eyeonfilm

or have recently given birth… or have a weak stomach…

It’s called INSIDE, or as the French say À l’intérieur. I’m not being witty, it’s a French film.

A little background: The debut feature by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury was released one year ago this month in France. It hit the festival circuit around the world, garnering absolute praise from critics and audiences alike. The Weinsteins, so impressed with the style of the film, picked up the rights and hired the directors to helm their upcoming remake of Hellraiser. (Yes, that project is really happening and after seeing this film, I’m actually looking forward to it) So… The Weinsteins being their usual shortsighted selves are sitting on this film for a really long time, even though people love it. The problem is this: The film is so incredibly intense and bloody that there is no way, even with massive edits, it will avoid the dreaded NC-17. That means little theatrical release with little box office = The Weinsteins don’t get richer. I know, preaching to the choir. So they never release the film and put it straight to DVD through their Dimension Extreme label.

If you enjoy horror films, thrillers, something that will seriously creep up on you and stick with you, see INSIDE. I am a HUGE fan of horror films and have not had a reaction to a film like this in a severely long time. I saw it at a film festival last October and seriously, through the entire 75 minutes or so, I was rocking back and forth in my seat. My body was telling me to get out of the theater before I had a complete anxiety attack but my brain kept saying, “Don’t you fucking move, this shit is brilliant. Tough it out, bitch!”

I don’t want to give away too much. This film is not for the weak at heart. It is hardcore shit, I’m not sure I have seen so much blood. But that being said, this film has style, and atmosphere, and builds tension worlds better than most pathetic attempts at horror produced on this side of the pond. Beatrice Dalle is a nightmare as the stalker, you will see her face when you go to sleep at night.

Look, I don’t want to build it up too much. But I saw this movie about 8 months ago now and I’m still too scared to watch it again. Yet my passion for it has not waned one bit. It is an intense experience but such a beautiful film. And if you like horror and haven’t been scared in a while, turn off all the lights in the house, medicate yourself however you see fit, and just give yourself over to it. Quite an experience.

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