In a genre that thrives on transgression, few movies have earned a reputation so solid that they unsettle even the most jaded horror fans.
But one standalone game that came out in 2012 has quietly slipped into the horror icon’s psyche, amassing a cult following not for its jump scares or monster frights, but for the ingrained psychological discomfort it instils.
This movie has not only generated controversy but has also resulted in outright bans. Indeed, several countries have refused to show it without major changes, while in others, it is banned completely. In case you missed: Banned Horror Film Finally Hits Netflix
Horror enthusiasts who are familiar with infamous films such as A Serbian Film have begun comparing the lesser-known classic to the infamous classic, declaring in some instances that it surpasses it.
It is a suburban neighbourhood film and takes the audience to a 12-year-old boy named Marty who discovers a terrifying secret in the closet of his older brother, a “severed human head.”.
This startling revelation develops into a profoundly disturbing tale of sibling ties, distorted family relationships, and a slide into violence that is as tragic as it is frightening.
At the heart of the film is less the horror of gore and more a well-constructed psychological spiral. Marty’s older brother is a serial killer, and the film develops with precision as it examines how that terrible secret slowly ravages Marty’s world.
Racism, bullying, toxic masculinity, and loss of innocence themes are tackled using a hauntingly raw narrative.
A Reddit user from the r/horror subreddit posted their reaction:
“Maybe even more disturbing than A Serbian Film. Never thought I’d write those words. And yet, this movie is fantastic… It’s shocking, but not merely for the sake of shock.”
Others have remarked upon the film’s graphic material.
“The gore is… intense. I haven’t seen this kind of thing outside of the French extreme horror cinema”
Another fan wrote, contributing to the movie’s expanding mythology among fans of horror.
The film is a low-budget adaptation of Todd Rigney’s 2004 novel of the same name and was directed by Scott Schirmer.
Despite its finite resources, it has been able to make a remarkable impact. The film has been complimented by the horror site Bloody Disgusting, which observed that:
“the film’s glut of shock buttons will also linger on the brain long after watching.”
But the praise has come at a cost. In Australia, the movie was originally banned and only later released after two minutes of footage were removed.
Ninety-eight seconds were cut from the film in the UK before it was allowed to be shown to the public. Even with these cuts, it remains banned in most areas, making it effectively illegal to see in others.
Watch the trailer below…
Its unflinching portrayal of trauma and ultra-violence is exactly what’s made Found unforgettable and out of reach to a large extent. To those who believe they’ve seen it all in horror, Found may make them rethink.
