Thanks for the memories!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I'm of two minds about this movie. No, three.One: I don't like claustrophobic horror movies where things just get worse and worse. 3/10 for taste.Two: This was a well-crafted movie that, refreshingly, relied on characterization rather than special effects. The lack of music added to the feeling of claustrophobia. 8/10.Three: It was a delightful pastiche of many other movies, including Misery, Deliverance, Straw Dogs, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Un Soir, Un Train, etc. I'm sure reviewers more familiar with European movies than I could name quite a few more. 10/10 for erudition.Avg: 7/10.

Marc Stevens, a traveling cabaret singer, is heading across the Belgian countryside to a Christmas party, in the hope to win over a producer who is also attending. But not before fixing his Van, that has just broken down in the middle of the woods. With no real alternative in sight, a strange yet seemingly friendly man by the name of Bartel comes to his rescue. With the promise of food and shelter for the evening and having his car back on the road by the morning, Marc agrees to stay in the company of Bartel at the Inn that he runs. Bartel sees this as an honour, but soon his real intentions become clear and to Marc's horror, these intentions are far from friendly. Marc's nightmarish descent in the bizarre world of sexual delusions is only just beginning. Initially I dismissed this Belgian-French horror film as just another one to add to the pile of Texas Chainsaw wannabes, but when I finally took the time to give it a go, I realized just how wrong I was and learned the important lesson of not judging a movie by its cover. This is anything but ordinary. There are plenty of films out there that show much more graphic violence, but rarely will you see a film that demonstrates such a sheer amount of demented, perverted and disturbing "fun" as this one. Straight away, we get thrown into the morbid world that director, Fabrice Du Welz has created. Through dull, dreary and lifeless colouring, we know straight away that we aren't in for something friendly. The fine mixture of comedy and horror was done to perfection. Nothing is overdone and the films subtleties shows the patience and talent of the makers, which is ultimately why the film works so well. We laugh at things that also send a chill down our spines, which results in the viewer feeling as though they aren't sure what to do, which puts us in the same awkward position that the characters are in. Character interactions are awkward at best, which makes the film such a discomforting experience. None of this, however, would be possible without a stellar performance from the cast, and this predominately French cast, throw in a masterful performance. Laurent Lucas and Phillipe Nahon, two French legends, show why they are considered at the top of the acting food chain. Also paying homage to older classic horror films shows the respect that the director has for my beloved genre. Everything from Sexual Frustrations, social awkwardness, delusions and murder, add up for a very memorable, disturbing and very psychological experience. Brilliant Horror film making like this is a rarity in a struggling genre. If slow burning Psychological Horror is your thing, do yourself as favour and see this film as quickly as possible. Bordering on a Cinematic Masterpiece.

What a boring, poorly acted, generic piece of trash this "film" is. Do not waste your time, I really wish IMDb could edit out the false reviews posted on these horrible movies that are clearly posted by those involved in the film. If you have someone locked in your basement that you want to torture with something hideously boring, lame and fruity then this is your film. If you enjoy movies with actual actors, a plot, entertaining qualities then stay away. What a waste of time this movie was, I am actually p$ssed that I wasted 1.5 hours watching it.Why people even bother to crank out pieces of swill like this is beyond me. Do they actually get anything out of making pieces of cr@p like this?

I'm sure lovers of this film will just think I am an uncultured idiot who can't appreciate art. Think what you like, I was bored to tears - to say this movie moves at a snail's pace is misleading. It doesn't move at all! It literally takes its time going nowhere.There's a scene where Bartel examines Marc's van, and I swear it lasted 15 minutes. Just what I want in a horror film - an old man looking through a van.... with no plot progression, no music, no startles or scares. Nothing! Other than being stuck in the woods - where exactly is the similarity to Texas Chainsaw and Deliverance? Those movies were gritty and filled with high tension... this was nothing at all like those movies.So, if you want to hold your nose high and pretend this was high art, go right ahead. Meanwhile, I'll stick with some European horror flicks that actually manage to provide scares (i.e. Inside, REC, Let the Right One In, etc.)