Sick (1997) User Reviews

I knew Bob Flanagan - not well and not this part of him

[popshrink · 7/10 · 10 May 2002]

though I was generally aware of his "performance masochism." I met Bob as a very bright, gifted poet during the early 1970s. I was in my 30s and finishing my post-doc psych internship at the MH Clinic serving Watts and South Central LA. Bob's Cystic Fibrosis was unremarkable to me insofar as my cerebral palsy was, presumably, unremarkable to him. Writing was Bob's fulltime gig. I had hopes of "quitting my daytime gig" - head-shrinking - when/if my own writing ever supported my family. Bob and I were cordial, never close. I admired and, occasionally, envied Bob.

I forced myself to see the movie. It works. Masochism discomforts me in the extreme - yet Bob remains clear, kind articulate as ever. His 'dominitrix' comes across similarly. The truly chilling moments of "Sick" are Bob Flanagan's mother during her brief moments on camera.

Rest well, Bob.

A Bizarre Look

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 5 June 2014]

Documentary about writer and performance artist Bob Flanagan who died at 43 of cystic fibrosis. His life was indicated by pain from the beginning and he started to develop sadomasochistic practices, which he developed finally into performances.

Flanagan is featured in the widely banned music video for the song "Happiness in Slavery" by Nine Inch Nails. This is how he was first known to me, and I became interested in him as part of 1990s counter-culture (if such a thing exists). I was aware of this documentary, but never saw it until now (2014).

Roger Ebert reviewed the film quite favorably and said it "is one of the most agonizing films I have ever seen" and Flanagan "was a wry, witty, funny man who saw the irony of his own situation." That is, indeed, what makes it special. A dying man who hurts himself is interesting, but Flanagan has a certain level of charisma that makes him simultaneously revolting and alluring.

Somewhere Between Fascinating and Sickening

[lefty-17 · 7/10 · 5 April 1999]

I could barely take my eyes off this thoroughly demented movie, except for the parts where I absolutely _had_ to. Flanagan was definitely a crazy man, by all standard measures, but had a sort of bizarre integrity about his approach to life, as unique as that approach was.

Not a good movie for the squeamish, or even for those who don't think they're squeamish. _Alien_ did not prepare you for Bob Flanagan.

A Man's Love for Life and BDSM

[AlanTES · 9/10 · 10 October 2000]

I had the chance to see this movie at the First Annual NYC S/M Film Festival in October 2000.

The movie depicts a very honest view of his enthusiasm in Consensual Sado-Masochism and other BDSM activities. Not only did Bob Flanagan engage in BDSM as a performance artist, but he also engaged in it as part of his lifestyle. Viewers should be advised, that there are some very extreme presentations of Consensual Sado-Masochism in this film.

Throughout the documentary, we see very revealing interactions between him and his Dominant "Mistress" Rose, and we are shown a very healthy and loving relationship which is centered around a BDSM lifestyle.

While I would assert that Bob's lifestyle was healthy, it's very clear that as a sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis, his health was never good. Even though a diagnosis of CF, usually means a death sentence by the time a person reaches their early 20's, Bob Flanagan lived an amazing and eccentric life until his 40's.

This documentary can go from absolute joy to utter sadness in a few seconds. Despite his sickness, and his impending death, Bob Flanagan lived with an incredible zest for life, love, and Masochism.

"His CF Woulda Killed him If it Weren't For S&M!"

[Rusty-61 · 15 December 2000]

That's not only a theme of this movie, it's part of the lyrics that self-proclaimed (and with good reason)"super-masochist" Bob Flanagan cheerfully sings at a lecture/performance-he did a pretty witty re-working of the "Supercalafraga..."etc song from Mary Poppins. Did I mention he's wearing a little costume including a cape when he performs it? Yep, Bob Flanagan had a pretty good sense of humor. That was one of the pleasant surprises of this movie. When I first heard about this movie, all I heard about was the hammer scene. I also had skimmed the RE-search book, and looking at some of the really extreme mutilations to areas of his body I would rather not name, I actually figured he was slightly disturbed. I'm pretty liberal and am of the opinion that what 2 consenting adults do, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else against their will, is their own business. I thought, because of his CF combined with this serious torture that he either was suicidal or hated himself. I also wondered about his relationship with his dominant/lover/partner of 15 years, Sheree Rose, hoping that it was loving and she wasn't just using him. I was glad that this movie proved my pre-conceived notions wrong. This is a very intelligent, sane, witty, talented, likable, and above all, VERY brave guy who happened to enjoy being beaten and tortured sexually. The movie explains-without preaching- that he actually gained strength from his activities. (according to statistics, most CF sufferers die in their 20's. He lived till his early 40's (actually a record)and says his sex life kept him going. He figured for one thing, he had nothing to lose. For another thing, CF is a very painful disease, and he chose to use S&M as a way to take control of his pain and disease. If you find this a hard idea to understand, or are curious, I highly recommend this movie. This has been said before, but I don't recommend it if you're squeamish. I'm jaded, but I had to look away a few times. Interestingly enough, what I found harder to watch than the notorious Hammer of Love was seeing BF racked with pain, coughing his lungs out, and (I don't think I'm spoiling anything here as the movie opens with Bob good-naturedly writing his own obituary) finally losing his battle with CF. I also didn't think this movie would be so touching. Before the end, I realized he had a very loving relationship with Sheree. Not only are they sexually a perfect match, she is his best friend, soulmate, and care-giver, which is no mean feat. Face it, if you don't love someone, you're not going to be sticking around and helping them expel mucus from their lungs on a regular basis. When he starts losing his fight and finally goes to the hospital to die, the scenes of them together, with her gently telling him it's OK to leave her, are some of the most heart-breaking I've ever seen. This is one brave woman. Also, when she's not in her S&M gear, she could easily pass for an kindly elementary school teacher. It's a great contrast to see her tying him up and sticking needles in his groin in one scene, and later to see her rocking and knitting. I was also haunted by the scenes of him dying, the way he looked, and what he said, things that I've heard are very common last words such as, "I never thought this would really happen...this is so weird." Is this a hard movie to watch? Even if graphic depictions of *very* sensitive areas of the body being nailed, pounded, and pierced don't faze you, I cannot imagine anyone who wouldn't be shaken or at least moved watching the later scenes of this man really, literally dying in front of the camera and your eyes. But I'm glad I saw it. My husband, however, loves documentaries, and even talked about seeing the movie when it was in limited release. I made the mistake of telling him about one of the more extreme demonstrations, and now he refuses to see it, no matter how good it is (and he's sat through some pretty nasty stuff). If you're brave and feeling up to it, though, I highly recommend this movie. If you're easily (or even not-so-easily) grossed-out, but have an interest in the life and death of this man, then just cover your eyes during the graphic parts. And when you hear "Hammer of Love" start playing, you may want to take a little stroll out of the room for a minute or two.

One of the greatest movies ever!!!!

[VideoMonkey · 10/10 · 16 May 2003]

This is definitely one of my all time favorite movies. At first glance it looks like one of those movies that might appeal to the 'Faces of Death' crowd or porno fetish lovers, it dealing with S&M and bondage and Bob Flanagan nailing his penis to a board and all, but this is actually a powerful moving insight into the life, and death (he does die in the end) of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, and one of the longest survivors of cystic fibrosis. The movie delves not only into Bob performance art but also into his personal life, and an interesting life indeed.

This movie is definately not for the squeemish, and does deliver some very bizzarre stuff, and yes it graphically up close shows the nailing th penis in the board. But it's so much more than that. Bob Flanagan was definitely one of the most interesting individuals I can think of, and this movie, I think captures that quality perfectly!

Check it out, if you can find it.

What Sick is Really About is Not Nails Through Penises

[Emily-65-Roses · 10/10 · 19 March 2006]

I am not squeamish. I know a lot of people say this, but I'm really not. I can watch a lot of stuff with little hesitation. And yes, I had to turn away for a few scenes of this movie. Most primarily the one everyone mentions, the dick nailed to a board sequence. But that is not the most disturbing scene of the film. I found the most disturbing scene to be where he literally dies right on camera. It was just one of those phenomenons where you HAVE to look at it, no matter how unpleasant it is.

For anyone who can't see past all the "gross" or particularly graphic scenes for the movie REALLY is about... your opinions don't mean much. This film isn't about a sick and twisted man who did really depraved things. It's about a man's lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. Maybe people who aren't in the CF world can't understand this as easily, but try. Because the movie is worth watching. And has many important things to say.

Extremely Graphic and Touching Documentary

[ElijahCSkuggs · 10/10 · 7 January 2008]

Going into this flick I really didn't know much about Mr. Flanagan. I knew he was obviously a super-masochist (thanks to the DVD cover), and I knew that he was involved in a Nine Inch Nails video. But that's it. When the credits began to roll, you end up with a fantastic idea on who he was and how he lived his life. It's one of the most intimate and best documentaries I've seen.

Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan is a perfect title for this documentary. You discover that Mr. Flanagan does indeed have a hobby that most would consider "sick", but also that Mr. Flanagan suffers from Cystic Fybrosis. A lung disease where the death rate is high and the people who do suffer from it, usually die at a very young age. Truthfully for me, the masochism and the torture play a second fiddle to his life long struggle with cystic fibrosis. Sure seeing his unbelievable sexual performances are truly stunning, but what is more stunning is how he lives his life. Going into this movie I really wasn't expecting such an intimate and touching piece of film. There are some incredibly graphic scenes mixed with fantastic humor, and then there are scenes that display some of the most powerful moments of emotion I've seen on film or in real life.

In a perfect world Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan would be a movie widely seen. It's definitely one of the best documentaries I've ever seen and a movie I'll be recommending for years and years to come.

The hardest scene to watch

[m_b_gordon · 9/10 · 28 May 2013]

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I think that, despite the fact that this film gives an in-depth look at all the really gruesome stuff Flanagan willingly puts himself through, the toughest thing to watch was his death. Some of the bits where he and his girlfriend are acting out scenes, or he's hammering nails into himself, are fairly difficult to watch, but you know when those are over that everyone is going to walk away from that, maybe even a little bit more satisfied than they previously were. The scenes leading up to his death are emotionally draining on the viewer. You see him becoming despondent in the hotel rooms and you really see his frustration that his own body is doing this to him and he's really helpless. When he's in the hospital, and he starts becoming catatonic is when it really starts getting tough to watch. The nurse telling him that it's okay if it's his time to die, his girlfriend crying and asking him to still be alive when she comes back from some unmentioned errand, and him being surprised at what dying is like and even stating that he doesn't want to die are much more difficult to stomach than anything else that happens. Despite the fact that, for the most part, people are mostly desensitized to violence and death, it's one thing to watch a movie and recognize the loss that is a character's death, and another to watch disease take the life of a non-fictional individual. It is not quick, it is not clean, and it is not dignified. While the actions he took to get his rocks off may not be something many people would find enticing, and some would find depraved, they are nothing in significance compared to the event that is the end of a life.

Guess I didn't get it

[dschmeding · 4/10 · 2 September 2008]

OK, why the hell would anyone call this documentary "best movie ever"? I don't get it... Besides the fact that Bob Flanagan shows incredible strength in dealing with the cards he has been dealt with and chose to conquer his constant state of pain through S&M this movie didn't give me anything. I don't get S&M and therefor most of the performance stuff was pretty uninteresting to me. I wasn't even disgusted with most of this... maybe I am desensitized due to watching to many "sick" movies. But my problem is that the "Art" of Bob and Sheree is most of the time pretty non-existent and ridiculous. Taping a bunch of facial expressions to the wall, stacking alphabet spelling cubes or doing monitor installations reminds me of cheap school projects and is as uninteresting as the penis nailing and genitalia close ups could shock anyone who is into being shocked anyway.

I never heard of Bob Flanagan before seeing this movie and I have deepest respect for him trying to live a sexually fulfilled life and expressing himself in his state. But as for the documentary ... there is a bonus on the DVD about Sarahs (a girl who meets Bob through the "make a wish" foundation and suffers of a similar illness) fate after the documentary. I think that one is extremely exploitative and voyeuristic and kind of made me ashamed to have watched the documentary itself (even more than the appalling discussion between Bob and Sheree after Sarah left). It just gave me two insights... I too felt that the deathbed scenes were the hardest to take in this movie and as much as everyone talked about an ugly penis being nailed I really wonder if its me or most of the other people here being desensitized. And secondly Sarahs Husband pretty much sums it up when he says "Don't watch sick... I don't get it". Honestly the bonus gave me the impression that everyone involved in the piece was as disappointed with it as myself because even Sarah didn't appear natural.

Unique look at life and death.

[Infofreak · 24 June 2001]

So much has been said and written about the more sensationalistic and shocking aspects of this movie (yes, he hammers his penis to a board) but very little has been said about what it's REALLY about - the will to survive, and a suprising, moving love story. 'Sick' is one of the most honest movies ever made. Bob Flanagan let's us into his life in a way very few people have. He's a sadomasochist and does things most of us would never conceive of doing, sure, but by the end of this movie all you can think of is that he was a hell of a nice guy who will be surely missed by his family and friends. The hammer scene is unforgettable but much more confrontational are the scenes of Bob's death. These alone make this movie unique and truly impossible to forget. I strongly recommend this powerful movie to everyone with an open mind and heart.

Powerful. Genius. Freakishly Hard for Guys to Watch.

[afullmer · 10/10 · 1 October 2006]

I was fortunate enough to watch this in an intimate setting with an introduction by Kirby himself. I have never responded so much to a move than this one.

I gave it a 10 because i could not find anything the movie lacked. The way it portrayed the main character, Bob Flanagan, in such a real way was just good. It didn't sway from the point, it didn't have useless commentary like other documentary style movies, and it wasn't ever, ever boring. The vivid images that go uncensored on the screen will make you cringe, laugh, and cry all within a few moments. I am glad i took the time to see this. Rent it soon.

Brilliant film

[mariasrt · 10/10 · 21 September 2017]

I have loved the film, and the ending poem provoked an unstoppable crying to me.

I just have one small wish (Wish Foundation do you hear me?), that the character of Sheree was as well and as in depth portrayed during the film as Bob's. There are some parts that I would love to know more about her, and also with how she coped with Bob's death and continued after that. But then again, this was a film about Bob anyway, right?

Thank you all for this amazing, heart-breaking, rebel and honest documentary.

Much love Maria

Nothing Short Of A Masterpiece...

[EVOL666 · 10/10 · 3 January 2008]

SICK: THE LIFE & DEATH OF BOB FLANAGAN, SUPERMASOCHIST is the most "real" documentary that I've ever seen. I'm not a huge documentary watcher, so that may not be saying much, but I can't imagine another film that is so absolutely honest and moving.

SICK focuses on the life of Bob Flanagan, a performance artist, comedian, and extreme SM practitioner who suffered from the terminal illness, cystic fibrosis. Through the media of film, we learn about Flanagan and all the aspects of his life, from artist, to son, to lover, to "freak", and everything in between. The audience is allowed to witness Flanagan as he speaks to other SM enthusiasts. We see him in and out of hospitals, battling his illness. We watch as he makes another CF sufferer's dream of meeting him come true. We get glimpses into the REAL relationship between himself and his lover, Sheree, through private home videos. We play "voyeur" as we witness scenes of Flanagan involved in extreme SM play, including nailing the head of his dick to a wooden board. And we watch him die...

SICK is one of those films that a mere synopsis will not do justice to. I knew very little about the man, except what I remember reading years ago in publications like RE/Search or Modern Primitives (or maybe both - I don't really recall...) - and I knew absolutely nothing about cystic fibrosis and it's effects. So if nothing else, this film made me aware of a disease that I had no prior knowledge of. But on top of that, SICK chronicles the struggles of a dying man who is constantly waiting for the axe to fall. Cysitic Fibrosis is a disease that often takes it's victim very young - most sufferers not lasting into their 20s (and many dying MUCH younger) - yet Flanagan, despite (or maybe because of) his "extreme" lifestyle lived to be 43 years old. I personally can't imagine feeling like you are constantly living on "borrowed-time". It's one thing to know that you're going to die eventually - it's quite another to be born with a death-sentence.

As other reviewers have noted - SICK is not a film for everyone. Some simply will not be able to stomach the graphic SM "play" on display, or will not be able to be open-minded enough to look past what they consider to be "aberrant" behavior, to see what the point of this film really is - to celebrate the hard but joyful life, and painful but courageous death, of a unique and truly "strong" individual. I also don't feel that the film's intention is to repulse the viewer - I think that it takes a lot of courage, both from the "subject" and the film-maker to allow things to be shown in such a graphic manner so as to get a well-rounded feel for who this person really was. There is no sugar-coating, and there is no apologizing - THAT is something that I can really respect. Flanagan made no excuses for what/who he was - he was someone that believed in himself and his actions with no compromises - another trait that I can admire.

As another reviewer stated - I have to rate this film a 10 based on the fact that I just can't find any fault with it. Everything about it rings true and sincere, and that's a rarity in ANY film. And just when I thought that I was going to be disappointed by not hearing in Flanagan's own words why he thinks that SM became the focal-point of his life - there comes a spoken-word type "poem" during the last 10 (or so) minutes of the film that sums his whole outlook up better than I could have hoped for. What works the most is that SICK is funny when the time is right, and serious when it needs to be. The last few minutes where we basically witness Flanagan dying on film is some of the most harrowing and emotion-stirring that I've ever seen committed to film.

I don't admire Flanagan for being an SM practitioner. I admire him for being a true, outspoken individual who lived life on his terms, right up to his death. Though this film may not be for everyone, I think that his story is inspirational and this film should be sought out by anyone with an open enough mind to appreciate the underlying messages behind all the SM "hype"...10/10

Made me cry, and almost vomit

[iamsethh · 10/10 · 7 June 2000]

I made the mistake of cooking up a hamburger to eat while I watched this movie - very bad idea. See it on an empty stomach. When I rented this I was not even aware that the subject of the film was dying (I thought it said the life and *times* of...). I rented it primarily for the shock value. I had heard that it has a scene which "beats the opening shot in The Andalusian Dog". After viewing the movie, I'm not quite sure which scene that is a reference to, because pretty much every scene in the film beats it, on the level of shock and disgust. Anyway, I was very surprised to see that this is actually a very sad and profound movie. Also very saddening was the whole thing about the make-a-wish foundation girl.

Depathologizing BDSM

[asja-b-marchand-698-503078 · 10/10 · 29 May 2013]

11120323 I found that the documentary "Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist" brilliantly illustrated how one should not pathologize those who participate in BDSM activities by relating them to those who suffer from the paraphilias of sexual sadism and sexual masochism. Bob Flanagan and Sheree Rose, while participating in some of the more extreme SM activities, showed that SM is not about wanting to kill each other or one's self, nor is it about hate or weakness. Bob explains how masochists are stereotyped by society as being weak for wanting to suffer pain, force, or humiliation, when in fact masochists must know their own bodies and limitations, as well as be trusting enough in their relationship to be willing to give all of themselves to someone else. Bob proved that a lot of love and trust must be in place in the relationship in order for the masochist become a sadist's "submissive." In one scene, Sheree also explained how Bob would have been willing to give up everything, including his art, for her, if she had wanted him to. I feel that that in itself proves again that masochists are not weak, because it would take a lot of courage and selflessness to give up everything for someone else. It also must have taken a lot of love and selflessness on Sheree's part to allow him to continue with his art and even help him with it, which is not what one would stereotype a sadist as being capable of doing. All aspects of their relationship demonstrated how much they loved and cared for one another, as well as how their SM activities were an extension of their love. However, I feel that it should be noted that their SM relationship and childhood backgrounds were unique to them and that not all who participate in SM activities will have a serious medical condition or be willing to hammer a nail through their genitalia.

Sickness of modern art

[Zoomorph · 4/10 · 30 October 2021]

This film tells the story of a weird couple who produce modern "art". Their "art" is slightly more advanced than smearing poop on a canvas and framing it, but just barely. It's crude, boring, pretentious, and bland.

The people who view their "art" at their exhibitions and who are fans of the couple are presumably similarly "sick". There is a cultural sickness that this couple are exemplifying.

The couple are not particularly interesting. Furthermore, I doubt the sincerity of what we see before the camera as they are making a documentary about themselves and they do not come across as very authentic.

Ultimately, the film is another of their pieces of "art", and it's not much different from their other pieces of "art" which are featured within the film. It's an amateur piece which is fairly lacking in any value, other than as a glimpse into the sickness of modern art and the niche that they happen to fit into.

Excellent film

[Chriser · 7 February 2003]

This movie was excellent. It is not only the film that I consider to be the best documentary of all time (tied with Bowling for Columbine), but also one of the best movies of all time.

Bob Flanagan was an interesting person, whom I only wish I could have had the pleasure to meet before he died (hey, I was only around 7 years old when he died.) He was a poet, artist, performance artist, counselor at a CF summer camp, and of course, a masochist.

It's sad that people refuse to see this film just because it involves S&M or because they think they couldn't handle it. In all honesty, the scenes of S&M aren't hard to watch at all. It's understandable if you have trouble watching the penis nailing scene (I didn't, by the way), but you can just look away and still come away from the film with the same effect. Those scenes aren't what make this movie so effective.

What made the film so effective was showing how friendly and funny Bob was. He wasn't evil or sadistic. He wasn't the kind of guy who kidnaps children and tortures them. He was an average guy (a very talented one at that) who just happened to have a different way of controlling his disease and pain.

But the thing that made this film so moving was the fact that you basically watch Bob dying. You see all of the things he did throughout the film and then when you see him getting into his car for the final journey to the hospital, you really start to feel a lot of sympathy for the guy. No lie, this was the only movie to ever make me cry. I'll admit it. It really made me sad to see him in his hospital bed struggling for air and stuff. Not to mention the beautiful final sequence which shows assorted home movies with a voiceover of Bob reading a poem he wrote called 'Why?'

So all in all, this movie was excellent. Extremely moving, yet very funny and compelling to watch at the same time. A must see.

The life and death of Bob Flanagan

[shanelle-698-5297 · 10/10 · 29 May 2013]

11121660. Sick the life and death of Bob Flanagan; a documentary that focuses on the life of Bob Flanagan, a comedian, a performance artist, and extreme SM practitioner. Suffering his entire life from the terminal illness, cystic fibrosis documents a greater part of his life with all aspects included. We see him in and out of hospitals, we watch him make another CF sufferer's dream of meeting him come true. We observe the intimate relationships he holds with his lover, Sheree, through private home videos. Making this documentary incredibly 'raw' is the witnessing of Flanagan's involvement in extreme SM play. Bob indicates that masochists have to withhold a certain level of strength. To know your own bodies limitations and to be able to share them with someone else. At the beginning of Bob and Sheree's relationship he gave everything to her; his body and mind, in a submissive way. Being sick limited him with his BDSM practises towards the end of his life. To Sheree's distraught she stated 'If you still loved me you'd submit to me'. The key word 'submit' is the action of giving up control to the person who is dominant within the relationship. The strength Bob has to not only to live his day to day life but to add in the destruction with the SM practises demonstrates a type of intensity, and he claims 'the CF would have killed me if it weren't for S and M' –Bob Flanagan. Doubling the life expectancy of CF patients in theory proved his claims. With his given ability of comedian and his giving personality was able to give time to children with CF at summer camps. The title entails the life and death; Bob Flanagan passed away at the age of 43. Home videos of his last minutes alive demonstrating true emotions that I've personally never seen in film. I think that his story is inspirational, perhaps to a crowd of individuals open minded enough to appreciate the artistic and lifestyle that is behind SM practises.

A Powerful Documentary

[shymko12 · 10/10 · 28 May 2013]

Sick was overall an incredibly powerful documentary. Through the very real portrayal of Bob Flanagan's life while dealing with his sickness one can gain a more in depth understanding of someone who engages in the lifestyle of BDSM. Before watching this documentary many questions as to why a person would participate in BDSM arise, however through this documentary many questions can be answered. Bob Flanagan's idea that S and M saved his life is quite fascinating because many people would view S and M as a dangerous or harmful lifestyle but yet he views it as a lifeline. In the film even his father talked about how watching the practices he partakes in was difficult, and similar to watching a trapeze artist while worrying they'll fall and die, but then seeing him land on his feet made him proud of his son. Another interesting aspect of this documentary was the portrayal of the relationship between Sheree and Bob. The relationship between the two appears to be very loving which is not what the average person would expect from a couple who practices BDSM. This relationship helps to challenge the stereotype of people who practice BDSM being cold and unloving. There were some incredibly graphic image in this film, however they were definitely necessary to help the viewer gain an understanding of Bob Flanagan's life. Although many of the S and M images were graphic and at times difficult to watch, the most difficult and powerful part of the documentary was the ending in which the viewer watches Bob's last moments and his death. The ending of the film gives it an even more real and heart wrenching feeling. Overall this documentary was incredibly powerful and informative.

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A Beautiful Disaster.

[sum_sweet_girl · 10/10 · 29 May 2013]

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We watched this film in our Human Sexuality summer class. Somehow, despite the pre-warnings, this film still caught me off guard, and made me feel well out of my element. There were scenes where I felt as if I would be "sick", and scenes that I myself, could relate to. Despite me not being a BDSM practitioner, I understood his need to control how he experienced pain. It brought insight into how BDSM can be used as an art form such as performance art, and also as a way of therapy. Bob Flannigan referred to himself as a super-masochist, and allowed the viewers to see how the impact of both cystic fibrosis and BDSM affected not only his lifestyle, but also his body. Although there were many scenes I found slightly disturbing, the final scene when he was dying made me emotionally uncomfortable. His blank-distant stare as Sheree sat by his bedside, upset and frustrated, made me feel as though I knew him. The documentary allows you to take a step into his life, and understand why and how he perceived the world, his disease, how he perceives love, and life. He then turned this documented therapy into a beautiful, yet sort of dark, open and honest art. At the end of the film, upon reflection, Bob started dying the moment he was born, and he somehow found a way to make a mark, and his life something memorable for a lot people, including Sarah, another cystic fibrosis patient. To me, he bled to feel alive, and although that may not be the case for everyone, it gave him hope and something to live for, knowing that it was in his control. To sum up my overall feeling about the film, the words beautiful disaster come to mind. Bob was such a kind, submissive man, that knew nothing but pain. In the end, I feel that he finally found the peace and satisfaction he strived his whole life to find. Through this documentary, though not for everyone, his story will live on, in hope to inspire, move and touch others.

Keep Your Friends Close,...And Your Enemies Closer

[danfmccarthy · 10/10 · 24 February 2011]

To be accurate, I haven't seen this film per se. What I saw was a videotape that Sheree brought to show friends right after Bob died. I'm assuming it was edited into a final version for sale. From the reviews I've read, it has all of what I remember except I don't remember seeing anything about Bob's mother.

I knew Bob and Sheree from 1983 until his death. As things developed in the underground sex community Bob and I were on opposite sides. (Everything has political factions. Some groups want to join together, some want to split up. We ended up "leading" opposite sides.) Which puts me in the rare position to tell about Bob's petty side. But that's not important. What's important is being willing to be radically different sexually in order to be mentally healthier and live a longer happier life.

That's a position I share with Bob. I had occasion to discuss the subject with him shortly before his death. His perspective was a bit different from mine. No one seems to mention the terrible wracking pain of CF. It's interesting the degree to which major illnesses turn out to conceal symptoms from the public. And if I was to discuss some of Bob's symptoms and coping methods this review wouldn't see the light of day. "Hammer of Love" is a trivial little entry point to give the public something it can deal with. (I'm suddenly hearing Tom Cruise shouting at Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men.")

Sorry about drifting into what weaklings you "healthy" people are. Back to Bob's viewpoint. He said that the "recreational" pain was, for him, a way of showing that he, not his illness was in control. (Bob, I hope I got that right.) I asked him if he was the oldest person with CF. He said there were maybe three or so older than him. But in considering that you need to know that CF can attack the lungs or the dozens of feet of the GI tract. Bob had it in both and as bad as you can have in both. And he still almost made it longer than any of the other people with CF.

My explanation goes deeper. It's that if you have to do something reviled by society to stay alive, e.g. be beaten every day of your life, you have two choices. One, take your beating from a health care professional hired for the job and endure the pain. Or, two, the smarter more heroic choice. Find another person to share the experience with and revel in the sensations. Frankly, if it's that intense it's going to be unavoidable that it takes on a sexual aspect. (Now you're really on society's s**t list.)

If you are as lucky as Bob and myself you may find someone who can be more than a partner of the moment. Someone brave enough to be your partner in this life and beyond. With that combination of luck...and a lot of hard work, what would be trauma to both the body and soul can be turned into a celebration of life. An act of love. So it not only keeps you alive another day, but serves to strengthen you..and your partner. And that's why some of the sexual underground is about people trying to survive. Some don't even know that what they think of as sexual urges, what society condemns as perversions, is actually their body and spirit trying to tell them what they need to live a longer happier life.

Hopefully that message, even though not how Bob described his own view, will come through the film. Some of you might wonder what's killing me. My personal research strongly indicates it's a gaseous neurotransmitter disorder. But they've only just been discovered in the last generation. So I'm hoping to interest a researcher, a top hematologist in taking my case. If I told you what it took for me to last as long as I have, you would suddenly consider Bob and Sheree Rose's film a Walt Disney production.

Just please remember, the next time you're thinking of condemning a pervert or stopping a kid from doing something sexual (maybe even your own kid), it is some part of them trying to survive. Even if it looks wrong to you. Try to not think about "social" wrong or "unhealthy," but strictly what is really healthy. And that mostly has to do with cleanliness. Fecal matter is always a bad idea. (Unless the person has been eating a lot of yogurt.)

Love to all you good people out there, and especially to Karen, the reason I'm still alive.

P.S.

To any old timers that remember me (set Donnie up in the Violet Wand business, etc.). In the words of the Monty Python skit, "I'm not dead yet!" But I'm mostly bedridden and have been doing a distressing amount of screaming from the pain lately. I do have good medical care. I'm just maxing out what can be done. Luckily, one way or another, I won't have to keep doing this. But if a researcher does come up with counter to my neurotoxin, having all those "dead" nerves come back to "life" will be quite a ride.

"Sick" Review - Bob had something to live for

[sydneypluther · 8/10 · 28 May 2013]

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"Sick" is a disgusting, graphic, jaw-dropping, rule-defying, heartbreaking film. I would not recommend it to everyone, especially not the queasy or the faint of heart. But it made me think, and that is where its merit lies. We watched this film in my Psychology of Human Sexuality course, and the rawness and realness of Bob and his story were astounding to watch.

In his song at the beginning of the film, Bob sings, "The CF would have killed him if it weren't for S and M." It makes me wonder whether SM practice did lengthen his life. Although it's easy to say that Cystic Fibrosis is a disease which is completely ruled by biology, it is impossible to explain how someone who should have died as a child or teenager could have lived as long as he did. Perhaps the answer is that his SM and subsequent art performance gave him something for which to life, and that affected his life span. They do say emotion affects health. But maybe his SM did not affect his lifespan, but the practice made his life better. You know the saying "It's not the years in your life; it's the life in your years"? Bob found something he was passionate about and he used that to create art. I don't think that Bob would have left behind the same legacy without his BDSM practice. So no, maybe his practice did not actually elongate his life, but it sure as hell gave him something to care about. And that is a reason to watch this film.

The title says it all....

[sammikat · 1/10 · 30 November 2002]

What more can I add? Not for the faint of heart. I am glad I didn't actually spend money to rent this terrible thing. I am only sorry that I cannot get that hour and a half of my life BACK! Do not waste your time unless you enjoy being nauseated. Many people hail this terrible documentary, but I find it to be indulgent and depraved. To (mis)quote my idol, Mink Stole as Peggy Gravel in "Desperate Living," I have never found the antics of deviants to be one bit amusing!

truly staggering documentary

[didi-5 · 5 June 2004]

This documentary, put together by film-maker Kirby Dick, focuses on Bob Flanagan, not only an extreme masochist, but also a cystic fibrosis sufferer who managed to live to 43, a record-breaking age for the disease. His way of dealing with the disease was to focus on his pain in other ways. Yes, this film is not for the squeamish (although the only UK TV showing I'm aware of did remove the most graphic sequence), but what comes through is the simple courage of this man who chose to deal with his life in his own way, with the help of his devoted partner, Sheree Rose.

There is a particularly chilling sequence involving a young girl who sees Flanagan as a hero; while some other bits are incredibly touching - his 'poem' describing his condition and solution; the sequences following his death; and funny - 'Forever Lung'. You really should see this documentary, if only for its total honesty and openness in showing the reality of this crazy, but brave person. It will stay in your mind a long, long time.