Scott Hicks: OLD BOY, A BRIEF LOOK AT EXTREME FILM

Let’s face it; we live in a world of limited addition director’s cuts, uncut editions, and unrated versions. We clamor to know what really happened after the camera turned away in theaters. With the advent of DVD we are being provided a deeper look at the more extreme moments in film that until recently have been removed for ratings sake. So it was only natural progression that people would start making film that just left these scenes in to begin with. These films which I will simply refer to as the “extreme”
genre often relies heavily on shock value and frequently gore to entertain their audiences.

Old Boy fits neatly into to this category, more specifically “Extreme Asia”
which is a genre in its own right. Old Boy contains graphic imagery, violence, nudity, and a final plot twist that will make most people say “ewww.” As an example of the genre Old Boy is actually fairly tame, the movie still cuts away right at the safe moment, though you are still left with lovely sound effects. This takes me to one of the first defining characteristics of the extreme genre; believable sound effects.

Frequently this genre is forced to leave the imagery up to the audience’s imagination, as the camera pans away at the last second. This means in order for the film to have the effect of shocking the audience it has to be able to accurately portray a vivid mental image through scene set-up and sound effects only. Old Boy and other films like it have come along way with sound effects that represent various body parts either, being cut, smashed, crushed, broken, and generally maimed. I found my self still grimacing well after the on screen images stopped, just because the sound effects were powerful enough to make my imagine the gruesome torture scene taking place just of screen. However sound is not the only effects used in this genre, as I said before this genre frequently does not turn the camera away at the last second.

If you have seen Hostel you’ve seen a good example of the grotesque and vivid imagery found in this genre. Old Boy though tamer visually than Hostel, Old Boy still has some scenes that are meant to shock the audience.
Now, not only to you have to convince me that what I am hearing is real but what I am seeing is real as well. Advances in cosmetic special effects have led to fantastic ways to represent all forms of bodily injury, from burns and lacerations to gouges and severing, film can portray them all. Old Boy has a lot fewer scenes in it that require the need for these kind of special effects, as I have mentioned it is on the tame end of the spectrum of this genre. It does, however make up for its lack of gore with the last major characteristic of this genre, shocking plot points.

Now you have vivid imagery supported by amazing sound, but what does this matter if the plot does not cause someone to reel back as well. Extreme films often have plots that cause the viewer to stop and think, “Did that really happen?” “He didn’t just do that did he?” or “Oh my god! That’s horrible!” These movies frequently make you question the humanity of both the heroes and villains. (On a side note: The villain in Old Boy is one of the greatest ever.) Can someone really be considered a good-guy if they go to the extremes of torture and mutilation to reach their goals? These movies often have a very thin grey line separating good from evil. In the case of Old Boy both hero and villain stepped across that line to the other side at least once. On the same note these movies rarely, very rarely, have anything resembling a happy ending.

This genre is everything that its name suggests, violent, sexual, shocking.
Writers and directors will use anything in their power to get you to cringe back in your seat. These films are not for the week of heart or those with week stomachs. I think that we are just seeing the beginning of this genre as well. People like to be shocked and frightened; why else would be ride roller coasters. If you have any interest in this genre I can recommend a few movies.

From Korea: Chan Wook Park’s Trilogy of Vengeance which is Old Boy, Lady Vengeance, and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance From Japan: Parasite Eve, Ringu From Russia: Night Watch From the U.S.: SAW, SAW II, Silent Hill, The Ring (See Ringu), The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
All of these can be found at a good Blockbuster.