Megalomaniac

Wow. This movie is definitely not for everyone, but it is for me. Well acted, beautifully shot, and I could really feel what she was feeling. Looking at them both, I can understand how they got where they were in life, and partly, it shows nature and nurture coming together. I did not find it in anyway pointless or the violence glorified. More like a character study. No matter how much she tried, everything and everyone was against her so ultimately she found herself beside the rest of her family. I feel that the last 5 seconds of the film are quite symbolic.

If you like films that delve deep into the darkest depths of the human soul, don't mind a slow pace (which I think is deliberate) graphic violence, and are not adverse to a story that is utterly bleak, then give it a watch!

It's a typical sick Brutal Horror Movie from France. We remember cult classics like "Inside", "Frontiers", Martyrs and "High Tension" and you can confidently put this film behind them. There are some Brutal and disturbing scenes. The Movie has a Dark Atmosphere from Start to Finish. The Actors aren't the Best, but they're trying Hard - Eline Schumacher does a very good job as a tormented victim and as a sick Psychopath.

This film shows a closer perspective between serial killers and his poor victims.

Be warned, the film is partly contemptuous of people. It's only for die-Hard fans of the Brutale Serial killer theme

Is not suitable for every viewer.!!!

"Megalomaniac" is one of the most disturbing and powerful horror films I've seen in a while. This French-language Belgium production fits comfortably in the European Extreme horror film genre -- like "Martyrs" and "Frontier(s)" among others. You'll feel like you were punched in the gut after you're done watching it. And although it's not for everyone, it's one of the best horror films of 2023.

As the film begins, we are told the story of "The Butcher," who killed 15 women over the course of six months. We then fast forward to meet his two grown children, Felix and Martha. They live in the family home, and Martha works as a janitor, where she is treated awfully, to support them. Felix appears to be continuing his father's work, and Martha seems to know about it. She also appears to be trying to get help for her clear mental issues by having a social worker visit her occasionally.

Martha's treatment at work becomes truly horrible, and we think that we are going to see her embrace the madness that runs through her family and lash out. But "Megalomaniac" is far too clever for that. Martha's descent into madness is far more horrifying than we could ever expect and you will never get me to spoil what happens, other than to say it becomes one of the most disturbing and nihilistic films I've seen in a long time. And the movie becomes even more powerful when every now and then, it hints that things may not be completely as they seem... but never takes any shortcuts or gives easy answers.

The acting is absolutely spectacular. Eline Schumacher as Martha and Benjamin Ramon as Felix command the screen every time they are on it. The film doesn't shy away from graphic violence but also doesn't revel in it and that makes it even more intense. And intense it is, "Megalomaniac" does not let up for the entirety of its running time, there is not a single light moment or laugh in it.

To be honest, I am a little surprised this film actually got a wide, mainstream release. You will feel this movie as you watch it and after it's done. It will generate long discussions, including what the title refers to. It's a pleasure to give a rave review and hopefully get it some more viewers, so if you're a fan of these types of intense horror films "Megalomaniac" is recommended without reservation.

Beautiful surreal imagery, gruesome violence and dark atmosphere dominate the first and last ~5 minutes of the film.

I will not go into detail as to what happens inbetween but it would make your skin crawl in a different movie. Here, it is neither staged in gruesome detail nor cleverly implied, nor is the protagonist's emotional reaction to her mistreatment of particular interest to the film maker. The normalcy of it all and her overall numbness could in themselves be horrifying, but a thin plot about human pets, off-screen mass-murder and familial conflict keeps us from really getting to know Martha.

For the most part this was a disappointment and yet my interest in the work of Karim Ouelhaj is piqued. Those few minutes of genius bookending the film speak to a strong personal sense of style, the mark of a horror auteur.

On an overwhelmingly positive note: the noisy industrial soundtrack, especially the piece that plays during the end credits, is excellent. I do hope Karim embraces his more poetic tendencies and collaborates with Gary Moonboots on another film.

Kenny's Movie Review

"Megalomaniac" (2023)

Premieres in select theaters 9/8 and On Demand everywhere 9/26

I'd like to thank the Great people at Dark Star Pictures for allowing me to screen this for my readers

Martha and Félix are the children of the Butcher of Mons, a notorious Belgian serial killer from the 1990s. Unstable and riddled with insecurities, Martha lives vicariously through social media. Her brother, crushed by the family legacy, takes over their father's killings. Harassed and violently assaulted at work, the docile Martha falls into madness and goes through the looking glass into the strange and terrifying world inhabited by her brother.

Okay, first off this movie is not for everyone but darn this is a EXCELLENT film. "Martha" played wonderfully by Eline Schumacher lives with her brother "Felix" who also is terrific Benjamin Ramon, are brother and sister living in the HUGE Victorian style house literally in the middle of nowhere, "Martha" has a job working Graveyard shift at a factory and is picked on by the other workers and they do really mean things to her including a rape scene which is not graphic but you really have a idea what's happening.

Meanwhile her brother is carrying on the father's tradition of being a serial killer and he said to "Martha" you have the whole house do not go into these 2 rooms, well "Martha" being on medication who has a social worker come over every month (is thst scene crazy) and evaluates her.

Well one day "Martha" goes into one of the rooms and sees one of her brothers victims chained up and starts calling her "kitty" these scenes are absolutely creepy and really disturbing.

I'd go into more but man I really want you to see this film. Martha played by Eline Schumacher is the star of this film, you feel terrible for her but she's as ruthless as her brother. This is a French film and has subtitles but the acting and action on the screen really gives you all the things you need to follow the film. The director Karim Ouelhaj sets a really dismal and disturbing tone for the film and might I add it's bloody.

This is the best film I've seen all year, I will add this to my collection when available for purchase.

5 Whoppers out of 5 Whoppers 🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔.

Seriously check this out.

Once again thanks to the great people at Dark Star Pictures for allowing me to share my thoughts.