Climax

Gaspar Noé's 'Climax' is labelled as a "trippy drama horror musical." Not a lot of people read "trippy drama horror musical" and think "Now that's my kind of movie!" Indeed, most people will find the movie to be quite objectionable, but that certainly doesn't mean 'Climax' is devoid of artistic merit or accomplishment.

The film is a menagerie of dance, neon lighting, long takes, and astounding camera work, propelled forward by a pulsing EDM soundtrack that fills every scene with a frenetic energy. It may best be described as Kubrick's 'Eyes Wide Shut' ceremonial gathering scenes on bath salts. If 'Climax' were a painting, it'd belong in the Modern Museum of Art.

We're not quite sure which drug one should be on to see the film, but some drug is definitely recommended.

Love it or hate it, this film is technically astonishing and whatever it's trying to do, it's doing it very well. It's almost like they've trapped the true essence of French Extremism, set it on fire, and followed it with a steady cam.

The camera work in this is surreal and its movements, along with the actors' choreography, are surprisingly well coordinated for a "write-as-we-go" film.

Climax will make you feel a lot of things and I don't think you're going to like how most of those things feel, but that's exactly what makes Climax a very well executed horrifying experience.

This is the first movie I've ever watched that almost made me physically ill. It's nihilistic, ugly, erotic, and so devoid of humanity I almost screamed partway through the 40+ minute shot just to get some of the feelings out.

At the same time it's a beautiful tour de force with the most visceral dance sequences on film. There are moments of shocking beauty within the chaos. And, most surprisingly of all, it somehow manages to avoid exploitation in any form.

This is my first - and probably last - Noe film. I have purposefully chosen not to watch Noe before now. Noe is who Lars Von Trier wishes he could be: dark, subversive, and shocking to the core without cheap gimmicks or an ego visible in every frame. Noe sees brutality and finds beauty, not just because of but in spite of.

This isn't a fun movie. If you're unsure if you should watch it, don't. And if you do, watch it sober and with something light as an immediate chaser.

This is not an easy watch. And while Climax may suggest this to be very sexual or at least sensual, you might be dissapointed if you're looking for that kind of "satisfaction". The choreography of the dancing is really good, the cinematography is something to behold too. If you don't mind long uninterrupted shots that is of course.

This is about addiction, about people driven to go the extra mile and about people hoarded in a secluded location going "nuts" as some might describe it. And as a different reviewer wrote: this is an experience. It will split a lot of people as it did at the various festivals it played. This is not an ordinary movie, but when has Noe done that? So if you are aware of his body of work, you at least know not to expect something "normal". Now some have stated, that if you had experience with certain drugs, you may understand or "enjoy" this experience more than others. I can't talk to that, not having had that experience. I can say though that this is quite rough to watch. Especially when things spiral downwards ...

Still very enticing and tension filled. Technically almost flawless it will depend what you make of the "story" or rather the excuse of one to get the viewer to go on a ... well "trip"!

The only good thing about this movie was the dancing. Literally, everything else about it is annoying. It's actually really boring. It has no plot and no point. The dialogue is puerile, at best, and you can't possibly empathize with the characters. If this is your first introduction to Noe, you'll likely never feel the need to watch any of his other films.