Calvaire (2004)

At first view, a horror, At the second- story about basic instincts and about the small difference between human and beast. In fact, film about vanity, illusion and reality's ambiguous limit. In essence, a religious movie.

The values of Marc Stevens life are few, mediocre, ordinaries. Nothing very important, nothing special. Powerful taste of job, impressions, and memories of show. He is only shadow of a gray existence, boring and strong. Like many of us. His life's image is the image inside the car. The old lady is a spectator. The sentiments or the passion are not important. So, the punishment is a good solution to end a stupid dream of chimeric glory.

Bartel is, in same time, victim and master. His innocence is charming, his expectation - brave. For him the life has a precious sense and the rules are essence of life. A little man with decent desires. Ordinary people, sensitive and good.

The film is picture of an impact. The impact between two worlds, very different, cruels in special way, the only common element is the form and value of sin.

"Calvaire" presents the heart of world. The heart without glamor, lights, masks or shining skin. Without beautiful illusion and subtle gestures. It is not the wild life or new Lord of the Flies. It is not slice of community's madness. It is only essence of another reality. The reality of cruel gods and perfect faith.

Fmovies: I'm sure lovers of this film will just think I am an uncultured idiot who can't appreciate art. Think what you like, I was bored to tears - to say this movie moves at a snail's pace is misleading. It doesn't move at all! It literally takes its time going nowhere.

There's a scene where Bartel examines Marc's van, and I swear it lasted 15 minutes. Just what I want in a horror film - an old man looking through a van.... with no plot progression, no music, no startles or scares. Nothing! Other than being stuck in the woods - where exactly is the similarity to Texas Chainsaw and Deliverance? Those movies were gritty and filled with high tension... this was nothing at all like those movies.

So, if you want to hold your nose high and pretend this was high art, go right ahead. Meanwhile, I'll stick with some European horror flicks that actually manage to provide scares (i.e. Inside, REC, Let the Right One In, etc.)

Marc Stevens(Laurent Lucas)is a cheesy cabaret-style singer whose main audiences are the old people's homes of backwater Belgium.Travelling to perform at a wedding during Christmas week,Stevens is stranded when his mobile-home/trailer breaks down near a remote village.He seeks assistance at the local inn,run by a chatty oldster named Paul Bartel (Jackie Berroyer),but this turns out to be a decidedly unwise move..."Calvaire" is a truly bizarre mix of surreal comedy and survival horror.The film is filled with gallery of psychotics,inbred freaks and sexual deviants.For example Bartel thinks the hapless Marc is his wife Gloria,a singer who recently left him for another man.The cinematography by Benoit Debie is beautiful,unfortunately the tension is clearly lacking.The bestiality scene is quite short and there is only a little bit of gruesome violence including a crucifixion of Marc.Among the actors playing the villagers are Philippe Nahon and Jo Prestia,both best known for their work with Gaspar Noe on the likes of "Irreversible".So if you are a fan of controversial French cinema you can't go wrong with "Calvaire".9 out of 10.

Calvaire fmovies. If you would ask me to give a short description of 'Calvaire' by Fabrice du Welz, I am forced to give you a plain description of a plain and dull horror movie. The car of a young man name Mark Stevens breaks down deep into the forest. Luckily he finds a hostel to spend the night, so he can start repairing his car tomorrow at daylight. But the owner of the hostel doesn't seem to be as guestfree as he appeared to be...

But as this movie develops it appears that this is not your everyday horrorflick. The nightmare Mark Stevens awaits is far worse than anyone would expect. Torture and humiliation await him in a form that will turn your stomach 3 times around. And not only because of what you see and what is happening, but mostly because the characters are so convincingly developed.

So don't get misled of all those short filmdescriptions. It may sound like a standard description, but ends as one of the most sick films I have ever seen. It makes you wonder what must be the reason people like to watch this kind of films. Maybe it's not just because of the frightening parts, but most of all, the ending. Again, an ending not like an everyday horror, but one that will make you think a few days after seeing 'Calvaire'.

Fabrice Du Weiz's thriller mines "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Deliverance" and "Straw Dogs", Still, it is unique enough and original enough in its cinematic eccentricities to be noteworthy.

A travelling showman (Laurent Lucas) finds himself in hostile territory when his van breaks down. A local jack-of-all-trades (Jackie Berroyer) helps him out, but is soon helping himself to Lucas's van, mind and body.

The film takes interesting, perverted turns and dishes the atmosphere thick. A fog-shrouded chase through the woods is almost surreal, and a fantastic dance sequence with hillbilly-like weirdos works a twisted treat and foreshadows a surplus of gloom and doom.

The violence is not plentiful, but the sense of threat is always present. Benoit Debie, who photographed Gasper Noe's IRREVERSIBLE, creates memorable, haunting images and makes expert use of the terrific locales.

A solid, oddball shocker, but overlong at times.

Wow...the other review is nuts. This movie was fantastic!

I got a chance to thank the director (in french) after the film. The lighting was unbelievable, the acting was great, the directing was great, and the script was fantastic. Definitely not for the weak of stomach...pretty gory and painful at times, but let up with some hilarious moments (ie. the dance). They shot on super 16 which gave it an incredible grainy quality...very 1980s sci-fi/horror (which i liked). It was very dark with extremely high contrast, and some beautiful locations. The end seemed like a bit of a let-down at first, but the more i think about it the more i like it. (won't give it away though).

Suffice to say it was gorgeously shot, great cast/crew, and a interesting take on insanity and love. The director described it as a 'love story'...ermmm...yes? with a crucifixion...and pig buggery...

anyways, I would LOVE to see this get a release (without a re-edit), or at lest a distribution deal. It really deserves it.

-cheers,

claire