In one of the many extras that feature on this Blu-ray release director Ryan Nicholson is asked who Hanger is for. His response tells you all you need to know:
‘…geared for a certain niche market.’
In that moment of clarity, if that one line of insight was on the cover, or shown prior to the film starting, a great number of people would be spared this troublesome piece of cinema. Because that’s what Hanger is. Whichever way you cut it, Nicholson – who sadly passed away at only 47-years of age – created a truly distasteful and provocative film.
The basic premise revolves around a pregnant prostitute whose pimp carries out an abortion using a metal hanger. Thinking he has killed the child along with the mother the baby is disposed of only to be found, raised and ‘mentored’ by all manner of deformed and depraved individuals. Horribly disfigured by the abortion, and now going by the name of Hanger, revenge against the pimp becomes an obsession.
There is barely a scene in the film that would not cause offence on some level. The list of atrocities is almost endless but rape, abuse, and a tampon fetish are prevalent themes.
If you are part of the ‘niche market’ – and if you are then a quiet word with yourself in a dark room might be in order – there is an abundance of extras to keep you occupied once the film has reached its overdue conclusion. And that is the only reason this Blu-ray receives any score at all. There is no doubt that Hanger is one of the most unpleasant viewing experiences you can subject yourself to. But you do get your money’s worth!
