An Interview With Ilona Six - The Human Centipede Trilogy (2009, 2011, 2015) & The Onania Club

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Disturbing Cinema: Ilona Six you are a film producer and the sister of Tom Six. You produced The Human Centipede film trilogy and you're also responsible for the business side of Six Entertainment Company. I'd like to know what is the most unforgettable moment ever from your experience working on The Human Centipede Trilogy? One that stands out among the others that you could share with us all? 

Ilona Six: Well as you probably can imagine with The Human Centipede there have been more than one, that's for sure ;) But one of the most unforgettable moments was during the shooting of Part 1, when we were filming the scene with Dr. Heiter and the first time you see the centipede construction. Everyone in that room, every crew member, Tom, and I realized at that moment that we were creating something so unique and bizarre that the whole world would talk about it. 

Ilona Six: Another unforgettable moment was during the premiere of The Human Centipede in London at the Fright Fest Film Festival. Showing the film for the first time to a large audience, the intensity of the reactions—from fascination to excitement to outrage—it was incredible. And  made us realize that we had succeeded in creating something that would make waves across the world.

Disturbing Cinema: You've been collaborating with your brother Tom Six for a very long time. Have you always intended to collaborate and create disturbing films, and did you anticipate such enormous success? 

Ilona Six: No, not at all. I have produced all kinds of films, from comedies to children's films, but always in a way that pushed boundaries. When Tom first told me the idea for The Human Centipede, I thought, "How the hell am I going to produce this?" Having a great idea is one thing, but making it a reality—getting it financed, getting actors on board, crew members, company's, getting it sold and released worldwide—is a whole other challenge, and for sure, it was not the easiest film to produce and sell because of its highly controversial story. As for the success, I knew this film was so original that horror film lovers would really want to see it, but to see it explode into a worldwide phenomenon was something so amazing. 

Disturbing Cinema: The Human Centipede 2 (2011) is my favorite film in the trilogy, and I consider it one of the most disturbing films I've ever seen, as well as a masterwork of extreme cinema. I first watched it when I was eleven years old in England, alone on my computer upstairs in my room, sweating, frightened, and hoping to God that my mother wouldn't discover me watching it. Fortunately, she didn't, and fortunately, I didn't turn into a psychopath. At the age of seventeen, I became aware of the color version and felt compelled to view it. I was amazed and now I firmly believe that it is superior to the black and white version. Considering that I saw it when I was very young, which may worry some people, I'd want to know today. Do you believe in the whole thing that children are negatively impacted by films, or do you think it's not that black and white. No pun intended! 

Ilona Six: That's a great story and it's wild to hear that you watched  The Human Centipede 2  at such a young age. I have to agree—11 is quite young for a film like that, it's definitely not intended for kids. In terms of the larger question about whether films negatively impact children, it's a bit nuanced. On one hand, I do believe that it's important to protect younger audiences from certain content. But same goes for games, young kids today are exposed to violent video games and that almost seems normal.  Ultimately, I think it comes down to context.  Movies, no matter how extreme or disturbing, are a form of art and they're meant to challenge, evoke emotions, or spark reflection. What's important is the ability to understand and process what you're watching. So  It's not always black and white — understanding the intent and message behind the content is key. 

Disturbing Cinema: In addition to being a producer, you are also a very successful creative entrepreneur and I see that you post a lot of videos of yourself on Instagram giving advice to people on how to become successful with their businesses and projects and much more. So I'd like to know now: What piece of crucial advice would you provide someone attempting to create a film? What is the one lesson you always impart to those who are thinking about entering the film industry, particularly those who want to craft disturbing films, based on your extensive experience? 

Ilona Six: Yes after being a successful film producer and creative entrepreneur for more than 20 years it's time to share my knowledge with fellow creators who want to take their project to the next level. I see so many talented creatives but they are missing the business side of their creative vision and that is the only way to make your projects successful. And that's exactly what I teach to blend your creativity with the right business strategies. 

Ilona Six: The other most crucial piece of advice I give to anyone entering the film industry is to embrace originality. Don't be afraid to take risks. The film world is saturated with content and what gets noticed are the projects that dare to be different. If you want to create something disturbing, it's so important to focus on the story and message behind it—shock value alone won't sustain your audience. Craft a narrative that challenges people's thinking, but stay true to your vision.

Disturbing Cinema: Now of course I have to discuss The Onania Club, a film that I, along with a lot of other people, have been eagerly awaiting for a very long time but hasn't yet cummed out. In the film, a woman named Hanna (Jessica Morris), who lives her life on  autopilot and has a broken marriage, discreetly joins a mysterious group known as The Onania Club. Its members are strong, self-reliant Los Angeles women who become turned on by other people's suffering. In the process of experiencing more suffering than she could have ever imagined, Hanna loses everything that truly means to her. What more can we anticipate from this film, and how was the experience of making it? 

Ilona Six: The Onania Club  is also a film you have never seen before, it's a  pitch black satire. A group of  wealthy, independent women in Los Angeles who gain sexual pleasure from witnessing or hearing about the suffering of others, an extreme depiction of schadenfreude.  You can expect a deeply psychological film that examines human behavior in extreme ways.  The experience of making The Onania Club  was definitely unique and also again challenging due to the film's controversial theme. When you're producing something that pushes boundaries, you often get more 'no's than 'yes's, which can be tough. It's not as straightforward as producing a lighthearted romantic comedy, where there's less resistance to the content. 

Ilona Six: However, on set, these types of films are often the most fun to work on. There's a certain energy that comes from knowing you're part of something bold and daring. Between the intense scenes, there's always room for a lot of humor and connection among the team. As long as you have a strong cast and crew who truly understand and are committed to the vision, the process can be incredibly rewarding. 

Disturbing Cinema: Hanna (Jessica Morris), Barbara (Karen Strassman), Erica (Deborah Twiss), Johanna (Darcy DeMoss), and Rose (Flo Gerrish) are the Onania Club members. A stunning cast of women, some of whom I had the pleasure of speaking with, and I have nothing but positive things to say. How was your experience working with all of these talented and great women, and what was the initial meeting like? 

Ilona Six: Working with such a powerful cast of women was incredible. They all brought a depth and authenticity to their characters that elevated the film. Everyone immediately clicked and there was this understanding that we were all there to create something bold and unique. These women are fearless, and that fearlessness is exactly what The Onania Club required. 

Disturbing Cinema: What are the challenges you and Tom Six are going through when it comes to releasing The Onania Club and how can we hardcore fans genuinely help you? I can speak for most that we are all waiting for the film to come out and we really can't wait to see it, and we are here for you and Tom to fight the battle and to fuck political correctness right in the ass! 

Ilona Six: Releasing The Onania Club has been a real uphill battle, as you've mentioned. The film is completed and ready, but we are holding off until we can secure the right platforms and attention it deserves. In these times with a film as provocative and challenging as this, it's tough to find distributors who are willing to take a chance on something that pushes boundaries. 

Ilona Six: But we're definitely not the first to experience this—in the past films by famous directors have faced similar delays and later found success. The support from fans is absolutely incredible. Unfortunately, for now, patience is key. We want the film to be released in the right way, so it can get the recognition it deserves, and in the meantime, just knowing that our fans are behind us is a huge motivation.  We truly appreciate you all standing by us, and when the time is right, we'll make sure you get to experience the film in its full glory. 

Disturbing Cinema: Given that you have contributed to one of the most recognizable and disturbing film franchises in history, which has traumatized people all over the world, I would like to end the interview by asking you one of my signature questions.  What is the most disturbing film you have ever seen & why? 

Ilona Six: One film that stands out for me is  Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom directed by  Pier Paolo Pasolini. I saw it when I was around 16 years old, and I wasn't prepared for a movie like that. It was in my head for weeks.  It goes beyond shock value, diving deep into the darkest aspects of human nature and power dynamics. It's the kind of film that stays with you for a long time. 

Disturbing Cinema: Congratulations on the films, and thank you once again for taking your time answering my questions, Ilona Six. It was an absolute pleasure interviewing you and we await the release of The Onania Club.





The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009) Plot Summary: Two pretty but ditsy American girls are on a road trip through Europe. In Germany, they end up alone at night with a broken car in the woods. They search for help and find an isolated villa. The next day, they awaken to find themselves trapped in a terrifying makeshift basement hospital along with a Japanese man. An older German man identifies himself as a retired surgeon specialized in separating Siamese twins. However, his three "patients" are not about to be separated but joined together in a horrific operation. He plans to be the first person to connect people via their gastric systems. By doing so, he plans to bring to life his sick lifetime fantasy, the human centipede. 

You can buy or rent The Human Centipede (2009) here:











The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) (2011) Plot Summary: Martin is a mentally disturbed loner who lives with his mother in a bleak housing project. He works the night shift as a security guard in an equally grim and foreboding underground parking complex. To escape his dreary existence, Martin loses himself in the fantasy world of the cult horror film The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009), fetishizing the meticulous surgical skills of the gifted Dr. Heiter, whose knowledge of the human gastrointestinal system inspires Martin to attempt the unthinkable.

You can buy or rent The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) (2011) here: 










The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence) (2015) Plot Summary: Bully prison warden Bill Boss has a lot of problems; his prison has the highest amount of prison riots, medical costs and staff turnover in the country. But foremost he is unable to get the respect he thinks he deserves from his inmates and the state Governor. He constantly fails in experimenting with different ideas for the ideal punishment to get the inmates in line, which drives him completely insane. Under threats of termination by the Governor, his loyal right hand man Dwight comes up with a revolutionary idea which could change the American prison system for good and save billions of dollars. An idea based on the notorious Human Centipede movies, that will literally and figuratively get the inmates on their knees, creating the ultimate punishment and deterrent for anyone considering a life of crime. Having nothing to lose, Bill and Dwight create a jaw-dropping 500-person prison centipede.


You can buy or rent The Human Centipede 3 (Full Sequence) (2015) here: 











The Onania Club Film Summary: Hanna, a woman with a shattered marriage and life on autopilot, secretly joins a strange group called The Onania Club. Its members, strong and independent women from Los Angeles, are turned on by the misery of others. Hanna finds more misery than she could ever hope for and in the process ends up losing everything that really matters to her.











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