MOEBIUS is another provocative effort from Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk, a man who is one of my all-time favourite directors thanks to his efforts on such masterpieces as SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER...AND SPRING. This is more of a low budget, experimental film with the biggest twist that there is no spoken dialogue in the whole movie, although Ki-duk is such a good director that you don't even notice.

The story is about a twisted family relationship that propels various characters into perversity. When an odd and unexpected castration occurs in the first five minutes you know you're in for a wild ride and Ki-duk certainly delivers in that respect. His film is frequently shocking and harrowing, and yet it seems to explore the human condition in an artistic and somehow beautiful way too. I see it best as a story of a virus initiated by an act of violence that then spreads to all of the characters involved, leading to a nihilistic outcome that is both powerful and inevitable. MOEBIUS is challenging, thought-provoking, and thoroughly engaging, just like all of the director's films I've watched.

If you want safe go elsewhere. Anything approaching a normal film American family drama go elsewhere. If you want anything that isn't offensive go elsewhere.

The easiest and least exploitative way to explain the plot is to say a couple is having martial difficulties which explodes and ends up crippling the son. Where the film goes from there is the film.

(Spoilers follow)

Actually where the film goes from there involves castration,rape,incest, masochism ,violence, murder, and riffs on the legendary films PERCY and PERCY's PROGRESS. There are more twists and turns than any sane mind would make.

Oh and did I mention there is no dialog in the entire film?

How is it?

I have no idea. Horrifying? Silly? Strange? I was staring at the screen in disbelief even while I was laughing at the proceedings. Its a whacked out mix of things that kind of almost works and kind of almost doesn't. Its a bold attempt at doing something.

I don't think its successful- but it is interesting in a kind of road accident sort of a way.

Should you see it?

If you like the real off beat and don't mind disturbing things give it ago. On the other hand if you're sensitive or easily offended stay away.

If you haven't read about it already, there is no audible dialog in the movie. There is sound, you hear actors breathing, you hear them when they are in pain or pleasure. But other than that, this is almost like a silent movie. Does it work? You bet it does! It's not about losing ones voice though (it never is something that is touched upon during the movie, it just happens),it is about much more.

The fact that it is obsessed with pleasure, is just a metaphor. A metaphor for what people are looking for in life. It is not about repeating one self (although at times it might seem that way),but to further go down that rabbit hole. Kim Ki Duk is known to make strange movies. Now he has gone to the experimental stage ... rejoice or run for cover