Trouble Every Day
Catch 22: reading movie reviews takes away some of the surprise of
movies, yet not many people are interested in seeing movies that they
haven't read reviews of. That was my flaw entering into 'Trouble Every
Day,' a self-described "art-house horror film" that debuted at Cannes
to aghast filmgoers, including a few who couldn't keep their foie gras
down.
I had read multiple articles that cited its rather graphic
violence, performed by stars Vincent Gallo ('Buffalo 66') and Beatrice
Dalle ('Betty Blue'): two cannibals who equate their intense sexual
desires with their voracity for human flesh and blood. We've seen some
of this in more mainstream movies, particularly in vampire flicks, but
director Claire Denis takes it to a far creepier level.
I've sat through the enjoyable, although completely harmless 'Queen Of The Damned' where afterwards many a moviegoer quipped that they would enjoy (now deceased) sexpot Aaliyah sucking their blood. Denis takes that same sexuality and peels away the veil of Hollywood glitz, showing vampirism in a realistic light. As we watch Dalle's character seduce, embrace, and subsequently mutilate a young stranger, we see the truth behind the fantasy: agony. Anonymous sexual encounters perhaps once dreamed about morph into drawn-out death scenes straight out of a true crime paperback. There is no instant pain followed by deep sleep. This is agony, and like the victim, the viewer cannot wait for him to die.
Accompanied by an emotive and often minimal soundtrack by Tindersticks (undoubtedly a relief to those who loathed Gallo's Warp debut), the grisly murder scenes come across as incredibly sad, with helpless screams and gurgles mingling with cinematic string sections. Currently only playing at one mediocre theater in New York City, April will bring about a wider release to other cities. I have showed a great deal of restraint in this review, in the hopes that I don't spoil the plot as it was spoiled for me. Still, less than a quarter of the way through 'Trouble Every Day,' you'll already know the ending. Trust me, it's still worth it. For play dates, see http://www.lot47.com/troubleeveryday/. -
I had read multiple articles that cited its rather graphic
violence, performed by stars Vincent Gallo ('Buffalo 66') and Beatrice
Dalle ('Betty Blue'): two cannibals who equate their intense sexual
desires with their voracity for human flesh and blood. We've seen some
of this in more mainstream movies, particularly in vampire flicks, but
director Claire Denis takes it to a far creepier level. I've sat through the enjoyable, although completely harmless 'Queen Of The Damned' where afterwards many a moviegoer quipped that they would enjoy (now deceased) sexpot Aaliyah sucking their blood. Denis takes that same sexuality and peels away the veil of Hollywood glitz, showing vampirism in a realistic light. As we watch Dalle's character seduce, embrace, and subsequently mutilate a young stranger, we see the truth behind the fantasy: agony. Anonymous sexual encounters perhaps once dreamed about morph into drawn-out death scenes straight out of a true crime paperback. There is no instant pain followed by deep sleep. This is agony, and like the victim, the viewer cannot wait for him to die.
Accompanied by an emotive and often minimal soundtrack by Tindersticks (undoubtedly a relief to those who loathed Gallo's Warp debut), the grisly murder scenes come across as incredibly sad, with helpless screams and gurgles mingling with cinematic string sections. Currently only playing at one mediocre theater in New York City, April will bring about a wider release to other cities. I have showed a great deal of restraint in this review, in the hopes that I don't spoil the plot as it was spoiled for me. Still, less than a quarter of the way through 'Trouble Every Day,' you'll already know the ending. Trust me, it's still worth it. For play dates, see http://www.lot47.com/troubleeveryday/. -
