THERE probably aren’t many movies to include in the ‘French cannibal vegan horror’ genre, but a new addition has just arrived in Irish cinemas and it’s pretty tasty.
Raw tells the story of Justine, a 16-year-old French girl who wants to be like everyone else in her family and become a vet.
The film opens with the would-be animal fixer being dropped off by her parents at a veterinary boarding school.
Justine, like her parents, is vegan, but the strange initiation rituals for new students include a requirement to eat raw meat. And it’s when Justine eventually succumbs and tastes her first piece of flesh that her true inner feelings start to emerge.
‘Raw’ is helmed by first time writer/director, Julia Ducournau, and her head must be an odd place to inhabit, for make no mistake, this is a strange film. It may have something to do with the small budget, but everything about this project is raw (in a good way that is).
The university setting is cold and sparse, the student’s behaviour is anarchic and animalistic, and the lead performance is fresh and stripped back.
The movie is also very graphic, and serves up the kind of horror that won’t make you jump out of your seat, but will probably make you squirm and want to leave it. But resist that temptation, and you will be rewarded at the end of a meat munching 98 minutes.
There are reports that during a showing of the movie at the Toronto international film festival, an ambulance was called to treat two audience members who passed out as a result of what they were watching on screen.
That might be the stuff of clever marketing departments, but ‘Raw’ is certainly not for the faint hearted, and definitely leave the nachos behind at the concession stand.
Garance Marillier deserves special mention for what she brings to such a demanding role, as does Ducournau for conceiving and delivering the offbeat world.
This well-cooked shocker will satisfy the most ravenous of appetites, and we score it a flesh-eating fresh, 4 out of 5 stars.
Paul O’Rourke
