Disturbing graphic imagery, often showing fully blown, the cruelty of nature, abound in this film of great puissance.Thematically I thought it had echoes of Don’t Look Now in terms of a couple’s guilt, over the death of a child, but film making has moved on and the boundaries of shock have also expanded, and there are scenes of a sexual explicit nature, as well as graphic violence.

Don’t take your mother or a first date to this film, it simply won’t go down well. Praise must be lavished on the duo of principle actors, a miserly two, Willem Defoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg who dominate the film, alongside the backdrop of nature and show great daring undertaking such demanding roles. Defoe often ends up undergoing torture, after all he played Christ, in the Last Temptation of Christ. I am pretty sure, many of the audience were forced to avert their eyes, as towards the end some scenes are totally unpalatable. The director is at his most provocative, even the film’s title is ambiguous but aiming to stir up controversy . “Horror film” “Art film” classify it as you will, but you can guarantee this film will leave an impression on you, it may even totally freak you out.

Francis H. Powell is originally from England and moved to Paris in 1999. In addition to being a writer (articles, songs and poems), he is a painter, DJ and English trainer. For more information, read his complete bio.

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