Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés

I rented this movie without any foreknowledge of what to expect. The only reason to take it was that the cover looked kinda stylish. I was mildly disappointed when it appeared to be a ghost story. Luckily, it wasn't just that. It's more of an experimental combination of genres and styles, mixed in a family history with a bloody secret.

Its storyline is pretty messy, and therefore I had to watch some of the parts again to fully comprehend it. But I still liked it for what it was: a wacky movie with a dark undertone, with talented directors as David Lynch and Terry Graham resonating through the deviant style. I liked the stylish and heartwarming sequences that touched me with the utter beauty of it. The side-characters are all charming on their own unique way. Not all of them had enough time to get enough depth - mainly due to the messiness of the script - but as a whole they do make this movie into something special.

I saw this film at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival.

Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés is the feature film directorial debut for Robin Aubert, who also wrote the screenplay. The film follows tabloid reporter Flavien Juste (played by François Chénier), who goes to a small Quebec town with the paper's photographer and his friend, Armand (Patrice Robitaille). Flavien and Armand are there to investigate the mysterious disappearances of some of the villagers over the years. Not long after arriving, Armand disappears himself, setting in motion a whole series of events as Flavien tries to find his friend.

The town is populated with all sorts of characters, from the mayor who runs the town with an iron grip, backed up by his two greaser thugs right out of the 50's; to the mechanic who wears a mask to hide his face; to the two creepy sisters that run the town hotel; to the woman who plays steel guitar to the cows in the fields; and the lingerie-clad waitress in the restaurant who's Downs-syndrome affected son may be one of the few Flavien can turn to.

The movie is very reminiscent of work by David Lynch, a la Twin Peaks, but Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés is significantly clearer in its story and themes. At the heart of the film is the theme of identity, but to say too much more would give away the plot. The film has a nice look, being shot in hi-def. Aubert's shots make much of the small town look threatening and suitably creepy, even in broad daylight. There's probably a few too many startling cuts at the beginning of the film, but thankfully, they give way too a more restrained style for the remainder. I enjoyed the movie, especially the character of Flavien, as he struggles in his desperate search to penetrate the silence that pervades the tight-knit community.

I had high expectations when I've rented this movie. Genre movie, especially scifi and horror coming from La Belle Province are somewhat rare so of course this movie was at the top of my rental list. I give it a 5 out of 10 (or a 5 out of 7: all quebecers who read TV Hebdo critics will know what I mean) and I don't think it deserves any better.

For the record this is not a bad movie and there is a lot of talent involved: Great actors, great photography, fantastic settings but one major flaw: an absolutely AWFUL script. The whole idea and theme is indeed interesting but it is drowned out by the multiplication of subplots, characters and mixed genres. This is an unbelievable patchwork that does not hold and it feels gratuitous.

Nice try Robin.

Flavien Juste (François Chénier) is the reporter of a tabloid that explores UFOs and other supernatural events that is near to bankruptcy. His chief and friend assigns him to investigate the disappearance of villagers in Despas and Flavien heads to the small town with his friend and photographer Armand (Patrice Robitaille). Flavien sees the ghost of a bride on the road and when they arrive in the hotel, Armand vanishes. Flavien seeks out his friend but the locals do not help him.

"Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés" is a stylish film with a promising and intriguing beginning that is unfortunately destroyed by a messy screenplay. The writer and director Robin Aubert is visibly influenced by David Lynch, using creepy and bizarre characters and situations with ghosts and an environment of Twilight Zone to disclose the creepy discovery of the reporter. But the resolution of the weird plot does not makes any sense and the conclusion is a complete mess. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Cidade Amaldiçoada" ("Cursed City")

I experienced this film at the Belgian Festival of Fantasy & Horror Films where Robin Aubert came to introduce his project in person, and let me tell you this guy approaches the art of film-making with the exact right attitude! Despite his debut film being an ambitious, unusually complex and rather dared piece of work, Aubert puts his whole achievement into perspective when he talks about it and he even uses humor and cynicism to enlighten the audience about his motivations and background. I really appreciate those qualities in a director. There's nothing more embarrassing than a young and over-enthusiast director who compares his own work with the repertoires of genius other directors and than fails to live up to the expectations. Robin Aubert is actually entitled to a little more vanity, as his script for "Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés" is an impressive combination of spooky subject matter, creative plotting and powerful surrealism! Although slightly flawed and occasionally showing gaps in continuity, this is fascinating story with bright new ideas and some genuine suspense. Aubert takes us on a trip to rural Canada where supernatural events occur in the little titular village. People are regularly reported missing there and two journalists of an insignificant newspaper are sent to investigate. One of them immediately vanishes too, whereas the other – Flavien Juste – quickly discovers there's a strange connection between the town and his own childhood. Every inhabitant of this town hides his/her share of secrets and the only persons willing to help Flavien appear to ghostly reincarnations of dead people.

"Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés" indisputably reminds you of the work of David Lynch, more particularly "Twin Peaks", but the comparisons don't simply stop there, as I frequently had flashbacks and recollections of the work of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Samuel Fuller! There are worse names in the field of cinema to get compared with; especially bearing in mind this only is Robin Aubert's FIRST film! Our director patiently takes the time to introduce us to every twisted soul who's dwelling around the village; like we're on some sort of guided tour, and it's up to you to determine which sub plots are essential to the basic story and which ones are red herrings. The film does get a little too confusing at times, yet you never really have the impression that Aubert himself has lost his grip on the material. Most of all, this is a stunningly beautiful film to look at and to listen to! The camera swiftly moves over the ominous Canadian countryside and bizarrely compelling music only emphasizes the supernatural ambiance. The actual amount of explicit shocks or jumpy moments is limited, but they're definitely there, most notably during the nightly sequence at the old junkyard where Flavien experiences one of his first supernatural encounters. The acting performances are more than adequate, mostly because all the supportive cast members were allowed to drivel in their own incomprehensible Canadian dialect, and even the young child puts down a convincing role. This isn't exactly the kind of film you want to see after an exhausting day at work or with a bunch of friends on a Saturday evening, but it certainly is a strong statement claiming that cult-cinema is not dead & buried yet.