avik-basu1889 Consider a scenario where Travis Bickle after gaining hero status at the end of 'Taxi Driver' embarks on a rampaging killing spree(as is very likely for his character), but this time a documentary crew follows him and his actions, and with this you have the thematic equivalent of the mockumentary 'Man Bites Dog'. 'Man Bites Dog' follows a violent serial killer as he casually commits one murder after another with horrific brutality. This film is a brutal satire on how society and films from all around the world glamorise violence and hero-worship the vigilantes(which was also the point of the ending section of Taxi Driver). The way the documentary crew remain indifferent and downright casual about the murders until things start affecting them personally is a clear statement on the film viewers of that time and subsequent generations and their tendency to gravitate towards graphic and disturbing violence. Although the film has comedic sensibilities running through it, but it does not compromise when it comes to depiction of violence.There are some chilling moments in the film that underline this like the moment where two kids are scene playing with toy guns and shooting at each other and the it suddenly jump cuts to Ben actually shooting real people. There are other scenes where Ben tries to emulate in real life, murder scenes he has seen in films. This film is certainly not for everyone as it consistently flirts with the line dividing what is offensive and what's not and at times for some viewers it may seem to skew a little towards the offensive side. It does make you feel a bit contaminated by the nihilistic violence, a bit like 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', but I think that was intentional on the part of the directorial team.The tag line for 'Taxi Driver' was 'On every street in every city, there's a nobody who dreams of being a somebody.' This tag line is also very much fitting for 'Man Bites Dog'. The protagonist Ben isn't really plagued by loneliness like Travis was, but what he shares with Travis is an intense yearning for attention. It is made very clear in the film that Ben loves the attention that the documentary crew give him. So much so that when the crew try to turn down his invitation to a meal one evening citing plans that they made earlier, Ben gets antsy and feels offended. It is clear that like most serial killers and psychopaths, the roots of his deranged behaviour and monstrosity lies in his want to be seen and celebrated. He is always putting on an act and pretending to be this angelic, sharp individual with high intellect who just happens to be a serial killer. This pretension stands out as there comes certain scenes later in the film where Ben is forced to be his genuine actual self which is very different from the character he is pretending to be in the initial part of the film. Travis' story had the inescapable backdrop of post-Vietnam and post-Watergate America, I don't have enough knowledge to know whether the directorial team is making a statement about a state of disillusionment existing in Belgium at the time of its release but it very well could be the case. Another film that comes to mind is 'A Clockwork Orange'. Just like Kubrick's film, 'Man Bites Dog' challenges us by making us follow a truly despicable, deplorable and loathsome character. However just like Alex, Ben also pays big time for his actions.Textually and technically, this film reminded me a lot of the French New Wave from the late 50s and 60s. There is a lot of Godard-esque jump cutting, preponderance of long unbroken takes as is expected from a pseudo documentary,etc. There is a beautiful directorial moment of subtle imagery towards the end of the film where just before a shocking revelation, there is a fleeting moment where we see a mirror in front of Ben with his reflection on it signifying that he is about to see the monstrosity of his own work reflected back at him, he is about to get a dose of his own medicine and it will be painful. The directorial team does very well to juggle and balance the darkly comedic elements of the film along with the graphic and gruesome violence.The acting is good and believable from everyone, but certainly Benoît Poelvoorde deserves a special mention who drives the film forward and gives a layered performance. He plays a guy pretending to be a bad- ass, he doesn't go over-the-top, but manages to still capture a manic psychopathic demeanour in every scene. He also shines in the more quiet, subtler moments when the character suffers loss and regret. 'Man Bites Dog' is the darkest that a black comedy can get. It is challenging, shocking, disturbing and maybe perceived by some to be at times offensive. But I think there is a justification for the shock value that the film makes use of. The film has something to say about society, cinema and evil in general. If you can sit through a few moments of disturbing imagery, I will recommend this film to you ever so strongly.

Leofwine_draca Imagine a kind of BLAIR WITCH PROJECT done for the serial killer genre and the result is MAN BITES DOG, a startling, original, and deeply unsettling mock-documentary which sees a film crew following a serial killer as he goes about his daily business of murder, maiming, torture, and rape. Shot in stark black-and-white, on the street with no budget and a highly realistic feel – cast and crew members are named after themselves – this is, in places, repulsive viewing, yet it's also a very well made film at the same time. It's one of those films that manipulates the viewer, getting him on side with the protagonists before exposing him or her to murder and worse, asking where to draw the line.The film benefits from a great leading performance from Benoit Poelvoorde, who essentially carries the film single-handedly. Due to the material, Poelvoorde goes over the top from time to time, but for the most part he gives a manic, edgy type of performance that reminded me of James Woods (whom Poelvoorde coincidentally looks like, as well). The rest of the people in the movie are believable and while the violence seems quite tame by modern standards, it hits with full impact. The worst bit of the film is a distasteful rape and murder which is gruelling in the extreme. A twist ending rounds things up nicely on what has been a good movie – not one you'll want to ever watch again, perhaps, and not one that you'll get much enjoyment out of, unless you're a psycho yourself – but one that's striking, forceful, and plumbs greater depths of horror than many a blood-churning gore flick.

mazec666 A cerebral hybrid between "Monty Python", "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" and "American Psycho", "Man Bites Dog" is one such film that certainly lives up to its underground reputation. The film's grainy black-and-white photography sets up the overall tone as the viewer goes on a violent, blackly-humorous joyride masquerading as an actual documentary.Meet Benoit Poelvoorde, a clever, cultured, quick-witted, well-liked young man. A seemingly normal man with a fondness for mussels, running down the beach in the nude and most of all, he kills innocent people for a living. Cameraman Andre Bonzel and reporter Remy Belvaux are on hand to film the mundane activities of Ben's daily life along with his friends and family. Unfortunately, the two men begin to realize that their archetypal subject is doing more than just being Mr. Nice Guy.From losing his cherished ID bracelet to accidentally killing a birthday party goer, Ben becomes more than just your garden-variety serial killer in the movies. While viewing the film numerous times, I don't know what my natural reaction would be whether to laugh or be horrified. The final reaction would be both.Yes, the film is indeed shockingly violent, offensively funny and proud of it. But thanks to Poelvoorde's naturalistic performance, we know "Man Bites Dog" will be an out-of-this-world experience filled with manic glee and intense energy. The main saying goes: "No rules, no consequences." Which reminds me of that fine American institution for censorship? The Motion Picture Association of America better known as the MPAA."Man Bites Dog" makes sense for receiving the dreaded NC-17 rating. While the latter rating is usually reserved for sexually-themed films like SHOWGIRLS, it is finally put to proper use for a movie with such realistic depictions of violence.Forget "Blair Witch." Forget "Paranormal Activity." And forget "Quarantine." Those so-called "home video" genre movies don't hold a candle to the pure down-and-dirty celluloid that is "Man Bites Dog." The best film of 1992.Viva Cinema!

udoricht I can't believe that some people consider it as a cult movie.One guy (serial killer and psychopath) very talkative, kills and destroys anything he wants to for a pleasure and tried to find out the purpose of his behavior in the front of the camera that follows him. This is very cheap movie without any sense. The main protagonist thinks he is smart and keep talking about his life while killing other people, robs their money and throws corpses over some kind of bridge while explaining the technique.In the end he got killed for causing troubles to the other gangsters.The crew that follows his crime and record it is sick and dumb too and off course got killed too.Is this kind of a movie that you wanted to see? Just sickness.