Stephen Sayadian directs Madeleine Reynal, Laura Albert and Gene Zerna in this avant-garde erotic film loosely based on the silent German expressionist classic.

Former pornagraphers take a crack at a Hollywood remake. There are some very beautiful women and very ugly men. They spout “satirical” nonsense directly to camera, deadpan. The sets are day-glo barebones. A few scenes feel like if Cronenberg directed a B-52s TV video. Hopefully, even though bizarre and explicit, they should be available on YouTube or TikTok. Eighty unending minutes of this though is dull and deadening. A cult item to avoid.

2

Perfect Double Bill: The Fruits Of Passion (1981)

Demián Rugna directs Ezequiel Rodríguez, Demián Salomón and Silvina Sabater in this Argentinian horror where demonic possession spreads like a virus.

Taut and thrilling in equal measures. Owes as much to Covid as it does the Evil Dead franchise. Hits all the right notes on its merciless rampage.

7

Perfect Double Bill: In A Violent Nature (2024)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin

Fabrice Du Welz directs Laurent Lucas, Jackie Berroyer and Philippe Nahon in this French horror about a travelling singer who breaks down near the wrong inn.

A slippery blend of folk horror fairy tale and New French Extremity. Yes, it does tumble into torture porn in the final third but because it has paranoia and masculine ick in its palette too the nasty violence isn’t prolonged awkwardly. It feels like a culmination and escalation of where this mindfuck mystery has ultimately been headed. In many ways this is the closest the French have gotten to make something as abjectly strange and curious as The Wicker Man. Jackie Berroyer is particularly good as the dishonestly genial auberge owner.

8

Perfect Double Bill: I Stand Alone (1998)