Begotten (1989): Cast & Plot
Begotten is a 1989 fantasy horror film directed by E. Elias Merhige, starring Brian Salzberg as God Killing Himself, Donna Dempsey and Stephen Charles Barry. It runs 1 hour 12 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 12m (72 min)
- Director
- E. Elias Merhige
- Studio
- Theatre Of Material
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Begotten About?
The premise of Begotten without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An avant‑garde debut by the director of Shadow of the Vampire, the film presents a stark, visual creation myth. It dramatizes the brutal slaying of God and the ensuing (re)birth of nature on a desolate, barren world, using stark imagery and experimental narrative to explore cycles of death and renewal.
Begotten Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- experimental film
- cruelty
- abstract film
- surrealism
- cult film
- mother earth
- razor
- graphic violence
- extreme film
- transcendence
- suicide
- spirituality
+38 more Show fewer
- skinning off human flesh
- shroud
- self insemination
- performance art
- performance artist
- human flesh
- grinding up human flesh
- god commits suicide
- face mask
- conceptual art
- chaos
- bashing in head
- woods
- self mutilation
- self impregnation
- reverse footage
- nomad
- no music
- necrophilia
- mythology
- mother son relationship
- knife
- desolation
- dead body
- corpse
- brutality
- anthropology
- violence
- torture
- metaphysics
- noise
- menacing shadow
- gore
- abstract art
- rape
- art
- intestines
- blood
Begotten Cast & Characters
Brian Salzberg leads the cast as God Killing Himself, with Donna Dempsey as Mother Earth and Stephen Charles Barry as Son of Earth. Directed by E. Elias Merhige.
- Director E. Elias Merhige
- Brian Salzberg as God Killing Himself
- Donna Dempsey as Mother Earth
- Stephen Charles Barry as Son of Earth
More from E. Elias Merhige
More films directed by E. Elias Merhige, best-rated first: Shadow of the Vampire, Suspect Zero, The Begotten Cycle and Din of Celestial Birds.
Begotten Plot Summary
What happens in Begotten from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a dilapidated shack, the robed and masked figure known as God Killing Himself ends his life in a brutal, self-inflicted act, disemboweling himself and leaving a stark, chilling image behind. From the remains, a woman in white emerges, stepping into the ritual aftermath with a calm intensity. She uses the dead man’s semen to impregnate herself, and time passes until she stands beside a coffin, visibly pregnant. She gives birth to a fully matured yet malformed man, who is abandoned in the wilderness to fend for himself.
Full summary
The whole story of Begotten, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Begotten?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which robed and masked figure ends his own life in a dilapidated shack at the very start of the film?
Begotten Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Začet” and “Сътворението”.
- Also known as
-
- Začet
- Сътворението
- Порожденный
- Порождённый
- 비가튼
- Született
- Jednorozený
- 受生
Seen Begotten?
Movies Like Begotten
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Born, Grave of the Vampire and Messiah of Evil.
Begotten FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Begotten, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Begotten?
Begotten runs 1 hour 12 minutes (72 minutes).
When was Begotten released?
Begotten was released on October 30, 1989.
Who directed Begotten?
Begotten was directed by E. Elias Merhige.
More films by E. Elias Merhige Who is in the cast of Begotten?
Begotten stars Brian Salzberg as God Killing Himself, Donna Dempsey as Mother Earth and Stephen Charles Barry as Son of Earth.
Does Begotten have a post-credit scene?
No. Begotten has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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