Taxidermia (2006)
82%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 5 nominations
Taxidermia is a film that will leave you with a lot to digest, both literally and figuratively. This Hungarian black comedy is a surreal and grotesque allegory on life in Hungary from World War II to the present, exploring the limits of the body and its desires. Director György Pálfi’s technical bravado is nothing short of mesmerizing, and the film produces both nightmarish horror and formal beauty in a surreal, Central European blend. While it may not be for the faint of heart, Taxidermia sets a benchmark for body horror in cinema and aspires to the highest cinematic art.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you lose your appetite, Taxidermia is the one for you. This Hungarian black comedy is not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely a unique experience. The film explores the limits of the body and its desires in a surreal and grotesque way, but there are also some tender moments that balance out the madness. Just make sure you don’t plan on eating after watching it!
Production Company(ies)
Cosmopolitan Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Distributor
Regent Releasing
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Budapest, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 31m
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Language(s):Hungarian, English, Russian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 6, 2010
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Taxidermia, Drama, Hungarian, Gyorgy Palfi, Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu, Emilie Georges, Gabriele Kranzelbinder, Alexandre Mallet-Guy, Gyorgy Palfi, Zsofia Ruttkay, Marc Bischoff, Gabor Maté, Gergő Trócsányi, Piroska Molnár, Csaba Czene, Zoltan Koppany, surreal, graphic, disturbing, imagination, wit, body horror, Hungary, WWII, glutton, speed eater, taxidermy, sexually frustrated, outlandish, grotesque, allegory, comedy, surrealist, Central European, cult status, torture porn, cinematic art, repulsive, cynical, hilarious, deviant, sub-real, disturbing, gross, visually beautiful, stylish, bizarre, horror
Worldwide gross: $82,567
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $121,758
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,007
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,278
US/Canada gross: $11,408
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,823
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,806
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,472
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,595
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,775
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): HUF 500,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Gabor Maté – Old Kálmán
Gergő Trócsányi – Kálmán Balatony
Piroska Molnár – Hadnagyné
Csaba Czene – Morosgoványi Vendel
Zoltan Koppany – Miszlényi Béla
Director(s)
Gyorgy Palfi
Writer(s)
Gyorgy Palfi, Zsofia Ruttkay
Producer(s)
Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu, Emilie Georges, Gabriele Kranzelbinder, Alexandre Mallet-Guy
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (9)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Taxidermia is frequently funny, for those who can stomach it.
August 20, 2009 | Rating: B-
Noel Murray
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Taxidermia sets a benchmark for body horror in the cinema.
August 14, 2009
Eddie Cockrell
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Taxidermia is a brilliant, often grotesquely bizarre allegory on life in Hungary from World War II to the present, a surrealist fantasy exploring the limits of the body and its desires and altogether a darkly funny comedy.
August 14, 2009 | Rating: 5/5
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
And now a word of advice from your friendly film critic: If you go to see the Hungarian black comedy Taxidermia, don’t plan to eat afterward.
August 14, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
V.A. Musetto
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
Produces nightmarish horror and formal beauty in a surreal, Central European blend.
August 14, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Holden
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Mr. Plfi’s grandiose vision and technical bravado are nothing short of mesmerizing, yet there are also plenty of tender moments amid the go-for-broke follies.
October 7, 2015
Martin Tsai
Critic’s Notebook
The gluttonous middle section of the film is by far its most successful.
May 1, 2010 | Rating: 7/10
Christopher Long
Movie Metropolis
Surreal, grotesque and bitterly funny Hungarian art horror film … aspires not to cult status as a torture porn totem but to the highest cinematic art.(It’s not that, but give it points for trying.)
April 11, 2010 | Rating: 86/100
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
As sweeping in scope and vision as it is in viscera.
August 28, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Sara Maria Vizcarrondo
Boxoffice Magazine
For those who can handle it, a viewing is an experience not soon forgotten.
August 21, 2009
Stan Hall
Oregonian
Plfi’s fascination with the body — its daily excretions and emanations — borders on obsession
August 18, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/5
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com…
Plot
Three generations of men, including a pervert that constantly seeks for new kinds of satisfaction, an obese speed eater and a passionate embalmer.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no specific tidbit about someone in the cast mentioned in the Fresh Kernels description of Taxidermia.
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