Is The Human Centipede (First Sequence) scary?

Yes, properly. The Human Centipede (First Sequence) is the real thing without being an endurance test.

How gory is The Human Centipede (First Sequence)?

Extreme gore and brutal violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.

What is The Human Centipede (First Sequence) rated, and is it OK for kids?

It is an R, with real scares, strong sex and nudity, and brutal violence. Keep it for adults.

The Human Centipede (First Sequence) poster

The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009)

Film · 1h 32m · Rated R

Horror

Two American tourists confront a deranged surgeon's bleak and chilling vision in a German villa.

A full-attention watch at a measured pace. Emotionally it is devastating.

Streaming on AMC+ and Tubi (free).

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The Human Centipede (First Sequence) parents guide

Heads up on strong sex and nudity, and extreme gore. That is past what the R on the box suggests. Beyond that, real scares and a jolt or two.

Scare: Properly scary; Frightening, not just tense.
Jump scares: A couple; One or two sudden jolts.
Gore: Extreme gore; Our top level for gore.
Violence: Brutal violence; Our top level for violence.
Sex and nudity: Strong; Strong means explicit or repeated sex, extended nudity, or sexual assault shown on screen, attempted or completed, even partly off screen. Any one of these is enough.
Language: Moderate; Some strong profanity, a few f-words.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is The Human Centipede (First Sequence) scary?: Yes, properly. The Human Centipede (First Sequence) is the real thing without being an endurance test.
How gory is The Human Centipede (First Sequence)?: Extreme gore and brutal violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
What is The Human Centipede (First Sequence) rated, and is it OK for kids?: It is an R, with real scares, strong sex and nudity, and brutal violence. Keep it for adults.

What is The Human Centipede (First Sequence) about?

During a stopover in Germany in the middle of a carefree road trip through Europe, two American girls find themselves alone at night when their car breaks down in the woods. Searching for help at a nearby villa, they are wooed into the clutches of a deranged retired surgeon, who has a very disturbed vision.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

No. Brace yourself.