August Underground is a 2001 American exploitationhorror film written and directed by Fred Vogel, and co-written by Allen Peters. The first release of Toetag Pictures, the film follows the exploits of a serial killer named Peter, as filmed by his unnamed and unseen accomplice. The film was followed by two sequels, August Underground's Mordum in 2003, and August Underground's Penance in 2007.
Plot
Peter invites his camera-wielding friend into his basement, where he is holding a woman, named Laura, captive. Having already killed her boyfriend, Peter and his accomplice torture her at their leisure, committing sadistic acts such as slicing one of her nipples off and covering her in feces and urine. Next, the two pick up a female hitchhiker. After Peter coerces her into performing oral sex he beats and leaves her for dead on the side of the road. After the duo are kicked out of a concert for rowdy behavior Peter and his accomplice return to the house afterward to find Laura has died. Peter murders an old woman in her home, then terrorizes a convenience store with his accomplice. They must abandon their plans to kidnap the clerk or a shopper when they hear police sirens approaching. The two then proceed to tour Roadside America, and visit a tattoo parlor. When the tattoo artist finishes giving Peter a tattoo, he and his twin brother are captured by Peter and the cameraman. They cut a leg off of the tattoo artist then bludgeon him and his brother to death. The two hire prostitutes for a drug-fueled orgy. Peter sodomizes one prostitute while beating her with a hammer. The remaining prostitute tries to escape. In the chaotic chase that ensues, the accomplice drops camera, leading to silence.
August Underground was produced, and directed by Fred Vogel in his directorial debut, with Vogel also co-writing, and starring in the film's lead role. Initially, Vogel had wanted to make a "big-budget zombie film", but felt that his inexperience at making a feature film would turn away any potential financers. With this in mind, Vogel decided to make another film that would help him gain awareness of his work and potential financing for the film. The idea for the film came from Vogel's frustration with the serial killer genre, which he felt "didn't show you what was really going on". Taking inspiration from John McNaughton's , Vogel wanted to make a film that was both "ugly" and realistic while also being unique and original. Principal photography began in August, under the working titlePeter.
Release
Critical response
Gregory S. Burkart of Bloody Disgusting included August Underground on his list "20 Landmarks of Found-Footage Horror!", writing, "I'm not a big fan of this series, but I admire Vogel's fearless audacity in serving up the ultimate in onscreen sadism". Jay Alan from HorrorNews.net gave the film a positive review, praising the film's performances, gore effects, and realistic quality. Chris Mayo of Severed Cinema offered similar praise, writing, "August Underground is a true testament of what horror should be; nasty, nihilistic, raw and real." Robert Firsching from Allmovie wrote in his review on the film, "A grueling but important antidote to the plethora of films glamorizing serial killers, August Underground is not likely to find a wide audience, but will not leave those who manage to find a copy unaffected." The film was later ranked at #14 in Complex's Most Disturbing Movies of All Time, with the entry on the film noting its realistic quality, and "sadistically natural vibe".
Controversy
While traveling to Canada to attend the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear in Toronto, director and co-writer Fred Vogel was arrested, pending charges of transporting obscene materials into Canada, when copies of August Underground and its sequel were found by customs officials among the merchandise he had intended to bring to the convention. The charges were eventually dropped, after Vogel had spent roughly ten hours in customs prison, and his films were sent to Ottawa for further observation.
