User reviews

I first saw this in the early 2k on a dvd which I own.

Revisited it recently.

The plot - On a Christmas eve, a singer's van breaks down in a deserted and marshy region. The singer takes refuge in an inn run by a hospitable but creepy innkeeper who became psychologically upset with the villagers after his wife left him. The innkeeper offers to repair the singer's van as a token of brotherhood between professional entertainers.

The next morning when the singer tells the innkeeper that he is going for a walk, the innkeeper suddenly becomes paranoid and aggressive, warning the singer not to go into the nearby village.

The movie has tons of atmosphere but is very claustrophobic, surrealistic n horrifying at times.

The bar scene where outta blue the people starts dancing with one another is downright creepy.

The backwoods village without a single female character and not a single sane male character is an epitome of eeriness.

"Calvaire", a.k.a "The Ordeal" is mainly a Belgian production and – being a Belgian myself – I'm rather proud of that, although it also once again illustrates that the only cult and controversial horror films coming from this country pretty much all revolve on sexually perverted characters! "Lucker" served us the diary of a necrophiliac and the ultra-rare film "Vase de Noces" (which I haven't seen yet) handles about the sexual relationship between a farmer and his pig. At several points in the film, "Calvaire" hints at bestiality as well and the least you can say about all the characters, even the unimportant ones, is that they're heavily struggling with their hormones all together. The honest and hard-working singer Marc Stevens is on his way to a Christmas gig when his van breaks down on a rural road near a remote village. A loyal young man guides Marc to Paul Bartel's godforsaken hotel and that's where the madness really begins. Bartel is obtrusive and overly friendly at first but gradually his traumatized mind begins to mistake Marc for his own adulterous wife who left him. For Marc begins a nightmare in which he's dressed up in woman's clothes, tortured and forced to have sexual intercourse. Even when he manages to escape into the forests he isn't safe, as all the local rednecks are deranged deviants as well. The subject matter of "Calvaire" sounds pretty devastating, but it actually comes across as a black comedy most of the time. It's an absurd film with disturbing undertones and grisly images, yet the surreal atmosphere and the overuse of stereotypes almost makes it a comical experience. You can summarize this film as being a demented and typically European interpretation of classic backwoods-thrillers such as "Deliverance" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". The hillbillies are crazier, the situations are more grotesque and the perversion is a lot less subtle. Especially considering "Calvaire" was the debut project for most of the crew members involved, the film is exceptionally well-made! The cinematography is stunning to observe most of the time, with beautiful images of large and ominous forests, and the interior filming locations are dark & creepy. The acting performances are a bit weak sometimes but still endurable. Regretfully, the script also features a couple of tedious moments and it leaves quite a bit of questions unanswered when the film is finished. Nonetheless, "Calvaire" is destined to be a cult favorite in the near future (if it isn't one by now) already and fans of odd, offbeat cinema can't afford themselves to miss it!

If you are like me and found this film alongside titles such as "Irreversible", "A Serbian Film", and "The Angels' Melanchlia" you will likely be dissapointed. This film is slow burning, yet offers a good story.

This film does have a dark side, and has been produced in an artistically dark manner. Between the stringy orchestras, strangely behaved townfolk, and mysterious protag. it is appealing in a creepy sort of way. But. unfortunately I feel it falls into the category of not "Extreme" but yet not "Hollywood horror" leaving it a smaller window of individuals who truly appreciate the film. Regardless, the plot is unique and though it has been done before this movie adds to the genre. 7/10, well done Bulgium.

Belgium might not be one of the world's premier film-making nations, but they sure know how to make a good bizarre exploitation flick with the power to get under your skin! Calvaire might not be a film to please the mainstream horror fan, but for those like me who are into the darker, more extreme side of cinema; this film is a treat indeed. Director Fabrice Du Welz has packed his film with a plethora of bizarre sexual acts; which is best illustrated by the fact that the hinted bestiality isn't all that shocking in comparison to some of the other character's delights. The film works from a very simple premise that has been seen in many other films, but it's what comes after that is important. We centre on Marc Stevens; a singer that is unfortunate enough to break down in the middle of a forest during winter. He takes up residence in a near-by farm house owned by a slightly odd old man, who apparently used to have a comedy act. What Marc doesn't bank on is the insanity of his host, which comes out in the form of an ordeal in which Marc is tortured, beaten and humiliated in just about the strangest ways possible...

The biggest standout of this production is director Fabrice Du Welz, who gives the film credibility in spite of its subject matter with some inventive usage of the camera which succeeds both in creating a dark and ominous atmosphere, as well as generating a surreal tidal wave of disorientation. The way that the camera swirls round the deranged characters at a 'family' scene, for example, helps to give the film a nasty tint that excellently compliments the subject material. It has to be said that, at times, the bizarre sexual practices get a little out of hand, and it's hard to really take seriously; although in a way this helps to further implement the stark and surreal atmosphere, which in turn helps the film to achieve its aim of shocking its audience. The acting isn't a strong point, however, as some of the central performances are more than a little flat; although this isn't a massive problem as exploitation cinema has never been known for great performances, and the set of actors do succeed in getting the film's point across. Overall, this is certainly one of the weirdest films to be released in the last few years and comes highly recommended to fans of cult cinema!

I wish to start saying, that this movie is definitely not enjoyable at all. By the means of having a great fun time at the movie-theatre.

So if you are mostly to Hollywood-Popcorn-Horror-Flics and that's exactly what you expect of a good movie, do yourself a favor and don't watch CALVAIRE.

If you like European Art-house Cinema and are also devoted to real rough and downbeating horror movies, you should have a closer look at this interestingly done work of Fabrice Du Welz.

The young director puts the viewer always in the middle of what is shown on the screen. The beautiful photographed frames are supported through the high grained film material. It nearly looks like a dokumentary, but without the handhold camera style. No bright colours have been used, the colours even look washed out, slightly fading into grey. So the look is very authentic. The Settings are all natural. There is no artificial studio-stage touch in this movie. No additional lightning seems to be added. This style helps the movie to draw the audience perfect into it. Shot on an aspect ratio of 2.35 : 1, this movie is a real cineatic feast when taking part in a movie theatre presentation. Its frames stand for themselves. The power of the pictures (like paintings) speak a more clearly language than every average dialogue in a Hollywood production does. This is cineastic story telling at its best. I also liked the extremely slow pasted development of the story.

The movie's start-off could be made by FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT. Even the protagonist, Marc Stevens (played by LAURENT LUCAS) reminded me a bit of JEAN PIERRE LEAUD (he portraited the character of Antoine Doinel in 4 of Truffaut's films). He performs a chansons singer, who is about to travel through the country for his next concert to give. Unfortunately his traveling van stops in the middle of nowhere. Not enough to be stucked deep in an unknown forest it is - of course - raining cats and dogs. Guided by a young man, who is searching the forest for his missing dog, Stevens reaches an auberge (motel) by foot. The owner, Mr. Bartel lives all alone in there. The auberge has been closed a long time ago for the public. But the kindly behaving old man has preserved the rooms as they where when guests used to be around. Bartel is a man who seems to earn his living with farming. No other houses are build near his estate. Stevens is offered to stay for the night and Bartel promises to get and repair his broken van the next morning. During the dinner Bartel tells Stevens that he was left by his wife and we feel, that he's still suffering from that loss. He seems to be most happy about that his guest is an artist, acclaiming he was an artist too. Not a singer but a comedian, who even won a price for his humor. By the way, his gone wife had been a passionded artist too, so he tells. After a short performance of Stevens, Bartel begins crying. Bartel is fascinated by the singers passion to his art and becomes very sad due to his lost past in which he obviously still lives (imaginary).

Stevens goes to bed after this conversation, Thinking, he will be able to continue his journey the next day. But his unexpected rest at the auberge will be unwillingly prolonged for a much longer time than he could imagine at that moment.

What happens next is a slow pasted tour de force of pain, agony, fear and hatred in the strangest way ever filmed for the big screen. Including the disturbing sickness of Bartel's mind. But he is not the only weird guy around this area. The most over-the-top portraited hillbillies ever shown up in a movie will appear in the near future to enlight the audience with laughs and - followed up - with the helpless fear of "what will there be next?". Have a seat, take a roller-coaster ride with a movie which leaves the shocks of THE Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE and STRAW DOGS easily behind. I understand this one as a very, very black comedy which is "enjoyable" for open minded people with a cineastic interest.

There are some things in this movie which may let one think, this is an analogy to the passion of Jesus Christ. Some symbols cannot be overseen. The conversation about passion for the things you do by heart are significant. At the end, all things become clear (I don't want to spoil it here) and the audience is left alone with it. A very long end-credit sequence follows. Like in the movie SEUL CONTRE TOUS (I STAND ALONE/ MENSCHENFEIND) from director GASPAR NOÉ, an open end is presented. In Noé's movie a road is shown, leading to nowhere (or to an unknown future), while in Du Welz' movie we are left alone in a wide opened cold and foggy snow frozen forest area. We listen to the sounding wind. It blows and blows - not willing to end its cruel howling. No music, just the never ending isolation.

If you see this "wonderful" movie you'll remember this howling a long time.

8 out of 10

P.S. please excuse possible spelling mistakes

"LOST. IN. THE. WOODS. WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU? ASK! THE! PIG!" The US trailer's tagline pretty much sums up the absurdity that is to be found in "Calvaire," a film from Belgium with a storyline that has been done a thousand times, except with a gender twist and a bunch of surreal elements thrown in. It is brilliantly acted, beautifully filmed and full of disturbing content, but it's an ultimately frustrating film. Don't turn to the aforementioned trailer or making-of featurette (featuring an interview with the irritating Tarantino-esquire director) for any insight--they just made me like the movie even less. "Calvaire" (along with its psychosexual spin) is not nearly as unique and innovative as the director seems to think it is. Still, it is worth a viewing.

Saw this film as part of the Gala Opening for the Cinemuerte Horror Film Festival in Vancouver recently. I kinda knew what to expect from reading a description of the film before going in, but it still was quite the cinematic experience.

Suffice it to say, I'd be hard-pressed to recommend this film to anyone in my particular circle of friends (well, maybe a few), but the film had me mesmerized, and since I do enjoy dark cinema, I'd have to say I certainly enjoyed it for what it was. There were images and scenes in the film that stayed with me after, and it certainly had a noticeable effect on the audience attending. Some liked it. Some hated it. Some didn't enjoy the "pig squealing"...like one girl in the audience noted after the film had ended. (you'll understand more towards the latter-half of the film) Elements of "Deliverance", "Southern Comfort", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" are all here, with more dark humour involved. Dark, very dark humour.

The cinematography was incredible. You've never seen the wilderness shot to look so menacing, yet maintaining a strange, dread-filled beauty. And yet it also seems endless, as if civilization is nowhere near where the events in the film take place. I unconsciously wrapped my arms around myself during the movie, from both the tension in the film, and from feeling I myself was out there in the chill of the woods.

I won't go into the plot-line, since a few others already have, but this film gives good credence to making sure that if you go driving in the country, your engine has had a recent tune-up, and you've got plenty of gas in the tank. AND to make sure you're cautious about the seeming kindness of strangers...

CALVAIRE is a rarity: a Belgium horror film. But is it really a horror film or only a twisted drama wanting to be perceived as horror?

A horror film doesn't have to have tons of bloody murders or supernatural elements to be considered horror. And CALVAIRE can be seen as one of those films, as a sorta backwoods horror kind of film with no gore or murders. But in my opinion, CALVAIRE is not a horror film nor a thriller. The director is most likely a big fan of horror films and CALVAIRE is an homage of sorts to the horror films the director admires (such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre) but it just doesn't even come close to those classic films, in terms of horror or gruesome action. The director, probably afraid that this film could be perceived as a tacky, trashy exploitation film, threads the horror genre so carefully that it never becomes true horror. For example, the spinning table scene is almost an identical copy of the infamous scene when Marilyn Burns is tormented at the table in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's a noble effort but it never makes sense in the context of the rest of the film. In Texas Chainsaw Massacre, that scene is brilliant because of the culmination of gruesome things which occurred before. And because those who are tormenting her don't have any empathy for their nameless victim. In CALVAIRE, that recreated scene doesn't make any sense because Bartel thinks Laurent, the main character, is his wife, whom he loved so much and misses her so much that he's willing to overlook the fact that Laurent is a man. So why would Bartel, with his friend, be laughing and tormenting Laurent if he loved his wife so much? The whole scene is a remarkable recreation and it's beautifully shot but ultimately it is pointless.

That scene, along with so many other scenes in CALVAIRE, demonstrates another weakness in the film: why doesn't Laurent do more to leave? A vital element in horror is to see how people struggle against adversity and what they do to survive. Laurent hardly does anything. He could have easily left the Inn and Bartel during so many instances and yet he hardly fought against the older man. Because there was very little struggle going on, the horror element, imo, was never fully realized. Sadness and morbidness, yes, but not horror.

The one thing that's truly amazing in CALVAIRE is the atmosphere. The atmosphere throughout the film was just right, thanks mainly to the cinematography which was really beautiful. Shot on Super 16mm, CALVAIRE is a thing of beauty. The ending is simply amazing because of the wonderful imagery.

If there's one way to describe CALVAIRE is that it's beautiful and admirable but pretty much pointless. Being a fan of horror movies is not reason enough for making a film.

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.)

This was the best film I saw at London's 2004 Frightfest, much better than the over-hyped but ultimately disappointing Haute Tension, the other French language horror entry.

Superficially this is the Belgian take on the "crazed hillbilly" sub-genre of Last House on the Left or Deliverance, but in it's mixture of horror and surreal humor this is closer to something like Roman Polanski's The Tenant. The portrait of an isolated society who lives without women is taken to its logical and often shocking extremes. There is a scene at the local bar which must rank among the strangest and most memorable set pieces in recent years. The film is very atmospheric and the cinematography is stunning. You can almost feel the chill of the winter forest it takes place in.

Hopefully Calvaire (it's English title was The Ordeal when I saw it) will get a proper release in English speaking territories, though I can see that this is a much more difficult sell than the derivative calling card exercise that was Haute Tension.

Whilst I wouldn't be too confident if I had to answer a string of questions regarding Belgian film form, Calvaire is a film that certainly goes quite a distance to suggest that the small and seemingly peaceful country that is Belgium is rather brushed up on the horror genre when it comes to film. But at the same time, it would suggest at least to me that their film form is something of an interesting one: revolving the first third around an individual yet showing us actions from the seemingly impeding bad guys whilst turning the film on its head towards the end and having a third element enter the already messed up fray.

You could liken Fabrice Du Welz's film to Hitchcock's 1960 Psycho: If Marc is Marion; Bartel is Norman Bates and the rest of the villagers are Marion's sister and the boyfriend. Obviously you'd have to include some animal buggery; some odd alliances at the very end and some scenes of a sexual nature but the likeliness is there. From what I've seen of Belgian film; Man Bites Dog is an odd and surreal film sort of crossing The Blair Witch Project with Léon and from what few clips I've caught glimpses of in Belleville Rendez-Vous, it is the sort of film the German Expressionists would've made had they collaborated with Disney/Pixar – if indeed they had been around at the time. I think Calvaire (rightfully named 'The Ordeal') works on a certain level of shock and scares because it is brave and outgoing in the sense it is not afraid of what people will think of it; it is merely the director making the film he wants to make regardless of political or social outcry regarding the content. To understand this further, imagine if Eli Roth's 2005 gore-fest Hostel had indeed been made by a Slovakian filmmaker. Makes you think, doesn't it?

I mentioned that previous Belgian efforts perhaps borrow from Hollywood but that is not a criticism. Calvaire is more Deliverance and Southern Comfort mixed in with a bit of the old classic that is The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Marc Stevens (Lucas) is the hapless fellow who brakes down in the middle of proverbial nowhere and must fight for his life to survive. In the film's second scene, Marc is approached in his dressing room after a show and has an elderly woman in the crowd come onto him; he rejects her and she leaves the room sobbing, labelling herself a whore. This is the film in a nutshell: Marc getting much more than he bargained for. The next time he sings to someone, that incident in itself activates repressed sexual hormones in a certain someone that flood to the surface and begin a terrifying state of events but he cannot merely reject the person like he could before. It seems Marc's voice is a lot more powerful than he thought.

Calvaire builds up its menace and its eeriness through some, albethem rather simple, effective ways. Marc plays the role like a detective in the early stages and each event such as the cutting off of the telephone line as well as the constant ambiguity that surrounds the kid searching for his dog plays an important role in setting up a certain uncanniness. I especially liked the scenes in which Bartel (Berroyer) is going through the van looking for things; clever and effective because despite the film apparently focusing on Marc as the protagonist, when he is away we are not shown him walking his walk but instead we see the seemingly villainous Bartel steal from this nice young man: an interesting and brave spin on things. This adds to the effectiveness later on when Marc sees the stolen items on Bartel's desk and reclaims them from the watching Bartel.

I think Calvaire is a film that deals with not only mental illness as the village and its people are clearly insane but also with disillusion and hallucination. Bartel is so fixated on Marc apparently being his former wife that you could merely say he was insane. On the other hand, another villager who has no prior knowledge of the films events also sees Marc as Bartel's wife with the final piece of evidence occurring nearer the finish when a certain someone else is close to meeting their demise; quipping: "Admit you always loved me" here is a golden chance for Marc to get some sort of revenge on a defenceless person who has put him through hell but instead of doing just that, he actually admits: "Yes, I once loved you". Now, this I found very odd because that would suggest that either Marc is still playing the submissive role of having them do and say whatever he wants or he was once actually a woman in that town: remember the opening scenes have him performing in drag; hinting at a female persona. Also, remember that Bartel's wife was a singer before she left him – probably still is now, why would she quit?

If there are complaints, it's that Calvaire ends abruptly with no exact closure. The ambiguity I've just discussed feels good and open-ended but I would've liked a 'what happened next' regarding where he goes now; like Deliverance and Hostel but unlike, remember, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Calvaire is an interesting and frightening film that gets across its scares through Belgian rednecks and atmosphere. Recommended if you want something simple, scary and from another country.

Wow...the other review is nuts. This movie was fantastic!

I got a chance to thank the director (in french) after the film. The lighting was unbelievable, the acting was great, the directing was great, and the script was fantastic. Definitely not for the weak of stomach...pretty gory and painful at times, but let up with some hilarious moments (ie. the dance). They shot on super 16 which gave it an incredible grainy quality...very 1980s sci-fi/horror (which i liked). It was very dark with extremely high contrast, and some beautiful locations. The end seemed like a bit of a let-down at first, but the more i think about it the more i like it. (won't give it away though).

Suffice to say it was gorgeously shot, great cast/crew, and a interesting take on insanity and love. The director described it as a 'love story'...ermmm...yes? with a crucifixion...and pig buggery...

anyways, I would LOVE to see this get a release (without a re-edit), or at lest a distribution deal. It really deserves it.

-cheers,

claire

I didn't watch Calvaire with any expectations, other than I knew it had some sort of Misery meets Deliverance plot, and that there were possibly disturbing scenes of people getting it on with farm animals. How could you not be interested in checking out a film like that? But seriously, Calvaire turned out to be a very strange and oddly mesmerizing movie that was basically a descent into madness. It was refreshingly less violent than I expected, as the "scary" moments in the film are much more psychologically unsettling.

Others here have mentioned the bar scene in Calvaire as being a good enough reason to watch the film, and I would have to whole heartily agree. The bar scene in Calvaire is classic. It is so bizarre and wonderfully shot that I had to watch it three times. The music as well in this scene is so incredibly fitting and freaking cool. I would have to say that my opinion of this flick would even drop quite considerably if this scene wasn't in the movie, as I felt it really set a great tone and atmosphere for the events that happen later. The movie definitely could have used more scenes like this one.

Calvaire is entertaining to watch as it's well shot and the acting is very good. I was never quite sure where the story was going next. As the insanity escalates and things turn from bad to worse until the bloody conclusion, I was left having to piece it all together as to why it even happened. But that's part of the charm of Calvaire, as it could be deciphered in many different ways. I think the clues are there, but to search for motives based on the actions of lunatics could be enough to drive someone crazy. So if you don't "get" Calvaire, as I'm not even sure that I do, it shouldn't really make a difference. It's just kind of fun to watch in it's own sick way.

A small-time European lounge singer is on his way to his next gig, when his van breaks down... What happens next is a chilling tale of desolation and persecution. The characters (other than the lounge singer) are members of a deranged community. They're all looking for their lost love, and this lost lad becomes their target, when he turns out to have a talent for singing. Unwittingly caught up in a chorus of dementia, the main character has no idea what he's in for, when he stops at a back water inn looking for shelter. The camera work is excellent, the acting above par, and the locations evocative. The moods are set by the scenery and locations. The lighting is stunning and the story twisted. The ending was a bit of an anti-climax.

CALVAIRE, aka THE ORDEAL, is a French film whose sole emphasis is on the brutal treatment suffered by the protagonist at the hands of various countryside-dwelling oddballs, the French equivalent of rednecks. It's a story of oppression and degradation that just so happens to be one of the most unpleasant films I've seen in a long time; not because it's particularly graphic, because it isn't, but because it just dwells on miserable, unpleasant characters doing even more miserable things.

Be warned, this is a film that sets out to shock, and gets away with it by hiding under an 'arthouse' tag. Bestiality and male rape play a strong part, along with the exploitation of mental illness and the total subjugation of the human spirit. There are touches of mystery and intrigue in the first half, but the plot less second half piles on the misery and becomes gruelling for all the wrong reasons. There is no ending.

The two most interesting things about CALVAIRE are a cameo role for French scream queen Brigitte Lahaie (starlet of many a Jean Rollin film, back in the day) and a surreal sequence in which bar patrons dance to a piece of appalling piano music. Other than that, it's a total dud.

there aren't much horror movies made in Belgium and when they are, they make a bad example... i'm still a bit ashamed that something like 'Alias' from Jan Verheyen was made here.

but this is a whole other story. this movie has been promoted as a horror movie and that's a wrong starters point: this is more of a psychological thriller in the line of 'misery'. there are some parallels with 'texas chainsaw' - hence the townspeople, cut-off from socialization and socially incapable - but i feel that it is smarter in a way.

i won't tell much about the story because the lesser you know, the more surprising it will be. but you'll never look at cows and pigs in the same way, i can assure you that.

what strikes me about the movie is the perfect cinematography: this is low budget but the scenes and the camera-moves are well thought. the characters are all portrayed excellent and the director takes an interesting twist: the lead person (the scream-king) is not so likable and you almost love the psychotic(s).

the best scene must be the scene in the bar with the piano (look out for that) and the climax with the 'village people' (i put it cryptic not to spoil...) the director describes it as a hardcore version of 'life of Brian' and when you've seen it, you will agree. brian - or Jesus as was meant - has a pretty difficult time.

i would give it a 9 overall (because every movie has its flaws even when I don't notice them), but i gave it a 10 because this piece of subversive cinema was made in my country...

certainly, this is a must-see for every horror-thriller fanatic but for people who like disturbing movies like 'deliverance': you won't be disappointed, not at all. and for the others, just try this!

I don't quite know what to make of this film. Because I'm from Belgium myself, I enjoy the fact that more and more domestic filmmakers are trying to make their films seem more international. But as a movie-lover I can't make myself overlook the fact that this could've been so much better.

Let's face it: although well made, this film is utter rubbish. Aside from offering a very unsatisfying back-story it delivers no real substance to its characters. And the leading role is portrayed by such an unappealing, unsympathetic looking actor that I actually didn't care what happened to him. The shocking events that follow still leave you disgusted enough, but because there's no real emotion coming from the characters it doesn't really grab you by the balls. It just unnerves you without really getting under your skin.

I would however recommend this film to people, because you can be sure of the fact that it will boost interesting conversations that will last throughout the night.

So to sum it up: interesting, well made film that would've been so much more engaging if they fleshed it out a whole lot more. 6/10

Fabrice Du Weiz's thriller mines "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Deliverance" and "Straw Dogs", Still, it is unique enough and original enough in its cinematic eccentricities to be noteworthy.

A travelling showman (Laurent Lucas) finds himself in hostile territory when his van breaks down. A local jack-of-all-trades (Jackie Berroyer) helps him out, but is soon helping himself to Lucas's van, mind and body.

The film takes interesting, perverted turns and dishes the atmosphere thick. A fog-shrouded chase through the woods is almost surreal, and a fantastic dance sequence with hillbilly-like weirdos works a twisted treat and foreshadows a surplus of gloom and doom.

The violence is not plentiful, but the sense of threat is always present. Benoit Debie, who photographed Gasper Noe's IRREVERSIBLE, creates memorable, haunting images and makes expert use of the terrific locales.

A solid, oddball shocker, but overlong at times.

This movie was recommended to me by friend from work, and given to me with the remark, I skipped over some parts, because they were too awful.

This intrigued me as a movie-buff and "horror-thriller-specialist". But this movie disappointed me. The first 45 minutes the story was perfectly told, extremely sober and with the right sense of tension, but then, from out of the blue, these cavemen from Belgium (where do these people live?)blew all credibility right out of the water, and left me with only my beer and pop-corn to enjoy. There was no credibility and no suspense/horror to be found in the second half, all the cruelties were performed with so little "begeisterung" that I almost fell asleep. What a shame, it all started out so promising!

I think this movie will give mixed reactions, so do watch it and make your own judgement!

Linze

Travelling cabaret singer Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas) suffers engine trouble, breaking down in the woods during a rain-storm, but manages to find shelter at a nearby inn. Unfortunately, the owner of the establishment, Bartel (Jackie Berroyer), is completely crazy and, believing that the singer is his estranged wife, uses any means necessary to prevent his guest from leaving.

I'd seen Calvaire (AKA The Ordeal) mentioned on a few 'most disturbing movies' lists, and comparisons to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Misery, Deliverance, Straw Dogs only furthered my curiosity. Having just finished watching the film, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed.

Once writer/director Fabrice Du Welz has established his film's unconventional premise, it seems as though he doesn't know what to do next, other than be weird for weird's sake. The plot certainly displays very little in the way of real development: Marc Stevens is subjected to humiliation, escapes, is caught again, then subjected to more humiliation, before escaping again. The story goes nowhere, ending abruptly without resolution, while the persistent, darkly humorous tone only serves to dilute any real horror that the situation might have otherwise had.

As a fan of warped cinema, I didn't find Calvaire a total waste of time—any film with a random spot of bestiality and an impromptu freakish dance scene isn't totally worthless in my eyes—but it was far from the gruelling ordeal I had expected.