Modify

View Date: 10/16/09

This film was a documentary regarding body modification. It covers the commonly-viewed aspects of body modification, such as tattoos and piercings. However, it also covers other topics that many people do not consider body modification, including plastic surgery and body building. It consisted of interviews with many people involved in the body modification business, including customers, doctors, and people who undergo the modifications.

The filmmaker interviewed the cat man and the lizard man who, if you have seen any shows on tattooing before, are very well known. They also interviewed the “fathers of body modification”, those people who created many of the techniques used in body piercing, hanging from hooks, and intense temporary and permanent piercings. They also interviewed the people who developed various subdermal implants, electrocautery, and cutting techniques. Also covered were sex change operations and more extreme alterations such as tongue splitting.

Now, I have watched many shows about body modification and tattooing in the past. However, this was different in that we saw actual completion of rather extreme procedures. It was very much like a car wreck for me; it was so gruesome, I couldn't do anything but watch. I cringed through most of the film due to the extremely graphic nature of the procedures shown. I have never seen these alterations actually performed on film, and was enthralled to say the least. I have had piercings and tattoos myself, but the people showcased certainly have gone to extremes.

10 words or less: Caution to the weak-stomached viewer.