Written by Likov Mitoloskih and directed by Adam Ford (The Museum of Flesh), the extreme horror film Torment (Italy – 2016) explores the darkest and most depraved side of John Wayne Gacy (1942–1994), also known as “Pogo the Clown,” the serial killer sentenced to death in 1994 after being convicted of raping, torturing, and murdering more than thirty victims, all of them young men. Gacy would lure boys to his home and bury them in the house’s foundations, the basement, or the yard, ignoring the nauseating stench caused by the decomposing bodies. At his core, he was also a necrophile.
Real-life horror has long served as a powerful source of inspiration in both music and cinema. John Wayne Gacy has already been portrayed in films such as Gacy (2003), directed by Clive Saunders, as well as the TV movie Dear Mr. Gacy, starring William Forsythe. Torment, however, goes beyond conventional horror, focusing instead on depravity and suffering, fully in line with its title.
Adam Ford strips away the killer's family background and social life, concentrating solely on his sadistic actions. With a confrontational approach, the director presents what could be described as the serial killer's most intimate sphere, and that of his victims, without holding back on nudity or extremely explicit, even pornographic, scenes.
Set against this backdrop of pain, and following an opening sequence featuring clown illustrations (inspired by the drawings the killer made while in prison), Torment unfolds as a relentless piece of extreme horror that holds nothing back. Nearly silent, only a few words are spoken, the film relies entirely on its visual force, exposing, without restraint, what may have been the actions carried out by the killer against his victims. The sense of horror and revulsion Torment generates is almost unimaginable (at times even unbearable), as everything it puts on screen pushes into territory that feels utterly unthinkable.
With Torment, the viewer is plunged into a suffocating sense of dread, driven by the constant presence of its protagonist (Matteo De Liberato delivers a remarkable performance) fully embodying Gacy. The character moves within a filthy, decaying setting that perfectly reflects the overall squalor of the story. Dressed and made up as a clown, this disturbing and unforgettable villain successfully captures the essence of one of the most notorious serial killers, becoming a true nightmare for the audience.
Adam Ford's film stands as a cinematic depiction of the victims' martyrdom at the hands of Gacy. Drugged and restrained, they are subjected to repeated assaults (including the use of various objects) and a range of psychological and physical abuse, particularly chilling is the moment in which the killer treats one of his victims as if they were bedridden or disabled. Torment also features a decapitation, highlighting the effective and realistic special effects by Athanasius Pernath, as well as necrophilic acts.
Beyond the brutality confined within domestic walls, this chilling Italian extreme horror also includes brief moments devoid of violence, where the visual quality stands out thanks to a careful use of lighting. This is particularly evident in the dream/nightmare/sleep paralysis sequences involving Jeffrey (played by the excellent Rikky Fiore), whose naked, motionless body becomes the focus of these unsettling visions.
Much like American Guinea Pig: Sacrifice by Poison Rouge, Torment also stands out for its refined cinematography by Domiziano Cristopharo, which elevates the film beyond the usual technical standards of the extreme cinema scene, often lacking in this regard.
Torment stands out as one of the strongest entries in extreme cinema.
The film is part of the “Death Trilogy,” which also includes American Guinea Pig: Sacrifice and Xpiation.
