Jack Sargeant

I love the books in the Creation Cinema Collection if for nothing else than as a suggestion list of films that most people haven't heard of. Criticism of these sub-genres aside, I love that they are spotlighted at all.

This volume in the series deals with Transgressive cinema, a genre I was unaware of until I picked this book up. Basically, in a nutshell, transgressive cinema is the film that pushes the envelope to the point of tearing it. Most films feature heavy violence or sex and often isn't simulated. For instance the filmmaker Richard Kern features short subjects such as a woman who voluntarily has her vagina sewn shut to light bondage fare. None of which is done in a pornographic manner, though a lot of times are just short enough to eschew any real plot. The book is a great place for anyone who likes disturbing film and has gotten their fix of the mostly fake Faces of Death series or mild exploitation fare.

There's a little bit of filler in the form of reprinted interviews with actresses and such, but all in all hardly a complaint. If you're new to cinema outside of summer movies, dumb comedies and Oscar flicks this series of books is a good place to start.… (más)