Movie Review: Visceral: Between the Ropes of Madness (2012)
by Garry Medeiros

Available now unearthedfilms.com

Visceral: Between the Ropes of Madness (2012)
Directed by Felipe Eluti | Written by Felipe Eluti | Starring Felipe Eluti



In the bleak and blood-soaked world of Visceral: Between the Ropes of Madness, director Felipe Eluti crafts a descent into hell that is as visually striking as it is emotionally unsettling. This Chilean indie horror film blends psychological torment with grotesque physical horror, resulting in a relentless cinematic experience that flirts with the boundaries of extreme genre cinema.



The story follows a washed-up boxer teetering on the edge of insanity. Emotionally hollow, rejected by his mother, and desperate to prove himself, he becomes ensnared in a Faustian bargain: the promise of a title shot in exchange for his soul. As the film spirals deeper into madness, the boxer transforms into a vessel of evil, feeding souls to an infernal entity in a grotesque odyssey of escalating violence and spiritual decay.



From a technical standpoint, Visceral is a commendable achievement. Eluti's direction is confident and stylized, and the cinematography and sound design are particularly strong, immersing the viewer in an atmosphere of surreal dread. The film’s non-linear storytelling adds a layer of intrigue, gradually peeling back the narrative layers in a way that rewards patient viewers.



Eluti also takes on the lead role, and while his performance is compelling in its rawness, it’s undermined by a nagging detail—his portrayal of a professional boxer lacks physical credibility. With no visible muscle tone and a clear unfamiliarity with basic boxing technique, the illusion of authenticity falters. This may seem minor, but in a film centered around a boxer's fall into darkness, such details matter.



Where Visceral may divide audiences is in its tone and content. The film is a steady descent into depravity, and as it progresses, the narrative becomes less about the character's inner journey and more about showcasing increasingly gruesome and shocking imagery. This mirrors the issues I’ve had with the Terrifier films—where the gore overwhelms any real sense of story or character, ultimately becoming repetitive. For my personal taste, this kind of approach loses impact quickly. Without moments of substance or reflection, the shock value becomes hollow, and the violence starts to feel numbing rather than meaningful.
That said, I fully recognize that this is a matter of taste. There’s clearly a passionate audience for this kind of unrelenting, brutal horror—fans who relish being pushed to the limits of onscreen madness. For them, Visceral will likely be a standout experience.



There are undeniably powerful moments—one in particular being a vomiting scene that I can only imagine was real—because if it wasn’t, it has to be one of the most convincing practical effects ever put to screen. The realism is genuinely unsettling, and if it was faked, it’s easily among the best vomiting effects I’ve ever seen in a film.



Ultimately, Visceral is a brutal, well-crafted dive into madness and body horror. While it may not be to everyone’s taste—especially those seeking narrative depth over shock value—it marks a striking debut for Felipe Eluti. It’s disappointing to note that this remains his only directorial effort, as his work here shows clear potential. With more focus on character and thematic substance, Eluti could deliver something truly great. As it stands, Visceral is a nightmarish fever dream of a film that horror aficionados—particularly those with a taste for the extreme—will find hard to forget.



Rating: 3.5/5