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Man Bites Dog (film)
Encyclopedia
Man Bites Dog is a darkly comedic
crime
Belgian
mockumentary
starring Benoît Poelvoorde
. In the film, a crew of filmmakers follow a serial killer
, recording his crimes for a documentary
they are producing. At first dispassionate observers, they find themselves caught up in the increasingly chaotic violence.
who discusses at length whatever comes to mind, be it architecture
, philosophy
or classical music
.
A film crew made up of three men join Ben on his sadistic adventures, recording them as a fly on the wall
documentary
. Ben takes them to meet his family and friends, while explaining at length the "craft" of his work.
He then ventures into apartment buildings explaining how it is more cost-effective to attack old people than young couples because the former have more cash at home and are easier to kill. In a following scene, he screams wildly ("I'm going to kill you") at an elderly lady, causing her to have a heart attack. As she lies dying, he casually remarks that this method allowed him to spare a bullet. Ben continues with his candid explanations and his murders, targeting anyone who comes his way: women, children, immigrants and postmen (his favourite victims).
The camera crew begin to get more and more involved in the murders, first as mere accomplices but eventually taking an active part in them. During filming, two of them are shot, their deaths later called "occupational hazards" by the crew. The camera crew finally crosses the line into active participation when Ben takes a couple hostage in their own home. He holds the man at gunpoint and encourages the camera crew to participate in raping the woman. The following morning, the camera dispassionately records the aftermath: both the man and the woman are dead.
Ben's violence becomes more and more random and motiveless, until he shoots an acquaintance in front of his girlfriend and family during a family meal, shocking his loved ones but also intimidating them into keeping silent. Events slip out of Ben's (and the camera crew's) control when the relatives of one of his victims start taking revenge on him and his family. Ben discovers that his parents have been killed, along with his girlfriend: a flautist, she has been murdered in a particularly humiliating manner, with her flute inserted into her anus. He at last decides that he must go on the run. He meets the camera crew for an emotional farewell, but in the middle of reciting a poem he is abruptly shot dead by an off-camera gunman. The camera crew is then picked off, one by one. After the cameraman has dropped the camera onto the ground, it keeps running and the film ends with the discarded camera recording the death of the fleeing sound recordist.
and was produced on a shoe-string budget by four student filmmakers, led by director Rémy Belvaux
. The film's writers, Belvaux, Poelvoorde and Bonzel, all appear in the film using their own first names: Poelvoorde as Ben, the killer; Belvaux as Rémy, the director; and Bonzel as André, the camera operator. The genesis of the idea came from shooting a documentary without any money. This film is rated NC-17 by the Motion Picture Association of America
for "strong graphic violence
".
Although it is never shown or suggested in the film itself that Benoit kills a baby, the original poster features an image of a baby's pacifier
with spattering blood coming from an unseen target at the end of Benoit's gun. For foreign release posters (not including the Region 4/Australia
n release), the baby's pacifier was changed to a set of dentures
.
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
crime
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
starring Benoît Poelvoorde
Benoît Poelvoorde
Benoît Poelvoorde is a Belgian actor and comedian who often associates cynicism, humour and drama in his movies.His mother was a grocer and his father a driver, who died when Poelvoorde was still young...
. In the film, a crew of filmmakers follow a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, recording his crimes for a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
they are producing. At first dispassionate observers, they find themselves caught up in the increasingly chaotic violence.
Plot
Ben is a charismatic serial killerSerial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who discusses at length whatever comes to mind, be it architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
or classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
.
A film crew made up of three men join Ben on his sadistic adventures, recording them as a fly on the wall
Fly on the wall
Fly on the wall is a style of documentary-making used in filmmaking and television production. The name derived from the idea that events are seen candidly, as a fly on a wall might see them...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. Ben takes them to meet his family and friends, while explaining at length the "craft" of his work.
He then ventures into apartment buildings explaining how it is more cost-effective to attack old people than young couples because the former have more cash at home and are easier to kill. In a following scene, he screams wildly ("I'm going to kill you") at an elderly lady, causing her to have a heart attack. As she lies dying, he casually remarks that this method allowed him to spare a bullet. Ben continues with his candid explanations and his murders, targeting anyone who comes his way: women, children, immigrants and postmen (his favourite victims).
The camera crew begin to get more and more involved in the murders, first as mere accomplices but eventually taking an active part in them. During filming, two of them are shot, their deaths later called "occupational hazards" by the crew. The camera crew finally crosses the line into active participation when Ben takes a couple hostage in their own home. He holds the man at gunpoint and encourages the camera crew to participate in raping the woman. The following morning, the camera dispassionately records the aftermath: both the man and the woman are dead.
Ben's violence becomes more and more random and motiveless, until he shoots an acquaintance in front of his girlfriend and family during a family meal, shocking his loved ones but also intimidating them into keeping silent. Events slip out of Ben's (and the camera crew's) control when the relatives of one of his victims start taking revenge on him and his family. Ben discovers that his parents have been killed, along with his girlfriend: a flautist, she has been murdered in a particularly humiliating manner, with her flute inserted into her anus. He at last decides that he must go on the run. He meets the camera crew for an emotional farewell, but in the middle of reciting a poem he is abruptly shot dead by an off-camera gunman. The camera crew is then picked off, one by one. After the cameraman has dropped the camera onto the ground, it keeps running and the film ends with the discarded camera recording the death of the fleeing sound recordist.
Production
The film is shot in black and whiteBlack-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
and was produced on a shoe-string budget by four student filmmakers, led by director Rémy Belvaux
Rémy Belvaux
Rémy Nicolas Lucien Belvaux was a Belgian actor, director, producer and screenwriter...
. The film's writers, Belvaux, Poelvoorde and Bonzel, all appear in the film using their own first names: Poelvoorde as Ben, the killer; Belvaux as Rémy, the director; and Bonzel as André, the camera operator. The genesis of the idea came from shooting a documentary without any money. This film is rated NC-17 by the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
for "strong graphic violence
Graphic violence
Graphic violence is the depiction of especially vivid, brutal and realistic acts of violence in visual media such as literature, film, television, and video games...
".
Although it is never shown or suggested in the film itself that Benoit kills a baby, the original poster features an image of a baby's pacifier
Pacifier
A pacifier is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to an infant or other young child to suck upon. In its standard appearance it has a teat, mouth shield, and handle...
with spattering blood coming from an unseen target at the end of Benoit's gun. For foreign release posters (not including the Region 4/Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n release), the baby's pacifier was changed to a set of dentures
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and which are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable, however there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental...
.