It is surreal that the first Human Centipede is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. I vividly remember hearing about the film for the first time back in 2009, talking with friends about its brutal new take on body horror. When we finally saw the film, we couldn’t get over the grossness of it all; from shock chuckles to our churning stomachs, the Human Centipede made for an experience that engaged with all our senses.
Since its release, the film has become a gem of pop culture; from numerous parodies and tributes, Human Centipede became a game changer in the world of body horror. While we’d become used to shocking films for years beforehand, the Human Centipede established a sincerely uncomfortable atmosphere, offering intense, unnerving horror.
In honor of the film’s anniversary, I had the chance to interview Human Centipede’s writer/director Tom Six, asking about the film’s impact and his feelings regarding its creative process.
Michael Pementel: Over the years, how has it felt seeing fans and critics react to the Human Centipede?
Tom Six: “When you make a film trilogy that really has spread over the whole world like an aggressive virus, having almost the whole youth world population at least know about them, [that] makes little Tom proudly stand erect and salute. When your films become pop culture and [you] see all the famous references, strong audience reactions, great film critics and crying film critics, tattoos, spoofs, celebrity fans, etc. – [that] is the ultimate indie filmmaker’s dream!”
MP: How did you think people would react to the first film? Were reactions different than what you expected?
TS: “When I was writing the first pede [sic] I already knew I had something “special.” But when I was shooting the first pede’s “feed her!” scene, lightning struck, and I knew I had something “spectacular.” And what I thought would happen thankfully happened: people loved it or hated it. There was nothing in between. Like all art should be. Funny [thing] is, there are a lot of people that absolutely didn’t believe in the pedes; financiers, actors, companies, film crew, distributors, etc. heavily detested the idea. Now they all are crying in their little beds.”
MP: Considering your filmmaking inspirations – How did you want Human Centipede to push the boundaries of “shock” cinema?
TS: “I am all about creating original work and pushing boundaries of art/film. I hate mediocre shit. It’s great to have raised the bar but not just to shock for the shock. I’m the guy that travels the seven seas while others stay safely on shore. And I salute the very few fellow filmmakers who have and do the same because I know how hard it is, especially now in our politically correct times.”
MP: During the production of Human Centipede and upon its release – Did you ever imagine the film to have such a cultural impact on cinema and horror?
TS: “Like I said, I always knew I had something “special,” something that would make a massive impact. I love to light up a cigar and say: ‘I love it when a plan comes together…’ and I’m very grateful for all the loyal fans, haters, and partners in crime that believed in it that made it so huge.”
MP: Looking back on the creation of Human Centipede – What was the most rewarding part of the filmmaking? If there is anything you would change, what would it be? Or why wouldn’t you change anything?
TS: “I would absolutely not change a single frame! My writing and filming were totally free of any self-censorship. Even when I knew turning the whole thing into a reality would become extremely difficult and challenging because making this kind of cinema is no walk in the park. The biggest reward is being a little independent filmmaker from, of all places, Holland, totally doing everything with Ilona (my sister and partner in crime) ourselves; and that the whole world and generations to come knows about your films and who you are.”
MP: After these ten years since the film’s debut – How would you sum up your feelings regarding the film and your experience since as an artist?
TS: “These films are my brain-babies and I am a very proud daddy. With the movies, all my depraved dreams came true, and now I have many more original and depraved film scripts in the works. The world has not seen the last of this humble filmdictator [sic].”
MP: Is there anything else we can look forward to in the future regarding Human Centipede?
TS: “This year we will release a graphic novel of the first Human Centipede to celebrate its 10th anniversary. I also have a Human Caterpillar script I’m working on (see the death row prisoners in Pede three). And in a way or form, the Human Centipede concept might come back in some of my future films.”
