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Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

Released Jan 30, 1976 1h 57m Drama List
71% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Four fascists kidnap young men and women and subject them to torture and perversion.
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom will strike some viewers as irredeemably depraved, but its unflinching view of human cruelty makes it impossible to ignore.

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Critics Reviews

View All (41) Critics Reviews
David Ansen Newsweek The director was reportedly in despair at the random violence of Italian society just before his death; that despair permeates his final work and gives it a posthumous significance. Mar 7, 2023 Full Review Ed Potton Times (UK) There was a point to all this foulness; Pasolini was commenting on the dehumanising effect of fascism, with reference to Proust, Nietzsche and Dante's circles of Hell. You'll still want a shower afterwards, though. Rated: 3/5 Sep 28, 2019 Full Review Richard Brody New Yorker This film is essential to have seen but impossible to watch: a viewer may find life itself defiled beyond redemption by the simple fact that such things can be shown or even imagined. Apr 25, 2016 Full Review Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) Salo is a beautifully photographed and thoughtful film, Aug 19, 2022 Full Review Chase Burns The Stranger (Seattle, WA) Disgusting, terrible, awful, no good... Dec 8, 2021 Full Review Tom Beasley VultureHound The messaging here feels blunt and unsophisticated to modern eyes. Rated: 2/5 Aug 16, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Darren B Boring, boring and boring A truly boring film perhaps if easily amused you will be entertained for the first while however the novelty of the shock factor will wear away as you realise that this is all you will be seeing for the entire film. A poor storyline lacking proper depth and seemingly no deeper message. A perverts chef d’oeuvre which I refuse to recommend to anyone. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Jose R "Pasolini's 'Salo' presents a challenging exploration, delving into the disturbing realm of brutal, inhumane, and depraved fascist ideologies. It traverses intense territories that may be hard to witness, necessitating a selective approach to viewing. Despite this, the film's cinematography stands out for its striking beauty. The graphic elements, both physically and emotionally demanding, deliver a potent anti-fascist commentary. 'Salo' provides a thought-provoking cinematic experience, albeit one that pushes the boundaries of discomfort." Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review David L What a gem! absolutely brilliant Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/12/23 Full Review NONBELIEVER If you're faint of heart or have a weak stomach STAY AWAY FROM THIS MOVIE!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/03/23 Full Review Joshua H any kind of deeper meanings salo explores is lost in it's cheer shock value, which will leave you getting awfully bored when you realize that's what it mostly is. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/03/23 Full Review David F I tried to give this film a chance but I just couldn't get into it. It is very gross, at times almost unwatchable. I had a hard time interpreting it the way the director suggests in some of the commentaries because it was just so overpoweringly disgusting in its content. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

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Cast & Crew

Sambizanga 100% 100% Sambizanga Partner 91% 60% Partner The Spook Who Sat by the Door 77% 83% The Spook Who Sat by the Door Sebastiane 88% 55% Sebastiane Short Eyes 92% 84% Short Eyes Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Four fascists kidnap young men and women and subject them to torture and perversion.
Director
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Screenwriter
Pier Paolo Pasolini, Sergio Citti
Production Co
Produzioni Europee Associati
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 30, 1976, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 1977
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 26, 2008
Runtime
1h 57m