Calvaire

While it’s clear right from the get-go that director Fabrice du Welz is looking to emulate the success of other disturbing French movies like Irreversible and Haute Tension, Calvaire‘s leaden pace and increasingly absurd plot twists make that impossible. Laurent Lucas stars as Marc Stevens, a magician whose van breaks down in the middle of nowhere en route to a gig. He’s assisted by a helpful inn keeper named Paul Bartel (no, really), whose kindness quickly transforms into something far more sinister. Calvaire seems to be building up to something monumentally creepy, particularly with the presence of so many oddball periphery characters (including a gruff farmer played by Irreversible and Haute Tension co-star Phillipe Nahon). And while du Welz occasionally infuses the film with some much-appreciated instances of style – including a couple of blatantly obvious yet highly entertaining shots “inspired” by Brian De Palma – the payoff isn’t even remotely worth the almost interminable setup, something that’s exacerbated by du Welz’s reluctance to show gore (he’ll often cut away just prior to a violent act).

*1/2 out of ****