When you're in the mood, this is a five-star movie. But trust me, you never want to be in the mood.
August Underground's Mordum—and the Toe Tag Pictures catalog in general—has a reputation for being little more than a showcase of special effects makeup. This is a misunderstanding. These films are not about gore. Despite being shot with the aesthetic of a low-budget porno and rife with sexual violence, this film is not about sex either. It is about the callousness with which a trio of human beings humiliate and degrade others. In other words, it is a film about what it means to be human on the most fundamental level.
We are not all as sadistic and perverse as the killers portrayed herein. Some of us even try to act with compassion and do right by others. A rare few will go so far as to risk themselves for the sake of someone else. Yet, the fundamental nature of humanity—rooted in our original sin—is that of a selfish, callous organism that prioritizes its own interests. Harming others often becomes, at best, a means to an end, and at worst, a source of pleasure. After all, what is the fun of being accepted into a group if there are no outsiders to exclude or hurt?
The focus of Mordum is not on sex or violence, but on the glee and sadism that emerge when human beings harm others simply because they can and because they know they'll get away with it.
This is not a film to approach lightly, and it certainly isn’t one to enjoy. But when you're in a place where you need a stark reminder of the darker truths of human nature, Mordum is seldom equaled.
