Begotten Photos

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Cast

Brian Salzberg
as God Killing Himself

Donna Dempsey
as Mother Earth

Stephen Charles Barry
as Son of Earth - Flesh on Bone

James Gandia

Daniel Harkins

Michael Phillips

Erik Bryan Slavin

Arthur Streeter

Adolfo Vargas

Garfield White

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Critic Reviews for Begotten

Audience Reviews for Begotten

• Aug 28, 2013

  At last, a film for people who found "Eraserhead" too commercial. This underground horror relic starts with a twitching God figure disemboweling himself and giving birth to a full-grown woman (credited as "Mother Earth"). She returns the favor by bringing him to orgasm and manually impregnating herself with his semen. From there, the story takes a strange turn. Features include abduction, rape and various ritualistic activities that defy interpretation. The plot has been described as a retelling of the creation myth, but trying to follow a linear story is purely optional. Suffice to say, this a great movie if you're a fan of convulsions. There is no dialogue, and the soundtrack is an alien mix of birds, crickets, flies, low drones and what sounds like the ambient splashes of a toilet tank. The visual look of "Begotten" is impossible to forget. Its gritty, black-and-white texture was apparently created through shooting with reversal stock and then re-photographing each frame for an extra layer of distortion. Often, it's difficult to tell what is happening and the image approaches pure abstraction. It's a relief that this film is only 78 minutes, because further length would defy almost anyone's endurance. Surprisingly, director E. Elias Merhige went on to craft the considerably more accessible (if equally macabre) "Shadow of the Vampire."
  

  Eric B Super Reviewer
• Feb 22, 2012

  It's not much, but damn does it leave a hell of an impression. An exercise in the power of images and an attempt to use dissonant sensations to create a desired experience. Job well done.
  Edward S Super Reviewer
• Nov 09, 2011

  A very interesting meditative movie shot only with two colours, black and white that requires a lot of patience to appreciate but is indeed unique and surreally beautiful on it's brutality. The type of movie you only watch once in a lifetime.
  Francisco G Super Reviewer
• Nov 02, 2011

  <i>Prick your finger, it is done The moon has now eclipsed the sun The angel has spread its wings The time has come for bitter things</i> 100/100
  Edgar C Super Reviewer

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