The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, The Human Centipede (First Sequence) is available in the US on Philo and AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , and in the UK on Shudder right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 2,427 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Dieter Laser sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now on Philo — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Human Centipede (First Sequence) earns its spot. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — The Human Centipede (First Sequence) earns every emotional beat it goes for. During a stopover in Germany in the middle of a carefree road trip through Europe, two American girls find themselves alone at night when their car breaks down in the woods. Searching for help at a nearby villa, they are wooed into the clutches of a deranged retired surgeon, who has a very disturbed vision. The performances from Dieter Laser and Winter Williams (Formerly Ashley C. Williams) give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It was released in 2009. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Human Centipede (First Sequence) delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Dieter Laser's work here is the kind that gets referenced in career retrospectives. It makes everything else feel thin by comparison.