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     In 1997 he released his first film entitled, Folles aventures de thierry Van Hoost.  Then in 1999 he released a hysterical tale of a strange woman with a most wonderful love, entitled, Quand on est amoureux c’est merveilleux (which just so happens to be included on this European DVD).  In 2004 he released by far on one the most deranged and fantastic movies in a long while.  From Belgian director, Fabrice Du Welz, comes!

 

         

 

Calvaire

(A.k.a.: The Ordeal)

 

     For starters, I can definitely agree with the comparisons written in the liner notes of this film, they are almost to the tee.  Basically stating that Calvaire, is a mixture of Straw Dogs, Deliverance, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  I also felt that there was a bit of Stephen Kings’ Misery thrown in as well.  You may be thinking to yourself, “How the fuck can you can you mix all of these classics together and still be original?”  Well I’ll explain a little bit, for your reading pleasure.

 

     Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas) is a young Cabaret singer, traveling to a Christmas gig.  While driving through a sludgy, swampy, cold, rainy road in a remote part of Belgium, Marc has a sudden scare.  Mysteriously, after this incident his van then breaks down, leaving him stranded.

 

     In the middle of nowhere, he notices a sign for a local Inn.  While reading the sign he is startled by a troubled looking young man named Boris, who has been roaming the woods and swamps, in search of his lost dog Bella.  Though being a weirdo, Boris is nice enough to show Marc to the Inn.

 

     Mr. Bartel, the owner of the Inn, Is quite taken by the young man and offers him a place to sleep for the night and take a look at his van, as he says he is quite the mechanic.

 

     After finding his van broken into and a few articles from the inside missing, Marc decides to inspect Bartels’ room, only to find the missing stuff.  As marc begins to question Bartel, a strange occurrence begins.  Bartel believes Marc to be his long lost wife!  To mistake a young, not so handsome man for a woman, is beyond me.  I mean, either the woman was brutally ugly and had a penis, or this man is completely insane.

 

     At this point, Marcs’ horrible ordeal begins.  Being a film that needs to be seen to be believed, I will continue and attempt not to give too much of the film away!

 

     Enduring great torture in comparison to Misery and a dinner scene straight out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre (The screaming and extreme close-ups on the eyes, made this scene really stand out), Marc at this point seems to be completely screwed.

 

     Moving forward, to a sudden attack on the house (Inn) by a group of backwoods, pig fucking, Belgian rednecks.  This scene, being a huge reminder of the attack on the Sumner household, in Straw Dogs!  Guns a’ blazin in true Peckinpah style.  This attack leads us to the next comparison, which would be Deliverance.  This scene gives a whole new meaning to the term “Squeal like a pig!”  

Ratings:

 

For acting I give a 9.  The characters in this film were extremely well played and all too believable.  The actors chosen were, every one of them, perfect for their roles.  The utter insanity to come from some of them was almost comedically, disturbing.

 

As for the direction and screenplay, I give a 9.  As I had mentioned earlier, the use of its obvious influences but doing so with complete originality is pure genius!

 

For the FX and such, I guess I would give a 7, only for the fact that this film relies more on the mind than it does on visual, though visually astounding.

 

For the Cinematography I feel a 10 is in order.  Shot by the brilliant eye of Benoit Debie, the same man who shot the incredible, Irreversible and ArgentosThe Card Player.  Clean, crisp, and absolutely superb!

 

Now, as for the score, I give a 10.  Although, not really having any music, a bar scene in the film has a song played on the piano that is all too eerily familiar. 

 

For the film overall I give a 9Calvaire is brutally violent, sad, strangely amusing and has a complete edge of your seat feel.  This film will leave you amazed and in complete awe!  By far one the most mentally disturbing films I have seen this year.

 

For fans of films like the earlier mentioned Misery, Deliverance, Straw Dogs, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, even Haute Tension and Irreversible, this is a must own!

 

You can purchase this European DVD from www.xploitedcinema.com.  I suggest you do, before it hits American theatres!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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