CLIMAX (2019)

Written & Directed By: Gaspar Noe 
Cinematography: Benoit Debie 
Editor: Denis Bedlow & Gaspar Noe 


Cast: Sofia Boutella, Sarah Belala, Romain Guillermic, Souhelia Yacoub 


In the mid 90’s 20 French dancers gather in a remote, empty school building to rehearse on a wintry night. The all-night celebration morphs into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn their sangria is laced with LSD. Quickly, the atmosphere becomes charged and a strange madness will seize them the whole night. If it seems obvious to them that they have been drugged, they neither know by who nor why. And it's soon impossible for them to resist to their neuroses and psychoses, numbed by the hypnotic and the increasing electric rhythm of the music. While some feel in paradise, most of them plunge into hell.


The film isn’t joking when it announces itself as a very french film. As usual when it comes to the films of Gaspar Noe. This film is on the edge like walking a tightrope. The film is masterful Beware this film is vicious and not for the lighthearted. Definitely not for everybody.

When the film shows the interviews of the characters at the beginning there are books and DVD’s next to the television showing them that help give a glimpse into the films and directors inspirations. As the film constantly presents homages.

Shot in 15 days, From a 5 page long script supposedly. Of all the dance scenes in the film, only the first one was choreographed and the rest was the result of the way the dancers chose to express themselves through their own language.

It took between 15 and 16 takes to shoot the first ten-minute opening scene which is all one continuous shot.

This film comes off as an experiment by the end it seems. As director Gasper Noe is known to want to challenge audiences. He enjoys manipulating and annoying them also, He seeks to divide audiences but also make them think and react. While having an experience together that is shocking and showcases a concept. Here as always he seeks to show human beings breaking down into an experience they can’t escape and that is hypnotic.

As this film could have easily been an unending dance party musical of a film but here it rather works in chapters and ends up being one of the strongest anti-drug movies without acknowledging it. Strangely this comes off as one of his most mainstream films. Considering what his movies are usually like and filled with this can be seen as a compliment. As this is still pretty strong stuff.

Almost at first the film seems like a stunt with the constant facing sequences but the film keeps raising the stakes higher and stronger. Like the dancers the camera is always moving seemed big to follow characters strategically before being lead astray it distracted by another and staring off all over the action witnessing sometimes acts only fleetingly and other times focusing only on them.

The film does clearly have 3 acts. It stays vibrant and malicious throughout. The end credits appear 2 minutes into the film. Additionally, the main credits appear 45 minutes into the film and the title is revealed in the final 8 seconds.

It seems to be a film where he shows the most constraint, but that might also be because he feeds into your fear without necessarily spelling it out. While going places you don’t foresee and not literally showing you or harping on what you expect. Not as in your face so it works more mentally than visually.

This is the type of film that is a wild ride, If you go in blind. But it is a film that thrives in anticipation. As it lets you know in it’s opening scene some kind of terror or tragedy happened. Then you are introduced to the characters through video interviews. Then an introductory dance sequence that is choreographed. Which then moves into reality where we watch and get to know the dynamics of the situation and characters. As the film keeps raising the stakes. As the drugs take ahold.

The ecstasy of dance. The title seems to take on from his last film LOVE with it’s real sex scenes and ending of an ejaculation in 3D.

The film as always is excellently shot and put together with long takes. As most of the film is improvised. As the finished script is only 5 pages long. The director allowed the cast free reign for the lost part only instructing them here and there and coaching how to act when high.

The film takes some time in between along the way for moments usually minor drama where you wonder where it will take you, where it will lead and go next. Making you feel a little scared but kind of excited to.

A child in the middle of all the debauchery. Also adds to the suspense. By the time the film hits the halfway point all bets are off. Every time someone comes back into the main room it’s Scary as the behavior and acts get more violent and crazy. So you become scared every time the lead character goes back into the main room. With the blaring soundtrack throughout it at times could almost be a dramatic music video with it’s own soundtrack.

The Dance battles early in the film are inspiring and might find yourself getting into it yourself. One disturbing aspect of the film is that it seems the people of color start off and become the most violent immediately almost. Even though they outnumber the races of the other characters. They seem to start because of who they suspect spiked the drinks at first then it just seems they do it to be cruel for no real reasoning.

The film as always has a bit of sex on the brain even amongst all the terror going on. This film soon becomes for the characters what he himself has said he envisioned it for himself. Their own versions of hell.

As the film moves along it becomes increasingly confusing especially by the end. Where it seems like the camera settles to stay upside down with occasional flourishes of turning slowly and then back to upside down.

Watching a film by an auteur like Gaspar Noe. Always seem to be a beautiful challenge. As you won’t see something like it or anything you might have seen before. Usually always something new and original.

Psychedelic adventure that makes it feel like a contained epic with a constant soundtrack that feels like the films pulsating heartbeat and pulse that also helps the films at times feel monotonous. Movement can’t escape just like the characters. we are going to have to ride it through and try to make sense of it all. As the characters begin to act possessed and act like Isabelle Adjani in the film POSESSION

The camera and angles go as crazy as the characters. Wondering more if they are reacting to the camera and how it has replaced their outlook and overview.

No rhyme or reason in this film. Some fates are left questionable because of being obscured. Frames end portraits lots of overhead shots and a few questions. By the end the film feels like little comes of it. More like an ideas for a challenge yet no real particular reasoning.

Would have loved it to be more of a musical with non stop dancing throughout. Which is quite a feat as a film hasn’t affected me or left me feel this physically and mentally disoriented since PALINDROMES.

Feel free to take a few minutes to get your constitution and get used to the normal world and register yourself again mentally once the film is over. As it affects you and takes you on the continuous rollercoaster ride.


GRADE: A-