bentheredfan

This movie is, at its core, a morality tale about peer pressure, firmly held convictions, and the negatives of helicopter parenting. Yes, it is dressed in the masquerade of cannibalism and the peer pressure of a freshman year of college, and it fits quite well I might add, but this movie is (primarily) about the slow, steady decline that occurs when you begin to let your morals slip.

Personally, I don't believe it is objectively wrong to eat meat. However, the writer's choice to utilize a vehicle of vegetarianism here doesn't bother me and it serves its purpose quite well. I don't want to spoil too much, but it's quite easy to identify the symbolism presented here.

As previously stated, none of this makes this a bad movie. Quite the contrary; it is extremely well done and interesting. This is partly due to the subject matter; it is such a controversial topic that you really do have to keep watching just to see how it ends. That said, it is EXTREMELY dark and exploitative. There are rare moments of recovery here and those presented are often quite strange. Perhaps more than scary, the film WILL make you uncomfortable and/or disturbed. I primarily view horror movies and even I had to do some double takes. Be prepared for that, and word to the wise, do not view this in mixed company.

Star Garance Marillier is easily the strongest aspect of the film, and the other reason you just cannot stop watching. She is innocent, vulnerable, gullible, and scared... and yet also dishonest, manipulative, dangerous, and decadent. You can relate to her struggle and root for her, but at the same time, some part of you is against her and maybe even hates her. The rest of the cast, at least in comparison to Marillier, fades into the background, which isn't always a good thing.

Some of the exploitation here aims so high for shock value that it loses its effect and feels pointless. Further, it removes you from the film. There were two or three times I would find myself immersed, only to be shaken out by pointless indecency.

The whole thing is in French as well (I watched with English captions) and again, be prepared for a very bleak, yet somehow cautionary and careful, film.

Stick with this. It starts off fairly predictable and, dare I say, boring... ends up keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. Gary Oldman (Tau) and Maika Monroe (Julia) take the stage here. Their interactions are incredible, touching, and even compelling. These characters also carry themselves pretty well individually. Maika is strong-willed and headstrong yet compassionate and empathetic, while Oldman maintains his "tough-yet-caring" outlook and goes from what could've been boring and one-dimensional to fully 3D. Ed Skrein (Alex) isn't quite as good as his co-stars, but he does bring a cold and calculating edge to the film, one that fits the tone quite well.

The plot asks some very interesting questions about authority, artificial intelligence, pre-destination, and humanity. The plot on surface isn't very complex; however, when you dig into its nuance, you'll find some rich substance. There's a little bit of humanist relativism thrown in, but aside from that, it's a solid plot with some thoughtful implications. Be warned though; this is a dark, and sometimes painful to watch, film. It is definitely better off for this, but you need to be prepared going in.

On the negative side, that first twenty minutes or so is rough to get through. There's some forced social commentary that isn't needed (or, frankly, factually based) and it drags a little longer than needed.

If you're a Maika Monroe fan (and why wouldn't you be? She's smoking hot and a great actress to boot), you should check this out. She is just as good in this as she is in previous films. If you like any sort of blend of sci-fi, horror, and psychological thriller, this movie will rank up there in the greats for you.

This is a brilliantly written and brilliantly acted show. Every actor is fantastic, every character in-depth. I was absolutely blown away by the cleverness and effort put into this show and the intelligence in the writing and character development/interactions. Giovanni is an excellent villain and con artist and the viewer truly cannot help but root for him, Bryan Cranston is (of course) stunning, intimidating, and impossible not to appreciate. This isn't necessarily a show from which you can derive a role model or really even root for the main character; it is instead a marvelously crafted and nail-biting story, a crazy and unpredictable roller coaster through the world of cons. (Season 1 Review)