A hellish landscape infused with the images of WWII and a dystopian future I hope never exists. Mad God is a stop-motion animation that brings to life a world so wonderfully creepy, it fascinates and terrifies me at the same time.

Phil Tippet’s-30-year-long production culminates into a dark and twisted fantasy/horror that shows just what one can do by hand in their very own garage. The visual effects are gritty, grotesque and spectacular. From every close-up of muddy boots on the tainted earth to the mutilation of flesh, every shot transports you to a new and unholy corner of Tippet’s world.

Interpret what you will from this film, it may be set in a different reality but I don’t see it being too different from our own. In many ways it mirrors our reality, with a baby’s voice commanding mindless humanoid beings over a tannoy, and the decay and devastation of the society around it. This feels all too relevant to where our world is right now. 

This film is not so rich in narrative as it begins by following a being bound in leather and a gas mask descending into this strange land. He continues his descent below a tower where he plants a bomb. He is soon taken away by one of many grotesque creatures that inhabit this land. This is followed by numerous blood-filled sequences that expose us to more creative and visually impactful scenes.The stop-motion is something that truly needs to be highlighted, and the way Tippet has merged it with so many other mediums. On paper it shouldn’t work, but he manages to defy the odds and create an epic for the ages. Sometimes, I feel like stop motion can limit the creativity of filmmakers, but Tippet only uses this to his advantage. I can’t recall the last time I have seen such intricate detail on every frame. 

My only criticism would be the film’s title. I feel it’s so easy to overlook this film. If I hadn’t done my research beforehand, I would have easily passed this film by. I am extremely glad I didn’t. It’s a shame this film hasn’t been talked about as much as it should have been.

I will say, if you are not a fan of excessive gore and imagery, this will not be the film for you. Where some films use this mechanic mindlessly to call it a horror, Tippet has used gore in a way that compliments the world around it, creating an atmosphere that’s so hostile it’s almost impossible love or hate it. I can’t really explain how it feels, but it feels necessary. 

This is a film that once you see it, it will sear itself into your brain whether you like it or not. I’m sure I can revisit this film over and over again and never tire of it, there’s so much more to explore and I’m ready to dive back in again and again. If you are a filmmaker who has a penchant for visual effects, don’t pass this film up.