Kirpianuscus a disturbing film. this is the most simple definition. because it is a good horror, a seductive psychological movie, occasion to remind a lot of familiar scenes but it represents more. meet between two different civilizations, religious punishment, Gothic story, parable, social critic. it could be each of them. in essence, its virtue is to change the perspective about things, using a theme , at the first sigh, out of surprises. a stranger in a bizarre place. and a fascinating science to drive the story. and beautiful cinematography. and the force of each scene. it is easy to say Laurent Lucas does a great job. but the film has the strange manner to remains long time in the memory like the dark fairy tales from childhood. and, maybe, this detail does "Calvaire" almost an experience. and not only an artistic one.

BA_Harrison Travelling cabaret singer Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas) suffers engine trouble, breaking down in the woods during a rain-storm, but manages to find shelter at a nearby inn. Unfortunately, the owner of the establishment, Bartel (Jackie Berroyer), is completely crazy and, believing that the singer is his estranged wife, uses any means necessary to prevent his guest from leaving.I'd seen Calvaire (AKA The Ordeal) mentioned on a few 'most disturbing movies' lists, and comparisons to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Misery, Deliverance, Straw Dogs only furthered my curiosity. Having just finished watching the film, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed.Once writer/director Fabrice Du Welz has established his film's unconventional premise, it seems as though he doesn't know what to do next, other than be weird for weird's sake. The plot certainly displays very little in the way of real development: Marc Stevens is subjected to humiliation, escapes, is caught again, then subjected to more humiliation, before escaping again. The story goes nowhere, ending abruptly without resolution, while the persistent, darkly humorous tone only serves to dilute any real horror that the situation might have otherwise had.As a fan of warped cinema, I didn't find Calvaire a total waste of time—any film with a random spot of bestiality and an impromptu freakish dance scene isn't totally worthless in my eyes—but it was far from the gruelling ordeal I had expected.

FlashCallahan Days before Christmas, entertainer Marc Stevens gets stuck at in a remote wood in the swampy region of Liège, after his van breaks down. A man who's looking for a lost dog leads takes to a desolate inn, and the owner gives Marc a room for the night. Next day, the innkeeper, promises to fix the van, asks that Marc not visit the nearby village, but goes through Marc's things whilst he takes a walk. That night, the innkeeper laments his wife's having left him, and by next day, Marc is in a nightmare that may not end......The kidnap victim thriller isn't a fresh idea, it's been done to death, taking someone and pretending that they are someone else, but this one is a little more darker, a little more moody, and the fact that the kidnapper may be the most normal person Marc runs into, adds to the bewilderment.The villagers are absolutely bonkers, or are we seeing these people through the eyes of the innkeeper? Or do they even exist, and are just part of the innkeepers imagination?But the fundamental aspect of the film is the torture that Marc endures, and the humility he goes through with the innkeeper, that makes the film as intense as it is.But it's also the strange set pieces in the film and the quieter moments that really get to the viewer, such as the resident who comes on to Marc, or the scene in the bar after the innkeeper says his peace.Its a difficult film to watch, but its worth watching, but it will leave you feeling a bit low..

SpannersGerm669 Marc Stevens, a traveling cabaret singer, is heading across the Belgian countryside to a Christmas party, in the hope to win over a producer who is also attending. But not before fixing his Van, that has just broken down in the middle of the woods. With no real alternative in sight, a strange yet seemingly friendly man by the name of Bartel comes to his rescue. With the promise of food and shelter for the evening and having his car back on the road by the morning, Marc agrees to stay in the company of Bartel at the Inn that he runs. Bartel sees this as an honour, but soon his real intentions become clear and to Marc's horror, these intentions are far from friendly. Marc's nightmarish descent in the bizarre world of sexual delusions is only just beginning. Initially I dismissed this Belgian-French horror film as just another one to add to the pile of Texas Chainsaw wannabes, but when I finally took the time to give it a go, I realized just how wrong I was and learned the important lesson of not judging a movie by its cover. This is anything but ordinary. There are plenty of films out there that show much more graphic violence, but rarely will you see a film that demonstrates such a sheer amount of demented, perverted and disturbing "fun" as this one. Straight away, we get thrown into the morbid world that director, Fabrice Du Welz has created. Through dull, dreary and lifeless colouring, we know straight away that we aren't in for something friendly. The fine mixture of comedy and horror was done to perfection. Nothing is overdone and the films subtleties shows the patience and talent of the makers, which is ultimately why the film works so well. We laugh at things that also send a chill down our spines, which results in the viewer feeling as though they aren't sure what to do, which puts us in the same awkward position that the characters are in. Character interactions are awkward at best, which makes the film such a discomforting experience. None of this, however, would be possible without a stellar performance from the cast, and this predominately French cast, throw in a masterful performance. Laurent Lucas and Phillipe Nahon, two French legends, show why they are considered at the top of the acting food chain. Also paying homage to older classic horror films shows the respect that the director has for my beloved genre. Everything from Sexual Frustrations, social awkwardness, delusions and murder, add up for a very memorable, disturbing and very psychological experience. Brilliant Horror film making like this is a rarity in a struggling genre. If slow burning Psychological Horror is your thing, do yourself as favour and see this film as quickly as possible. Bordering on a Cinematic Masterpiece.