Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

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Avery H. People try to add all this meaning to this movie. There really isn't any. I don't buy it. It's a sadistic film for sick individuals that have fantasies about abusing children. This movie should've never been made. I read that the director/writer was beaten to a pulp. All I can say is good Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/08/25 Full Review Ramon V What I mainly want to say is that I first saw this film in 2015, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I've watched it many times and have researched every meaning, message, criticism, and accusation that director Pier Paolo Pasolini makes here. It's definitely not a film for everyone; it's for people with a critical, reflective mind as a starting point. I'm not afraid to say that the first time I saw it I didn't understand what I had seen, but I did know there was a lot to discover and learn. Even now, ten years later, I continue to do so. The themes it explores, and the way they are combined and presented, make this my favorite film. The most impressive thing about this work is that you can clearly see messages that speak to very serious problems of our time and that explain what's happening now. Finally, I'll say that this film helps me know that, despite everything, I am still alive in many ways. I'm sure Pier Paolo Pasolini achieved his goal with me, and I'm glad he did. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/25 Full Review Marco Q My first review is for this film, which is definitely not for everyone. While watching it, I doubted I'd be able to finish it, yet as soon as I finished, I couldn't help but rewatch the first 30 minutes. I spent the whole night researching the film, reading articles, and watching interviews. For the next week, this film was constantly on my mind. I read about many people who can't get past the film's visuals, finding it disgusting, boring and empty. So, however wrong it may be, I recommend exploring the film outside of itself, not only in the surrounding reality, but if necessary, also researching about the meaning of the film and of the particular scenes to be able to fully understand the criticism the film is intended to represent. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review Kyle C If you’ve never heard of Salò, I almost regret being the one to tell you about it. I don’t even know how to review this. Calling it a “film” feels questionable. It succeeds at what I believe its goal to be—but whether that goal is worthwhile or even respectable is another debate. What it does do is confront power head-on: specifically, the unchecked and unquestioned power that comes with fascism. It weaves in references to classic works, contrasting the depravity of the libertines with their almost dignified philosophical musings. The cinematography is undeniably powerful. Still, regardless of its merits, it crosses lines that most films wouldn’t even approach. At times it made me physically gag. Some might say its fetishism overwhelms any deeper meaning, and I can’t claim to be qualified to settle that argument. What I can say is that I found a lot to appreciate and a lot to despise. I can’t recommend that anyone watch this film, but if you do, be prepared: it will almost certainly be more difficult than you can imagine. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Chris V I've watched the movie three times in an effort to find something redeemable and did not find it. It's visually shocking for a film, it's gross, it's pointless. I'm sure there is an audience for it, but it does not include me. If you find nihilism appealing then it might be for you. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/22/25 Full Review Salamander F What I mainly want to say is that I first saw this film in 2015, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I've watched it many times and have researched every meaning, message, criticism, and accusation that director Pier Paolo Pasolini makes here. It's definitely not a film for everyone; it's for people with a critical, reflective mind as a starting point. I'm not afraid to say that the first time I saw it I didn't understand what I had seen, but I did know there was a lot to discover and learn. Even now, ten years later, I continue to do so. The themes it explores, and the way they are combined and presented, make this my favorite film. The most impressive thing about this work is that you can clearly see messages that speak to very serious problems of our time and that explain what's happening now. Finally, I'll say that this film helps me know that, despite everything, I am still alive in many ways. I'm sure Pier Paolo Pasolini achieved his goal with me, and I'm glad he did. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

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