Un couteau dans le cœur

KNIFE+HEART isn't the first work of art to combine the specter of the AIDS epidemic, the sex positivity of the gay liberation movement (which came to a crashing halt with the emergence of AIDS), and the conventions of horror/thriller/slasher films. In poetry form, Kevin Killian's 1997 ARGENTO SERIES fused the brightly colored blood splatter of SUSPIRIA with the inexplicable death toll of HIV. Probably my favorite of all such works, however, is Alain Guiraudie's 2014 film STRANGER BY THE LAKE, which yearns for the titillation of casual sex even as it constantly exudes the threatening possibilities inherent in such encounters in a way that's truly unsettling.

KNIFE+HEART isn't about AIDS, per se, but it does pile on a nicely textured layer of meanings about the interlocking nature of the sex and the death drive. The violent impulses that underlie S&M fantasies; the death of the ego that makes dance floors, drug trips, and uninhibited sexual encounters equally ecstatic; the orgasmic peak that led English Renaissance poets to use "die" as a metaphoric synonym for "climax"; the "death" of the presumed-straight child that occurs whenever a queer adolescent or adult comes out of the closet and must then sometimes abandon past expectations, past claims to identity, and links to old family and friends; the loss a parent might feel when a child leaves for a safer queer space like the city; the loss of one's individuality when entering into a committed partnership with another person; the godlike control over life and death that lies in both the hands of the artist and the medium of photography, which captures and preserves moments in time; and the literal violence and murder perpetrated against not only queer and trans people but also sex workers in general--KNIFE+HEART is about all of this, I think, and probably a lot more, including things perhaps too personal for a viewer to decipher.

KNIFE+HEART carries a heavy load of theoretical possibilities, but it never comes across as pretentious or overladen. Rather, it's consistently engaging, with campy excesses of giallo bloodshed, a proliferation of cute boys, a pulsing soundtrack by M83, and bits of both levity and realism that make it moving even though it is essentially, like the best of Argento, utterly ridiculous and implausible. It may not have quite the same high style that peak Argento had, but it definitely has a lot more substance.

I really wanted to like this movie, especially based on the reviews, but it just bored me to tears. I just stopped after half way through and read the synopsis to find out what happened. Glad I stopped... completely unoriginal and yawn-inducing.

It started strong. I like how you, as the viewer, were pulled into the film's world. I was hoping that the first death would be the only Argento-style moment. Unfortunately, the tone of the rest just made me feel like I was watching another of the many films I've watched in the past. I wasn't expecting jump scares...just something new or original (somewhat).

I'm usually really forgiving of movies. I don't have superior taste or have high standards. I just want to be entertained and to be told a story. But, I do want something a tad original and fresh. I just didn't feel anything about this was original or fresh. It's bad, in my opinion, when I'd just rather read the synopsis rather than finish.

I usually give movies that are "meh" or "aiight" a 5. If you're at a 4, it means you fell below that to "not the worst, but I don't want to watch again..."

I'm not saying skip it. Just know what you're getting into before you watch. See the other non-spoiler reviews to see if it's your cup. If it sounds too familiar, and you need something new, then just simply move along. There are a ton of movies (especially French movies) that have great stories....horror or otherwise.

After a series of strange murders, a film director trying to finish her most recent gay porn realizes that the incidents are centered on the cast of one of her films by a masked maniac intent on seeking retribution for a past film mocking a debilitating incident he suffered and tries to stop him.

There was a lot to like with this one overall. Among the most likable factors here is the generally impressive setup that manages to work a highly effective old-school atmosphere into the universe of sleaze and depravity featured here. As there's a generally fun vibe during the film shoots that take place, whether it's the early threesome choreographed by her friend, the police station interview mock-up, or the arthouse-style recreation of the murder scene, that all combine to set up the confines of the studio system she's working within at the same time as the killer begins striking the performers of her crew. The recruitment of new performers to fill out the roles of those who are being killed off goes along rather nicely with the discovery of the origin story at play tying everything together. As well, there's also a lot of fun here with the enjoyably decadent and erotically-tinged kill scenes at play throughout here. Being fueled by the atmosphere at play here with the killer preying on victims by employing sexuality to his advantage just as freely as the performers do in their scenes with a highly-engrossing arthouse sensibility to its technical prowess, this one comes across as a rather slick and stylish effort. With some effective suspense in the opening ambush in the nightclub with the actual attack taking place in the bedroom, appearing to a drugged-out victim in the car, or the dizzying sequence in the forest during the rainstorm, the attacks in this one are quite brutal and enjoyable that are a part of this one's likability. The other good part here that has a lot to like is the overall giallo-styled format that's in play. The whole concept of the creative crew being targeted by the strange masked killer that fuels an investigation into their identity after getting nowhere with the authorities is a classic genre trope employed to good effect here. After the series of murders targeting people in her company, that she's forced to play amateur detective and investigate who's responsible for the deaths leads her to the small-town kid who died and set everything in motion with the events that angered him being replicated in her films is a setup in the style. This gives off a rather fun setup that goes alongside the rather impressive technicalities and extravagant lighting featured throughout to give this an enjoyable enough series of positives. There are a few minor drawbacks that emerge here. The main issue here is the decidedly non-giallo setup that gives away the killer's identity rather than focusing on investigating who it actually is. Instead of looking into the potential suspects since this never provides any and then discovering who they are at the very, this just flat-out says who it is and then features a confrontation with the identified figure so there's little suspense about who it is that goes against the genre's setup. There's also a lot to dislike with that final confrontation which is pretty underwhelming rather than cathartic and ends the film on a slightly sour note. It's the features that end up holding this one back.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, strong sexual references, Nudity, and drug use.

This was a film that one of my buddies from social media told me about. It was already on my radar a new film to check out from this year, but his high praise made me move it up my 'To See List'. Also one of my favorite podcasters really seemed to enjoy it as well. This is actually a neo-giallo film that comes from France and Mexico. I know for purists, that makes this not a gialli, but after seeing this, it most definitely is. The synopsis is Paris, summer 1979. Anne (Vanessa Paradis) is a producer of cheap gay porn. When Lois (Kate Moran), her editor and companion leaves her, she attempts to get her back by making a more ambitious film with the flamboyant Archibald (Nicolas Maury).

Now I should lead off stating that this is definitely an arthouse film. We start with intercutting Loïs as she is editing the latest dallies for a film. This is being seen with the star of that film, Karl (Bastien Waultier), inside of a gay, fetish bar. As he's dancing with some men, he looks across the room at someone in a leather mask. This person leaves and Karl follows. The two go home together, where Karl is tied up. He's then killed as the masked person stabs him with a dildo that is actually concealing a knife.

Later that night, Anne calls Loïs and we learn the two were lovers, but they're broken up. Anne wants her back, but Loïs can't do it. This upsets her and she is hung on up. We get that Anne has a bit of a drinking problem and she's highly emotional.

Anne comes to work the next day where we see Archibald directing an adult film with Thierry (Félix Maritaud) and two other actors. Anne goes upstairs were she sees spies on Loïs while she works.

Things take a turn when the police call to inform them of the death of Karl. This though gives Anne an idea for her next movie. Things take a dark turn though, as more of her actors are killed by this masked man. The film that she is making is mimicking the crimes around her and she even has Archibald playing as her. To star in it, she finds Nans (Khaled Alouach) who looks similar to the star of the film we saw earlier, Fouad. He at first declines, but the money is a bit too good. The crew has to decide though to continue to work and put their lives at risk. Anne only seems interesting in getting Loïs back though. Anne tries to find out who the killer is behind it is too late.

Now I'm glad I finally got to see this movie, because there's a lot to unfold here. The first thing I want to dive into is the time period this is set. I think that is quite interesting having this be at the tail end of the 1970's, which was really a time for free love. I'm of course looking at this as an American, where we are quite prudish. I think the time period is quite important for my next point though.

That would be homosexuality. Anne and Loïs was a couple that is now broken up. Anne is the director for gay porn with Loïs as the editor. All of the actors we see at first are homosexuals as well. What is interesting is that Nans is straight, but the money is too good for him to not be a part of this film to the point where Anne offers him his weekly salary for just a couple of days of work. This film really does do well at celebrating that there's nothing wrong with this and I dig that. There's a dark side to it as well though.

This brings to me to the point that the killer is knocking off the actors for this company. What is interesting about this though is the actual reason the killer is killing them. At the time of the reveal, it is believed that the killer is doing this because of these people's sexual orientation. We as viewers know though are given a bit more than that. Anne does the normal giallo troupe to explain everything that has happened and it actually makes the killer seem tragic. My buddy said this in his recommendation and it is completely right. I don't want to spoil this, so you will have to listen to my podcast where I will delve into this a bit more.

Since I've already shifted over into this, we do get that troupe of the over explaining to ensure we as the audience know what we just saw. We also get a great looking killer. They wear a black, leather mask and have similar gloves. They use a knife for all of the killings as well. We even get that Anne is having dreams that lead us to the truth. What is interesting about this, she is taking her dreams to make her movie and when she's told to follow what they're telling her, that is how we explain who and why the killer is doing what he's doing. I really dug this and I have to admit, I didn't predict the killer which is something that I grade on these types of films.

That will take me to the pacing here. I do think that his runs a tad bit long. It comes in around 105 minutes. I don't want to say I got bored here, because I think everything that we see was needed. We get introduced to our characters and that first death within the opening 10 minutes. From there we build the tension as things go down. It keeps with the giallo sub-genre with Anne, not being a cop, being the one to solve what is going on here. I thought we got the kills at a good interval, ramping up that tension to a satisfying conclusion in a movie theater. As I said, I didn't predict the killer so I did enjoy that as well.

As for the acting, I thought that it was good across the board. Paradis I thought was solid as the lead here. We see that she is unstable and has a drinking problem throughout. I unfortunately connected with her in that I've had an ex-girlfriend break up with me and I've done everything that I can to get her back. We don't really get a lot of growth from her aside from the ending is trying to say she is at peace with everything, at least that's how I interpreted it. Maury I thought was solid in his performance. Same goes for Moran, Jonathan Genet, Maritaud, Alouach and the rest of the cast were all solid.

The effects were really good as well. I thought the weapon was a bit much, but it actually fits so well with this film and the motif of homosexuality. What I also like is that it keeps men and women on the table as possible killers. The blood we get looks good and the wounds do as well. We get a few of them so that is solid as well. I also think that Gonzalez shot the hell out of this film. It looks beautiful. I like that the dream sequences are inverted in color. This hides certain things from us as the audience while still giving us a bit of the back-story. The film that Anne is shooting also has an odd dreamlike feel to it. The cinematography here is definitely on point.

That takes me to the last thing to cover which is the soundtrack. I think that M83 did a solid job. It gives that feel that we're back in the 70's, especially in the club scenes. There does seem to be long stretches where there isn't a score, but that does work in building tension. I don't think this will be a soundtrack I will listen to often. I do think that it works for what they needed here for sure.

Now with that said, I'm so glad I didn't sleep on this film any longer. I think that this is a beautiful looking neo-giallo film that's not from Italy. It has a taboo subject that is socially relevant now and placing it back into the time period they did definitely works. The acting is solid across the board with Paradis really doing a great job as our lead. She's such a broken character in is helped to put it back together with this tragedy around her. I think the look of the killer is great, the kills are pretty solid and I think that it is mystery that I didn't find predictable. The soundtrack fits for what was needed and I really dug this overall. I will say that if you have issues with homosexuality, I don't think you will enjoy this, as we get to see a lot of it on screen and that is the crux of the story. If you're an adult and enjoy films with an arthouse flair, give this a viewing especially giallo fans.

The word giallo is thrown around in a lot of the reviews here - and not least of which in the description on MUBI - but it strikes me that Yann Gonzalez isn't necessarily all that interested in getting some shocks or indulging so much in the kill set pieces (not that he doesn't completely, with one involving lots of 360 degree pans revealing in each succession the killer approaching and then slicing away) as much as he is in pushing the colors that hes working with and mixing film stocks and, in his way, doing a meta comment on using art as a way to fight back.

When Vanessa Paradis's Anne goes to a police station to be briefly questioned about one of her actors being offed, this is then cut away to her recreating this with her own actors (Anal Fury 5 quickly becomes "Homocidal," the best pun you never thought of because why would you), and when she thinks she can draw out who may be the killer, she quickly stages a scene of sado-masochism... And gets what she is asking for (in the one scene that is truly suspenseful). What I'm trying to say here is that if you go in to Knife+Heart expecting a usual Argento or Fulci or one of those directors, you'll be not so much disappointed as thrown off.

And yes, MUBI, it is "unapologetically queer", which, you know, good. But it is also unapologetically French: the Italians had their own method of madness when it came to drawing out violent and/or surreal set pieces (one commonality is a lush and vibrant and spine-tingling score), and this has some surrealism as well, like with the black and white 16mm that feels like it's deliberately cut in from another movie.

But it also embraces and in fact demands that it be erotic and push the limits (albeit no actual genitals are seen, they might as well be), and Gonzalez is in love with color in a particular way. When we see red, it feels especially red and fiery; when we see blue, it's particularly somber and sad. And black? Well, that's the name of the game, man/woman - darkness is all around these characters, but what I also find striking is that, for the types the gay actors and some crew are, they feel like real people, which I often didn't get from Italian Giallos.

One issue though is that it is a director preferring style over substance. He loves Paradis clearly and what she can bring, but her role is thin and I never really felt for her (though she is, without spoiling, denied her moment of redemption that should come). Maybe that makes her more tragic, but I just didn't feel it, and that is what also is more French to me than anything - the sense of doomed romance and ennui which... Cool. But it's definitely more of a visual and sensory experience than one for story or real pathos.