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I just watched the foreign short “Aftermath/Genesis”. I'd seen Genesis a while ago when it was streaming on Netflix, though I wasn’t actually aware Aftermath existed until I saw it on someone’s “most disturbing horror films” list. Of course, I underestimated the film’s ability to actually “disturb” me, like I originally did with Martyrs. So of course, I feel like an idiot now, because Aftermath did, in fact, disturb me deeply.
As always, I’m of two minds about films like this. I want to hate it because it just seems so wrong, but on the other hand, it did horrify me and isn’t that the main purpose of a horror film? Maybe I’m being ridiculously pretentious, but the film (however grotesque) does resemble a fine work of art. For example, the role sound plays in Aftermath is essential, the squeak of the gloves, the click of the camera, the sound of blood and organs being slapped around, it all seems so carefully orchestrated. Therefore, can this film be considered anything other than an exercise in deviance? I don’t know.
On the other hand, I dislike this film immensely, because it supports the untrue stereotype that those who deal with death on a daily basis are perverted ghouls. I’ll be honest; I have a very close familiar member who works as a morgue technician. Whenever people ask him what he does, they either react with revulsion or morbid curiosity when he tells them. Too often, I find myself having to defend him, because after all, his job is just a job, a role in society that needs to be filled by someone. In light of this, I found it hard to watch Aftermath, because it certainly isn’t promoting a new view of morgue techs, just reinforcing old clichés. And we all know that the horror genre already has plenty of clichés, so maybe this film doesn’t really deserve that much credit.
Again, I don’t know. Either way, I definitely need a little brain bleach. Off to watch cute puppy videos on YouTube, hehe.
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