Man Bites Dog (1992)

The film is described as one of the most ferociously disturbing ever made, a bleak and depraved debut that questions media complicity in violence. Its initial black comedy gives way to increasingly shocking set pieces that make for uncomfortable viewing.

The critic finds the film's black comedy unsuccessful and its violence repellent rather than amusing. The mockumentary conceit draws viewers into complicity with the killer but ultimately fails to land its satirical points effectively.

The ragtag production seduces viewers into cozying up to its charming killer before abruptly revealing his heinousness and gagging on the black laughter. It is an audacious, intentionally disturbing statement on the nature of violence in film and how movies numb us to it.

The film is a labor of love that takes the form of a mock documentary following a hit man and his crew through numerous murders. It succeeds as a big joke that implicates cinema itself in creating alluring violence, though it risks getting caught in its own satirical trap.

The critic describes the pseudo-documentary as a grisly sick joke packed with graphic violence that some will find funny and others appalling. It satirizes sensationalist TV journalism while questioning the camera's role in inciting and documenting brutality.

The film is a spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary about a charming serial killer and the film crew who document and eventually join his crimes. It is praised as a witty, provocative and disturbing exploration of voyeurism and audiences' fascination with violence.

Reality programming meets a serial-killer portrait in this offbeat, darkly hilarious mock documentary about a freelance hit man followed by a film crew. Violent yet trenchant, it should attract a cult following and play well on video.