KNIFE + HEART (2019)

Directed By: Yann Martinez 
Written By: Yann Martinez & Cristiano Mangione 
Cinematography: Simon Beaufils 
Editor: Raphael Leferve 
Music By: M83 


Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Nicolas Maury, Katie Moran, Jonathan Genet, Felix Maritaud, Romane Bohringer, Elina Lowensohn, Pierre Pirol, Jacques Nolot 


Anne produces third-rate gay porn. After her editor and lover Lois leaves her, she tries to win her back by shooting her most ambitious film yet with her trusted, flamboyant sidekick Archibald. But one of her actors is brutally murdered and Anne gets caught up in a strange investigation that turns her life upside down.


This film is more a thriller that is supposed to be a murder mystery.

The film bathes is nostalgia with a kind of Anti-hero as the protagonist who drinks too much and is obsessive when it comes to her ex-girlfriend/editor. Who she seems to try to impress and send messages through her dailies. As kind of communication and love notes of a certain sort. These flaws make her come off as more normal and fallable. As even when her cast members are being murdered she doesn’t seem too sad or broken up about it at first.

The filmmaking on display throughout this film is daring and obviously indebted to director Brain DePalma and the giallo genre. As it is set in the 1970’s and there are tracking shots, stunning cinematography, a masked killer, gruesome murders. Which at first come across as an elaborate set piece. Then just become less demented then the last. Though the death scenes try to have an erotic edge to them. As usually the weapon is a blade plunging into the victim repeatedly as liquids pour out. The films stays colorful yet dark.

The film is in French and is taboo pushing as it brings to mind the movie CRUISING to a degree. As the films victims are all homosexual actors on a porno shoot.

The film takes place in the gay community as the only straight characters throughout are the police investigating the murder. Who prove to be little help due to sexuality and lifestyles of the victims. So the case isn’t considered a priority at first.

This film is pretty gruesome in parts, but it is one bathed in so much style that you will find yourself watching it over and over just to witness it. Which will open your eyes to even more aspects of the film to admire.

The film is partially meta as the director ends up using the situation the cast and crew are already in when it comes to the murders. As the plot of her latest porno film.

The film has sex scenes that aren’t really sexy except for the opening scene and ending one. Mostly they are more comical and maybe meant to shock the audience then turn in the last seconds to be more matter of fact. Which might be too much for certain audience members. As the film stays pretty sexual and feels more hardcore then a typical mainstream movie.

Though the film is a drama in the middle of the film. The story kind of pushes the mystery to the side and loses it’s focus more into melodrama.

Though towards the end a particular murder feels more staged and melodramatic then it needs to be.

Just as the mystery to who the killer is loses steam after introducing very few suspects. Not to mention the killers ridiculous get-up. Which ends up with the film lacking an ongoing sense of fear and doesn’t keep the audience necessarily on the edge of their seats.

The film has an awesome soundtrack/score by the band M83 that stays in your head and is haunting on it’s own.


GRADE: B-