Search - Modify-Uncensored Edition on DVD

Modification or mutilation?

artemestia | New York City | 11/01/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this very interesting and visually disturbing documentary (with the theme: "No one should dictate to me what I can and cannot do to my body")
about a sub-culture of people who love and are seemingly addicted to body modification. it raises the question though is "excess" forms of modification, self mutilation?

it features interviews with people who have massive tattoos and piercings, who enjoy branding and cutting, people have genital beading, to tongue splits, those who enjoy suspension (being hung by metal hooks!!!)... to "lesser" modificaitons: people who have had plastic surgery done, transgender surgery, who cross dress or who bodybuild.

the most interesting person is a man (named stalking tiger--- his real name!) who has altered his body to the likeness of a tiger. he has an orange and black face tattoo, has gotten his ears pointedly shaped, work on his eyes have been done to give them a slanted effect, he has silver rods in the place of whiskers, his teeth and nails are long, sharp and cat-like.

the most painful modifications shown are: cutting and 3-d modification (basically branding). in cutting, the artist uses just a scalpel!!! and in 3-d modification, a sorta small blow torch. the customers getting designs done were shrieking and jerking around--- i FELT their pain!!!

its just very interesting. it may make you think of all the body modifications you may have/do and not realize it (hair coloring, teeth whitening, ear piercings...) and how thats different than someone who for example, has their face heavily pierced. is their a difference? who is "more normal?" despite the modification?

this documentary will DEFINITELY get you talking!!!"