1987
Directed by Lars von Trier
Written by Niels Vorsel & Lars von Trier
By all accounts, you don't need to write a letter to the DVD company. That ever-present title at the top left of the screen, the one that says "Epidemic" in blood red letters? That's supposed to be there. Von Trier put it there, even when this movie was in theaters. Don't ask what it means--hell, while you're at it, don't ask what any of Epidemic means. You'll never be happy that way. Just trust him--after all, he's going to tell you, pretty early on in the film, that he plans to stay boring until the movie reaches the 80 minute mark. (As he puts it to his co-star/writing partner/actual friend, "We have to put drama here. They will want to walk out, so we give them some drama.")
Epidemic is one of those movies about movies, more exercise than film, and it doesn't serve anyone going into to expect anything more to it. If Von Trier doesn't interest you, than don't go anywhere near this film--you'll hate it completely. You may hate it completely even if you like the man's work. But if you're a fan, then it's required viewing, and you'd be remiss to ignore the hour long FreeDogme film on the special features. Everybody else should skip it--except for the last ten minutes. Trust us--you may think you have enough screaming and crying in your life, but until you've made it through Epidemic, you're missing out.
-Tucker Stone, 2007
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