Last decade have seen many ups and downs in the horror genre. Lots of experimentation and exploitation happened. While Hollywood mostly stuck to its tried and tested techniques of remakes, sequels and a much denounced sub genre "Torture Porn". French cinema was busy testing new waters. Horror fans were patiently following and enjoying every new treat which came their way from France but many genre sceptics steered away from these films. My post is to introduce these gems to the wider audience. It's probable for people to still not like horror films but it's unfair not to give it a chance. These films are not just good horror films but good films without distinction.
There lies the world of seemingly sick and demented people who seek pleasure in the pain and sufferings of innocent people. That's the broader theme of this film. On the surface the comparison can be drawn to "Hostel" but their motives are far deeper and their experiments far more deep-rooted in bigger questions about human desire and the quest for impossible answers. It's a story of a girl seeking revenge against people who kidnapped and tormented her in her childhood. Accompanied by a friend, she sets out on a mission but had no idea who she is dealing with. It's a story full of surprises and gut wrenching moments. It has gore, lots of it, but that should not put you away because the film is much more layered and sophisticated and has bigger agendas than throwing buckets of blood in your face. The story is thoroughly engaging and twisted. The performances are great altogether. Kudos to the brave female actors who went all the way for their brave and raw performances. Proving to be one of the shining aspects of this film. Go watch this film now to see how a risk taking performance and direction looks like.
If we are on the subject of risk taking than lets not forget its prime example, Irreversible. Where should I start? Lets start by saying that irreversible has an irreversible effect on me which will stay forever. I'm not trying to hype this film. That's the power of this great film. It is a story of an incident where one girl is brutally raped in an underpass and the events leading up to it are shown in a reverse-chronological order. We also see what happens afterwards and how the life of ordinary people is destroyed by this one event. But what's more fascinating is the way we see those people slowly going towards that incident unknowingly, while we watch in agony and despair of what lies ahead. This film will move anyone who is open to its premise. The direction is more like placing a spy camera in protagonist's life. This is how it should have been to achieve the great sense of immersion, to the extent that it becomes difficult to watch the incidents unfolding. It leaves us feeling like we are infringing their privacy. The performances have class of their own. Vincel Cassel and Alber Duppontel are great but it's Monica Belluci who leads the way. I would only say one thing about her performance. There have been many great performances from the female lead in the past but this performance for me acts like a parameter and scale to see how great other performances have been.
This film, like its counterparts in this post, will divide the audience but maybe more so than others. There is no less gore in french horror films but this film has crazy, off the bat moments which makes your jaw drop to the floor. It's a story of group of teenagers who are enjoying the party till late. After exiting the disco they encounter a mysterious shepherd whose actions get weirder as the time passes. Not Hollywood-standard weird but the weirdest possible actions in any film out there. It is very hard to top this film in it's self indulgent craziness but that's not necessarily the bad thing. It works as an experience like going through a horror house, when you know you will be freaked out but you can't resist going in. It will take some time to absorb all the imagery but the plot is interesting enough to keep you hooked. I don't want to spoil anything here, because spoiling it would be like preparing you for the horror house trip. The fun is in the unexpected and that's how this film should be seen. One thing I would say though is that Vincent Cassel is brilliant. His range as an actor is phenomenal. I could not believe for a second that this guy is not like this in real life. It is impossible to acknowledge that this is just a performance. See this film and tell me if this is not a master class in performance art.
Frontiers is a fast paced hell ride. Nothing is certain and nothing is off limit. The tone changes throughout the film from pulse pounding action to nerve wrecking horror. I cringed, flinched and squinched through most scenes. But then again I went through the same, watching all of the above films. French has numbed my feeling of horror, disgust and gore. But at no point I feel exploited because they have a way to work up to it and to build the setup meticulously. It's a story of young thieves fleeing Paris during a riot only to be trapped in a situation ten times worse than before. We are not particularly sympathetic to them at the beginning but as the story unfolds we start to root for them. There are references to other horror films throughout but Frontiers holds its own by captivating performances and polished direction. This film is more stylised than above mentioned films but it works perfectly for the content and it manages to evoke an emotion of fear and sympathy from us. Xavier Gens broke out into Hollywood after this project with Hitman and Divide. But never quite achieved the brilliance of Frontiers.
This film made quite a splash among horror fans when it was released in 2007. There was something about this film which made everyone attracted towards it. This film works on so many levels that it feels both ground breaking and inspirational for other horror films. Made on a relatively small budget, it's a story of a heavily pregnant woman who spends the night alone in her house, before the delivery. At midnight a woman knocks on the door and requests to use the phone. The stranger gets refused but its becomes clear that she is here for something more and won't go until she gets it. This film is a testament to a great horror film based on a strong story. For any film, the story is the single most important thing. It's a simple story set in one house and two main characters. If you take this premise to the Hollywood producers you are likely to be rejected or ordered for "heavy re-writes". But then being made in Hollywood is not an indication of a good film anyways. True film will emerge when you won't place the unnecessary obstacle of "commercial success". This film defines the term edge-of-the-seat suspense. There are so many great moments that it's difficult to cover them in this mini review. I will be writing a detailed review for this film very soon. One thing I will say though, do watch this film to see the potential of a great horror film. It will move you, grasp you and shake you to your core. It's an experience transcending genres and deserve to be seen by anyone who acknowledges the power of cinema.
Other notable films: Haute Tension, Them and Cache.
These are just a few examples to introduce you to this great stream of horror films from France. France has produced some of the great classic horror films in the last century and continues to do so today. A great film should evoke a certain emotion in you without exploiting your trust as an audience. It is a very difficult task but the one which French has learnt and polished for decades. I will hope to see more great horror films from France this decade which will continue to inspire and captivate us surpassing the barrier of language. That's a great achievement and an example for the rest of us to follow.
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