srdjan ‘Zika’ Todorovic from Hotel Belgrade, The Team, Dogs Die Alone, Underground, and The Box), a retired porn star now leads a normal family life with his wife Maria (played by: Jelena Gavrilovic from The Outpost, Can Run, Everly, and Double Trouble) and six-year old son Petar (played by: Luka Mijatovic from The Raven) in tumultuous Serbia. He is just trying to make ends meet with his peaceful return to society. A sudden call from his former colleague Layla (played by: Katarina Zutic from Moja Generacija Z, Tate, Nepobedivo srce, Sky Hook, and The Robbery of the Third Reich) will change everything for the rest of his life. Aware of his financial problems, Layla introduces Milos to Vukmir (played by: Sergej Trifunovic from Next, The Raven, War Inc, and The Whistleblower). He is a mysterious, menacing and politically powerful figure in the pornographic business. A leading role in Vukmir’s production will provide financial support to Milos and his family for the rest of their lives.
A contract insists on his absolute unawareness of a script they will shoot. From then on, Milos is drawn into a maelstrom of unbelievable cruelty and mayhem devised by his employer, “the director” of his destiny. Things get worse for the former porn legend and he can’t believe what he sees on the set with Marko (played by: Slobodan Bestic from Metla bez drske, Moja Generacija Z, Afterparty, and Horizons), Jeca (played by: Andela Nenadovic), Jeca’s mother (played by: Ana Sakic from Cat Run, Leeaches, The Brothers Bloom, and Ironclad: Battle for Blood), Doctor (played by: Lena Bogdanovic from Devil’s Town, Fellowship Offerings, Nlue Train, and Urota), and Rasa (played by: Miodrag Krcmarik from Agreement, Sestre, and Stizu dolari). Vukmir and his disturbed collaborators will stop at nothing to complete his morbid vision. In order to escape the living cinematic hell he’s been put into, and save his family’s life, Milos is forced to sacrifice everything he has which includes his pride, his morality, his sanity, and maybe even his own life after it’s all done. Can he escape this living nightmare or is he trapped until this brutal masterpiece is complete????
A Serbian Film has a notorious reputation when it comes it’s graphic and no holds barred approach. Director Srđan Spasojević holds nothing back here and it breaks damn near every cinematic taboo when it comes to this wild exploitation feature. A Serbian Film spends the first 40 minutes building everything up with it’s main characters here. The script is way better than expected for something like this. Srdjan ‘Zika’ Todorovic gives an amazing performance as the desperate porn star Milos trying to secure his family’s future. He goes through hell to earn his big payday in this. Both Sergej Trifunovic and Slobodan Bestic were great villains here. They both pushed everything to it’s most extreme result. A Serbian Film has a solid supporting cast that includes Jelena Gavrilovic, Ana Sakic, and Katarina Zutic. A Serbian Film is now fully uncensored and uncut in high definition in America thanks to the sick bastards at Unearthed Films. A Serbian Film delivers on sleaze and pure violence. It’s loaded with nudity, unconformable moments, and gore. It’s not for the squeamish, it covers necrophilia, snuff films, pedophilia, and rape all in one setting. It does include the infamous scene that was cut from most of the versions released all over the world. It’s very hard to watch and it definitely gets undert your skin. A Serbian Film has all kinds of suspense, thrills, and tension building up to it’s batshit finale. A Serbian Film lives up to it’s gruesome reputation and hype, it still stays with you for days after experiencing it. I seen it a long time ago but it was edited,, this one has a much bigger impact. It’s not for everyone but it does mess with your mind & you won’t ever forget it after viewing it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!
Let’s talk about the high definition presentation from Unearthed Films! This 1080p (2.40:1) uncut transfer is 2 minutes longer than the original edited blu ray from Invincible Pictures in 2011. This independent feature looks amazing for it’s budget and this is the best A Serbian Film has ever looked on home video. The high quality cinematography and production design almost makes you forget that you are watching a snuff film. It has 2 different audio options which includes Serbian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Serbian: LPCM 2.0 on the disc. The music here is the true highlight when it comes to the technical aspects. Certain moments here, it really pounds and adds an extra punch to the cinematic experience. All of the dialogue is crystal clear and the insane moments have a nice boost to them. It has English subtitles.
Let’s discuss the special features from Unearthed Films! The original blu ray home video release was a bare bones so this brand new blu ray release from Unearthed Films is a huge upgrade compared to that one from the extras alone. It has an “Audio Commentary” with Srđan Spasojević moderated by Unearthed Films owner and filmmaker Stephen Biro. Biros asks all kinds of interesting questions and gets lots of information about the production for A Serbian Film. Srđan Spasojević brings up his early influences as a director. He chats about the cinematography, fx, story, cast, characters, and the shooting locations. They go into great detail about the infamous scene that shocked the world. You get an inside look into the fx and work that went into it. This is a fun track for such a dark film, these two have a blast chatting about it here. “Audio Commentary” # 2 with horror directors Adam Green and Joe Lynch from their The Movie Crypt podcast. This one is more from a fan and outsider’s point of view. It’s completely different from the first track which is nice to have a variety of options when it comes to commentaries. They have great chemistry and enjoy their experience with this modern video nasty. “A Serbian Film Exhibition” is a little over 3 minutes. It’s a quick video highlighting the show. It shows the cast and crew interacting with fans. It displays all kinds of props, artwork, and fx from the film. “Behind the Scenes of NBP” is a little over 6 minutes. This is a inside look and behind the scenes into the special fx for the notorious baby scene from the feature. It has a little over 2 minute “Photo Gallery” featuring a variety of images for the film. “A Serbian Documentary Preview” is almost 4 minutes and it’s a sneak peak for the upcoming full length documentary about A Serbian Film from Unearthed Films. “Brussels Film Fest Q & A” is almost 50 minutes with various members of the production. “Q & A with Srdjan & Jelena” is a little over 28 minutes and it’s from a 2018 Los Angeles screening. Both feature the members of the production sharing their personal experiences on it. They answer lots of questions and tells some stories about it. Between these two extras and the first commentary, there’s so much knowledge and information given about A Serbian Film. If you are a fan or just curious about this one, you will leave this home video release knowing what went into this independent exploitation flick. It has a “Trailer” for the movie and various other Unearthed Films releases. It has completely different artwork underneath the slipcover that’s included with the home video release. This has been selling out left and right so do not sleep on this blu ray. Unearthed Films is currently working on an extended never before seen version of A Serbian Film plus a full length documentary. This is available everywhere right now, CHECK IT OUT!!!!
