Makes a terrible mistake in the end by actually showing viewers The Film. After all the buildup, nothing they show you can be as terrifying as what you imagine. Carpenter of all people should know that.

Surprisingly unnerving. Carpenter's talent for creating atmosphere overrides the poor acting and low budget. Smothering everything with a building dread, he then pulls triggers like the pro he is. His comment on the power of film may lack the same subtlety, but enough is accomplished to allow it to ring true.

nice idea, bad execution

This series has such terrible acting / writing / effects / pretty much everything. There's always something redeemable [in this case - Udo Kier's small part and the gore moments] but I'm really getting tired of this.

Interesting concept and a piece I really wanted to like but it fell a bit flat overall and isn't very memorable. Worth a watch once if you're a Carpenter fan.

Really really cool story! Must be seen by all horror fans out there! Loved the acting and pacing. It really made me want to watch the movie that the movie was about: Le Fin Absolue du Monde. Norman Reedus is an underrated actor indeed. This short movie should be remade into a 2 hour movie!

From the dopey blonde lead, to the naked girl covered in blood, to the cheesy generic font used in the opening credits, to the stereotypical horror flick piano riff, this movie screams Carpenter.

Carpenter stole the show during the first run of "Masters of Horror." He's still got it! Maybe skip "The Ward" though.

Now this is more like it. Definitely a "film" with problems, but, quite honestly, I can't resist the sheer deliciousness of the premise. Don't all us horror fans dream of one day discovering THE ULTIMATE HORROR MOVIE? I totally want to write the script for _Le Fin Absolue du Monde_ now, but I'd have difficulty pitching it as a worthwhile investment to producers

One of the best horror movies I've seen in a LONG time. The main character is kind of blank and uninteresting, but the concept and the supporting actors are GREAT. If you like John Carpenter and/or horror, see this movie!

Ohkay; thing is here (according to his Horror Hound and Rue Morgue interviews), this wasn't supposed to be a 'horror' film. It's a thriller. And as such, in a dark, drag-you-along sort of way; it really works well. Not to mention the age-old snuff story.

One of the better MoHs, though it still isn't too great. It does have a cool concept and some kinda disturbing imagery. Too bad Norman Reedus is an atrocious actor.

la fin absolue du monde

Freaky journey to the dark side of cinema. Gore and tension goes hand in hand here quite well.

pretty good entry

Best MoH movie

Carpenter is at the top of his game here, with loads of blood and gore!

Yummy! Persistently mystical and peculiarly unsettling. Carpenter in form!

This is probably the best of the MOH series I've seen to date.

An amazing short film which shows just what an uncaged John Carpenter is capable of. Scary, tragic, unsettling. It manages it's 60 minutes very well, and leaves the viewer completely fulfilled, if a little shell shocked.

The best of the Masters of Horror series, about a long lost film that reportedly drives anyone who watches it to complete insanity. Udo Kier is one creepy dude.

This should've been made into a feature-length film. Some fairly disturbing scenes with a wonderfully suspenseful build-up, very reminiscent of his Mouth of Madness and Prince of Darkness films (which he was probably going for) and basically what the film the Ninth Gate should've been. It's a real shame this wasn't taken to the next level.

Cigarette Burns just skirts the edge of a being a concept too experimental to really capture the interest of the viewer and/or be truly frightening, but Carpenter keeps it all together and pulls off an interesting little piece of horror cinema here.

There are moments of greatness in here, and Carpenter shows his prowess in holding back just enough to adequately build to a surprisingly gory finish. Problem is, some elements of the film are SO contrived it hurts. The premise is its strongest suit, but could have been explored to better effect in a feature-length: I like the fictional film mix of Gance's 'La Fin du Monde', 'Begotten' and Pasolini's 'Salo' as the basis to explore the true effect of cinema on its audience.

The idea is clever and more-or-less original and it's chewed on with plenty of gore, stylish editing and stylized performances. I also like how this movie is very short. Too many movies test your patience by being very long but this movie cuts that crap by being less than one hour long.

best episode from the best director. That's it. Also - great Udo , great Kier

the whole concept has an air about it of minimal action--a guy looking for a movie that causes people to go insane, yeah right, and not only that he doesn't even watch it till the last five minutes. this really cuts back on the horror opportunities of the movie. i have to admit though with all its setbacks carpenter does a good job saving this movie from being terrible, it's definately an acceptable movie, but nothing above.

I found the premise enticing, though it vaguely echoes those of Videodrome and Ringu. Unfortunately, the movie is persistently stupid; every time it starts to get spooky and unsettling, a new surprise in contrived bullshit arrives. Also, for a film about extreme horror films, this is really tame.