The core of horror films has always been one of evolution and innovation. From Hitchcock's black and white masterpiece, Psycho, to more modern pieces such as the Scream franchise, North America (read as: Hollywood) has always been at the forefront of the horror industry.
However, over the past few years, independent foreign horror films have been washing up on American shores and treating the public to a truly new and terrifying experience; the French, specifically, are now considered to be on the cutting edge with their new favourite style of horror.
FRENCH DOORS
The new wave of French horror has been classified as 'splatter film,' or more colloquially on internet movie forums as 'torture porn,' due to their incredibly graphic and violent content, which is managing to shock even the most desensitized of audiences. These films are filled with all kinds of chaos and carnage, trying to push the envelope of how far a film can go.
The following are some of the more popular of French Splatter Films.
(1) Haute Tension, 2003 (High Tension)
The first of the modern line up of splatter film, High Tension, directed by Alexandro Aja, shocked audiences with its graphic nature, as two female protagonists are hunted by a serial killer with a unique agenda. Also known as Switchblade Romance in the UK, this film has been edited heavily to avoid the NC-17 rating in America.
(2) Frontieres, 2007 (Frontiers)
Xavier Gens film, Frontiers, is a chaotic and disturbing experience, as three young thieves try to hole themself up in an abandoned building, only to find that it has been inhabited by a gang of sadistic, neo-Nazi followers. This film is also not for the faint of heart.
(3) A l'interieur, 2007 (Inside)
Alexandre Bustillo's Inside is a claustrophobic and menacing film that has been highly praised for its to do so much with so little. Contain only two main characters and a handful of extras, this film have been considered to be one of the finest within the splatter film genre. No synopsis can be given without revealing spoilers, unfortunately.
(4) Martyrs, 2008
The latest in the line of new wave French horror is Pascal Laugier's Martyrs. Since its release at the Cannes Film Festival it has been critically acclaimed, and is managing to draw new audiences to this emerging genre. Do be warned though, this film is incredible disturbing to watch, with violent scenes that are not easily forgotten. You have been warned.
This new breed of 'transgressive' French horror films is certainly making waves on an international level. Some ask whether the super violent nature of the films is too much for American audiences, whilst others argue that these films are opening new doors for creating thought and innovation in a somewhat tiring genre. Either way, however, they are certainly something completely unique, and after viewing just any (or all!) of the above films, you'll have a true appreciation on just how far a film can go, and how far an audience can be pushed.
New French Horror to Shock Audiences
Kim Hanna
An always horror fan, and a sometimes web designer, Kim makes unique product pages, such as this one on cheap surround sound systems.
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