The Bunny Game

Last updated
The Bunny Game
The Bunny Game.jpg
Directed byAdam Rehmeier
Written byRodleen Getsic
Adam Rehmeier
StarringRodleen Getsic
CinematographyAdam Rehmeier
Edited byAdam Rehmeier
Distributed byDeath Mountain Productions
Release date
  • October 2011 (2011-10)(PollyGrind Film Festival)
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13,000

The Bunny Game is a 2010 American avant-garde horror film co-created and co-written by Rodleen Getsic (who also stars in the film) and Adam Rehmeier. [1] A prostitute searching for her next fix is kidnapped by a truck driver and subjected to extreme physical and sexual violence.

Contents

In the United States, the film was shot on a low-budget and had a limited theatrical release; it was later released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on July 31, 2012 by Autonomy Pictures. [2] [3]

In the United Kingdom the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) deemed the film 'unsuitable for classification' as doing so "would be inconsistent with the Guidelines, would risk potential harm within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and would accordingly be unacceptable to the public." [4]

Plot

Drug-addicted prostitute "Bunny" propositions a truck driver (who in flashbacks appears to be a serial killer). He kidnaps her and subjects her to extreme torture, [5] inflicting brutal and extreme forms of physical and sexual abuse. [6]

A prostitute (who the credits refer to as "Bunny") is shown performing fellatio on an unseen man, collecting her money, and using it to fuel her cocaine addiction. For the next several minutes, shots are alternated of her performing sexual acts on her clients, using the money to buy cocaine, and walking around searching for her next client.

Bunny meets a truck driver (who the credits refer to as "Hog") who asks her if she has an addiction, to which she replies that she does. He rejects her offer of a blowjob for thirty dollars, and instead drugs and kidnaps her. Later, Hog attempts to rouse Bunny from her drug-induced sleep, while rubbing her breasts, cutting her clothes of, running knives along her skin, licking her, and performing other physical and sexual acts. she eventually wakes up, terrified and handcuffed.

For the next several days, Hog subjects her to a series of physical, sexual, and mental torments. In no particular order, he forcefully kisses her, brands her with the shape of a caduceus, shaves her head, forces her to watch tapes of her tortures, drags her on a leash through the desert, and, in the titular "Bunny Game" chases her in the mask of a bunny, while wearing himself the mask of a hog.

Eventually, the back door of the truck is left open, and Bunny escapes. She runs through the desert naked, crying and laughing. However, Hog catches her and places her on a crucifix. He tells her that she is going to draw straws. If she draws the long one, she wins the game. If she draws the short one, he wins. She draws what appears to be the long one (we never see the full length of the other). She is then shown being carried over Hog's back. She is then loaded, unconscious or dead, into the back of a windowless van by a figure in white, leaving her fate unknown.

Cast

Production

Filming took place in October 2008 over 13 days. Shot in black and white, production costs totaled $13,000. Rehmeier has stated that the disturbing, visceral experience of watching the film was also related to Getsic’s personal experiences, as she “wanted to use the production as this cathartic process, to really purge some of the traumas she’s had.” [6] [7]

Release

The film entered the 2011 PollyGrind Film Festival, [8] in which it won several awards including "Best Cinematography", "Best Editing" and "Best Overall Individual Performance in a Film" (to Rodleen Getsic). [9]

Reception

Critical reception for the film was mixed. Bloody Disgusting awarded the film a score of 2 out of 4 stating, "The Bunny Game is a well shot and expertly edited work, but it's not a film in the conventional sense. It's more of a vicious visceral experience. Because of the style and the wholesale devotion of Getsic and Renfro, The Bunny Game is captivating, but ultimately not an experience worth having". [10] Horror News.net gave the film a positive review, praising Rodleen Getsic's performance, and the film's editing. [11]

The Bunny Game is listed at #37 in Complex magazine's 50 Most Disturbing Films of All Time and was banned in the United Kingdom by the British Board of Film Classification due to its graphic scenes of sexual and physical abuse. [12] [13] Lead actress Rodleen Getsic has claimed that The Muppet Movie influenced the film. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Ichi the Killer</i> (film) 2001 film by Takashi Miike

Ichi the Killer is a 2001 Japanese horror yakuza film directed by Takashi Miike, written by Sakichi Sato, and starring Tadanobu Asano and Nao Omori. Based on Hideo Yamamoto's manga series of the same name, its plot follows a psychologically damaged man who is manipulated into assaulting or killing rival faction members of feuding yakuza gangs while being pursued by a sadomasochistic enforcer.

<i>Maîtresse</i> 1975 film by Barbet Schroeder

Maîtresse is a 1975 French sex comedy film co-written and directed by Barbet Schroeder, starring Bulle Ogier and, in one of his earliest leading roles, Gérard Depardieu. The film provoked controversy in the United Kingdom and the United States due to its graphic depictions of BDSM.

<i>The Last House on the Left</i> 1972 American horror film by Wes Craven

The Last House on the Left is a 1972 rape and revenge film written and directed by Wes Craven in his directorial debut, and produced by Sean S. Cunningham. The film stars Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham, David Hess, Fred J. Lincoln, Jeramie Rain, and Marc Sheffler. Additionally, Martin Kove appears in a supporting role. The plot follows Mari Collingwood (Peabody), a teenager who is abducted, raped, and tortured by a family of violent fugitives led by Krug Stillo (Hess) on her seventeenth birthday. When her parents discover what happened to her, they seek vengeance against the family, who have taken shelter at their home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R18 (British Board of Film Classification)</span> BBFC content rating used for hardcore pornographic films

R18 is a film or video classification given by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). It is intended to provide a classification for works that do not breach UK law, but exceed what the BBFC considers acceptable in the 18 category. In practice, this means hardcore pornography.

<i>Pretty Baby</i> (1978 film) 1977 American historical drama film by Louis Malle

Pretty Baby is a 1977 American historical drama film directed by Louis Malle, written by Polly Platt, and starring Brooke Shields, Keith Carradine, and Susan Sarandon. Set in 1917, it focuses on a 12-year-old girl being raised in a brothel in Storyville, the red-light district of New Orleans by her prostitute mother. Barbara Steele, Diana Scarwid, and Antonio Fargas appear in supporting roles. The film is based on the true account of a young girl who was sexually exploited by being forced into prostitution by her mother, a theme which was recounted in historian Al Rose's 1974 book Storyville, New Orleans: Being an Authentic Illustrated Account of the Notorious Red-Light District; it is also based on the life of photographer Ernest Bellocq, who photographed various New Orleans prostitutes in the early twentieth century. The title, Pretty Baby, is derived from the Tony Jackson song of the same name, which is featured on the film's soundtrack.

<i>Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer</i> 1986 American horror film by John McNaughton

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a 1986 American independent psychological horror crime film directed and co-written by John McNaughton about the random crime spree of a serial killer who seemingly operates with impunity. It stars Michael Rooker in his film debut as the nomadic killer Henry, Tom Towles as Otis, a prison buddy with whom Henry is living, and Tracy Arnold as Becky, Otis's sister. The characters of Henry and Otis are loosely based on convicted real life serial killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">18 (British Board of Film Classification)</span> Given to films with content deemed suitable only for adults

The 18 certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), to state that in its opinion, a film, video recording, or game is suitable only for persons aged 18 years and over. It recommends that no one below that age should be admitted to view a film with an 18 certificate in a cinema, and that 18-rated video recordings should not be sold or rented to anyone below that age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish Film Classification Office</span> Irish censorship and classification within Ireland

The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) is the organisation responsible for films, television programmes, and some video game classification and censorship within Ireland. Where restrictions are placed by the IFCO, they are legally binding.

<i>The Stendhal Syndrome</i> 1996 Italian giallo film by Dario Argento

The Stendhal Syndrome(Ital. La Sindrome di Stendhal) is a 1996 Italian giallo film written and directed by Dario Argento and starring his daughter Asia Argento, with Thomas Kretschmann and Marco Leonardi. It was a critical and commercial success in Italy, grossing ₤5,443,000 Italian lira.

"A Christmas Eve" is a short story by Camillo Boito which appeared in his anthology of decadence and perversity titled Tales of Vanity, which also featured his more famous work, the novella Senso.

<i>Killers Moon</i> 1978 British horror film directed by Alan Birkinshaw

Killer's Moon is a 1978 British slasher film written and directed by Alan Birkinshaw, with uncredited dialogue written by his novelist sister, Fay Weldon, and starring Anthony Forrest, Tom Marshall, Jane Hayden, JoAnne Good, Nigel Gregory, David Jackson, and Lisa Vanderpump. It follows a group of schoolgirls on a choir trip who are terrorized by four escaped psychiatric patients on LSD while staying in a remote hotel in the Lake District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Board of Film Classification</span> British film classification organisation

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), previously The British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works released on physical media within the United Kingdom. It has a statutory requirement to classify all video works released on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and, to a lesser extent, some video games under the Video Recordings Act 1984. The BBFC was also the designated regulator for the UK age-verification scheme, which was abandoned before being implemented.

<i>Grotesque</i> (2009 film) 2009 Japanese horror film directed by Kōji Shiraishi

Grotesque is a 2009 Japanese exploitation horror film written and directed by Kōji Shiraishi.

<i>The Snake Woman</i> 1961 British horror film by Sidney J. Furie

The Snake Woman is a low budget black-and-white 1961 British horror film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Susan Travers and John McCarthy. It was produced by George Fowler. The film is set in a small English village at the turn of the 20th century. It tells the story of Atheris, a young woman who has the power to transform from human to cobra, and the Scotland Yard detective sent to investigate a series of deaths, unusual because all the victims died after being bitten by snakes that are not native to the UK.

<i>A Serbian Film</i> 2010 Serbian horror-thriller film by Srđan Spasojević

A Serbian Film is a 2010 Serbian exploitation horror film produced and directed by Srđan Spasojević in his feature directorial debut, with Aleksandar Radivojević co-writing. It tells the experience of a financially struggling pornstar who agrees to participate in an "art film", only to discover that he has been drafted into a snuff film with pedophilic and necrophilic themes. The film stars Serbian actors Srđan Todorović, Sergej Trifunović, and Jelena Gavrilović.

<i>The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)</i> 2011 film by Tom Six

The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) is a 2011 psychological body horror film written, directed, and co-produced by Tom Six. An international co-production of the Netherlands and the United States, and the sequel to Six's 2009 film The Human Centipede (First Sequence), the film stars Laurence R. Harvey as a psychiatrically and intellectually impaired English man who watches and becomes obsessed with the first Human Centipede film, and decides to make his own "centipede" consisting of 12 people, including Ashlynn Yennie, an actress from the first film.

The PollyGrind Film Festival, also known as simply Pollygrind and the PollyGrind Underground Film Festival, was an annual event held in Las Vegas, Nevada that specialized "in all things alternative, with a wide variety of films not shown elsewhere." Spotlighting short films, feature-length films, music videos and trailers of all genres, PollyGrind was founded by filmmaker and promoter Chad Clinton Freeman. The event prided itself on focusing on individuality, diversity, creativity and empowerment. Vegas Seven has said PollyGrind is a "celebration of all things, dark, bloody, underground and arthouse."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film censorship in the United Kingdom</span>

Film censorship in the United Kingdom began with early cinema exhibition becoming subject to the Disorderly Houses Act 1751. The Cinematograph Act 1909 was primarily concerned with introducing annual licensing of premises where films were shown, particularly because of the fire risk of nitrate film. After the Act began to be used by local authorities to control what was shown, the film industry responded by establishing a British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) in 1912, funded by an Incorporated Association of Kinematograph Manufacturers levy.

<i>The Texas Vibrator Massacre</i> 2008 American film

The Texas Vibrator Massacre is a 2008 pornographic horror film written and directed by Rob Rotten. It is based on the 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

<i>Hate Crime</i> (2013 film) 2013 American film

Hate Crime is a 2013 American found footage horror film directed by James Cullen Bressack, co-written by Bressack and Jarret Cohen.

References

  1. Mendik, Xavier (August 2013). "THE BUNNY GAME (2010)". Cine-Excess. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  2. "The Bunny Game Gets a Blu-ray/DVD Release Date and a New Poster". Dread Central . May 25, 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  3. Gingold, Michael (April 27, 2012). "New posters for "BUNNY GAME" and "CHERNOBYL DIARIES"". Fangoria . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  4. "The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has rejected the sexually violent DVD The Bunny Game". The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 Getsic, Rodleen (August 2013). "My Monsterpiece: An Art Film". Cine-Excess. ISSUE 1 | SUBVERTING THE SENSES: THE POLITICS AND AESTHETICS OF EXCESS. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Piepenburg, Erik (September 14, 2012). "Testing Horror's Threshold for Pain". The New York Times . Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  7. Piepenburg, Erik (September 14, 2012). "Testing Horror's Threshold for Pain". The New York Times .
  8. Bell, Josh (October 13, 2011). "From sadism to kitsch: PollyGrind film fest wrap-up, Part 1". Las Vegas Weekly . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  9. "Exclusive: Second Annual PollyGrind Film Festival Announces Winners". Dread Central . October 26, 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  10. Harley, David (August 3, 2012). "[BD Review] 'The Bunny Game' Doesn't Play Nice". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  11. "Film Reviews: The Bunny Game (2010)". Horror News.net. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  12. "The 50 Most Disturbing Films of All Time". Complex . Retrieved 31 July 2005.
  13. "The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has rejected the sexually violent DVD The Bunny Game". British Board of Film Classification. October 12, 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-21.