Begotten (1989)
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A visceral, silent odyssey follows the birth of Mother Earth and the Son of Earth following the self-destruction of a godlike figure.
The story
Begotten is an experimental horror film that unfolds in a world devoid of spoken language. The narrative begins in a dilapidated shack where a robed, masked figure commits suicide by disemboweling himself. From his remains, a woman in white emerges, eventually giving birth to a malformed man known as the Son of Earth. This child is then seized by a tribe of robed nomads and subjected to a grueling, ritualistic journey across a dying, desolate landscape. The film utilizes a gritty, degraded visual style to depict the cycle of life and death in a world that feels both ancient and otherworldly.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins with a robed figure disemboweling himself in a shack; a woman in white emerges from his remains and uses his seed to conceive a child. She gives birth to a malformed man, the Son of Earth, who is captured by a tribe of robed nomads. The nomads subject him to a series of ritualistic abuses, including stabbings and forced marches through a desert and rocky hills. During this journey, the nomads also capture and assault the woman. Eventually, the nomads collect the remains of both the mother and the son, placing them in jars and burying them in the earth. The film concludes with the burial site blooming with flowers and crops, as the cycle of life begins anew. The narrative is presented as a 'cryptic passion play' and a 'meticism' of creation, heavily influenced by religious and mythic archetypes.
- First release year
- 1989
- Runtime (minutes)
- 72
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- E. Elias Merhige
- Writers
- E. Elias Merhige · writer
- Cast and characters
- Brian Salzburg · God killing himself; Donna Dempsey · Mother Earth; Stephen Charles Barry · Son of Earth (captioned as Flesh on Bone)
- Genres
- experimental; horror
- Themes
- cycle of life and death; creation mythology; religious and mystic themes; humanity's relationship with nature; order and chaos
- Tone and mood
- gritty; disturbing; dreamlike; ritualistic
- Premise and plot tags
- experimental; mythic; silent; ritualistic
- Franchise connections
- The Begotten Cycle
- Content notes
- graphic violence
- Reception
- The film received polarized reviews, with some critics praising its unique visual style and profound themes while others criticized its brutal violence and length. It has since gained a significant cult following and is considered a masterpiece by many in the avant-garde community.
- Production trivia
- The film was banned in Singapore due to its graphic content.; The director, E. Elias Merhige, was inspired by the visual style of the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.; The film's visual style was influenced by the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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