Plot: What’s it about?
Marko (Mihajlo Jovanovic) is driven to become a filmmaker, with his dream to create horror movies. But he is unable to drum up interest from financiers, so he shifts gears into a different genre. He finds work as the director of adult films, where he meets all kinds of unusual people. But when he winds up on the wrong side of some powerful criminals, he has to go on the run, though his porn career will continue. He and the various oddballs from his cast & crew pile into a van and venture into the countryside, to entertain locals with live sex shows. The group is able to make some money, but not much, so when they’re approached by a creepy producer who is interested in snuff films, they’re open to the concept. The group has endured some dark events in their travels, so while murder on film seems extreme, their broken minds latch onto the idea. The group will be killing off people in theatrical fashion, though the victims are all looking to end their lives. The murders begin to haunt the group inside and out, not to mention getting the attention of the police, so what will become of this depraved troupe?
While not as notorious as A Serbian Film, The Life and Death of a Porno Gang is a dark, twisted journey that is soaked in sex, violence, and unforgettable moments. This film is loaded with sex and naked flesh, with some sex scenes that come as close to hardcore porn as possible, without quite crossing that line. The digital video visuals really enhance the sex and violence, as it all seems so much more real in this kind of format. The film doesn’t look slick or polished, it looks like a home movie that happened to capture some horrific moments. The violence is frequent, but not over the top and that ensures it retains the impact. The gore is well done and combines with the digital format to provide some quite unsettling scenes. Of course, this film is going to offend almost anyone who watches it, but that is to be expected in this case. But if you’re into unusual, intense, and boundary pushing cinema, The Life and Death of a Porno Gang is worth a look.
Video: How does it look?
The Life and Death of a Porno Gang is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. The movie was shot on digital video and processed in various ways, so the visuals don’t have that slick, eye popping HD presence. That said, this transfer replicates the film’s visual design as intended, so that is good news. The visual design is crucial, as that in the moment style is what makes the movie have such impact, so it needed to be upheld here. This isn’t one you’ll want to use to show off your home theater screen, but Synapse has delivered a faithful, well handled presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Serbian soundtrack is preserved via a DTS HD 2.0 stereo soundtrack. The sound design is basic and natural, so it meshes with the visuals well. The sound has the live, in the moment presence that the film requires, but that also means some less than polished instances. But on the whole, the dialogue is clear and whatever elements need to come across, are well handled and audible. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main supplement is Made in Serbia, a feature length look at Serbia’s adult film business. This is a no holds barred piece, so there is graphic hardcore sex on showcase. The extras also include some deleted scenes, a behind the scenes featurette, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
