Grave

A new chapter in your life has just begun, a school for vets looks like it's going to be great fun, with your sister in attendance, you've a friend and independence, survive through 'Freshers' week, and then turn learning on. But distractions and new habits start to form, your older sibling doesn't comply with the norm, and your vegetarian diet, has been usurped by a meat riot, and a taste for things that take a blood red form.

A fascinating tale about discovery and growing older, about learning what and who you are, and finding capabilities you didn't realise you had, including some that are particular to you and your family - occasionally curdling, but never draining, with some top drawer performances and the ability to get you thinking, what more do you want in a film?

Careful, the movie you see in the trailer is not the one you get! It isn't necessarily a bad thing. It was just marketed the wrong way. You expect a dark and highly stylized indie Nicolas Winding Refn-kind of movie. It is however a coming of age story which happens to include a very unusual element (cannibalism). You won't regret watching it if you know what you're getting yourself into.

Say hello to the most shocking film of 2016.

Julia Ducournau's Raw, is one that pushes the limits of twisted bodily desires as its brand of horror. It then features visuals that are not meant for the weak & squeamish, as its discomforting scenes effectively gets under your skin & lingers, until the credits roll. What sets this film apart however, is that it veers away from the usual brainless violence cannibal films are known for. Rather, if one can get past Raw's provocative imageries, there is a beautifully realized coming of age story that touches on belonging & sexuality. This is where Ducournau's screenplay deserves its flowers, & where lead actress Garance Marillier shines. The former's uncanny marriage of adolescence & literal hunger for flesh is an achievement, producing a one of a kind harrowing fairytale. Marillier on the other hand, was superb, convincing as a character that regresses from innocence to something unexplainable.

Make no mistake, Raw is a difficult watch. But if you are an aficionado of watchable horror that comes with self discovery as its premise, it is definitely highly recommended. Just probably lay low on the movie snacks. 7/10.

Its easy to understand the pull of the full. You want to watch a film about a girl who becomes a cannibal.. the film is very well crafted and full of interesting images. The acting is very good and the camera work solid. But somewhere during the film you begin to question the purpose of this film- it is neither full-blown horror nor is it a deep character study of a girl who is grappling with the cannibal inside her. I say give me Hannibal Lector anytime!

This film was painfully disturbing. I would look at the lights in the room or the people around me, just so I wouldn't have to look at the screen during some parts. It is clear from the start that the objective of the director is to make the audience uncomfortable, and I applaud his effectiveness in doing so. I was most impressed by the ability of Raw to leave me genuinely cringing at nearly every single scene. It didn't even have to be gore filled or disgusting in a traditional sense. The whole film oozes an uneasiness that the seeps into the audience. As much as I admire the clear objective of the filmmakers and how well they achieved it, it is not the movie for me. Be sure to watch it until the end, however, because everything ties together in a very intuitive and satisfying fashion.