Climax (2018)

Set in the 1990s, a dance troupe are completing three days of intense rehearsal in a remote location under the guidance of the troupe's leader (Claude Gajan Maull). She then makes a bowl of sangria for the party to celebrate the end of the three day rehearsals. But when the dancers start getting hostile and confused, it turns out the sangria has been spiked with LSD. From then on, the party descends into an orgy of sex, violence, drugs and death. Directed by Gaspar Noe (IRREVERSIBLE), this was shown at last year's Cannes film festival and released in Europe but is only now making its U.S. theatrical debut. This is the kind of film (like MOTHER or NEON DEMON) that you're either going to hate or just give yourself over to it and like it. Elsewhere, I've seen it described as a horror dance film and it's an apt description. The horror, of course, is of the psychological kind where humans descend to their basest instincts and it's not pretty. There are two stunning dance numbers which are thrilling to watch as the dancers bend and twist their bodies in the most amazing ways. Noe shoots the second dance number entirely from above which gives the dancers the quality of insects scattering and moving. The film's non stop score is all club music and the pounding techno beat might still be ringing in your ears after you leave the theatre. And yes, I liked it ... a lot but it's not for everyone. With Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub, Kiddy Smile, Giselle Palmer and Taylor Kastle.