Directed by Daniel Roby. Starring Marc Paquet, Marianna Farley, Frederic Prenuc, Jessica Malka. Synopsis:A suspense/horror film about two friends who encounter two women, who turn out to be sisters, and have a strange predilection for fascination with blood to go along with their uncommonly pale skin, and super strength. A modern day story telling the legend of a suuccubus, a gothic female creature(s) that feast on the blood and meat of males, using sexual wiles to lure them to their fate. French language film dubbed in English.
This is an interesting film with a kind of unique, modern take on the legend of sucubi, female creatures who appear human, use their sensuality to lure their male victims, and feast on their blood and meat for sustenance.
The film is set in
The two friends, Thierry and Henri, are roommates who open the film engaged in a little good natured discussion about race, and the role it plays in society. Thierry (Marc Paquet) is white, Henri (Fredric Prenuc) is black. Lest we think that this film is going to deal primarily with racial attitudes, angst, or whatever, lets just say that it kind of does...just not in any way that you may be accustomed to seeing in film, unless you are versed in the legend of succubi (sic?) as well as some scientific theories as to the origins of race. (Trying to give a decent review without spoiling it here, folks... harder to do on some films than others)
Anyway, Henri and Thierry, as any two good buddies will, decide to visit a pair of prostitutes (I'm being sarcastic here, folks) and all is going along swimmingly until Thierry hears screams coming from the room where Henri and his "date" Marquis (Jessica Malka) are fighting over a knife with Henri sporting a gaping wound in his neck that is spurting blood. The two main characters fend of the murderous young girl as she finally escapes out of the window, running nude down the streets of Montreal, put a tourniquet on Henri's neck, come up with a story about Henri being the victim of a racially motivated attack (to cover up to their friends that they were both visiting prostitutes), and just generally resolve to forget the whole thing in the manner of youth.
Well, that is certainly an eye opening first few minutes that will get your blood pumping (no pun intended...o.k., yeah, it was intended) then the film switches gears in that European kind of way, to Thierry's struggles in school which come in concert with his being smitten, at the first glance, with a young viola player at the university named Claire (Marianna Farley). Though Claire is pretty up front about not being interested in a relationship with Thierry-or any man-the electricity between them is so strong that they do end up in bed together on more than one occasion. Still, Claire seems strangely aloof and, to Thierry's chagrin, does not like Thierry's roommate and best buddy, Henri.
Why, you might ask? Well...Henri's black. The eerily fair skinned Claire is pretty adamant about this, though her revealing to Thierry that, in fact, she is acting strange because she has cancer, gives Thierry some reason to try to ride out the coolness between his best friend and his girl. Henri, for his part, isn't too fond of Claire, sensing her unease around him and, most importantly, one night seeing her drink the remaining fluids...well, I'll let you see the film for that.
Thierry, being so smitten, won't hear of Henri's growing concerns nor his crazy theory on succubbi, but things do come to a head one day at the hospital where Claire is receiving treatment, and Thierry meets her family: mom and two sisters, who seem strangely unsympathetic to Claire's plight, show disdain for the hospital and for Thierry, and seem to be of the belief that Claire could heal herself if she really wanted to. Its not until a little later, when Thierry realizes that one of the sisters is, in fact, his and Henri's old pal Marquis, do things really start to get very interesting.
The remainder of the film deals with the exposure of this family of women- succubbi, and Claire's refusal to feed herself in the way her genes command. Henri and Thierry team up to defend themselves, so to speak, with Henri being the most adamant-for good reason-and Thierry being unwilling to do anything to harm Claire.
As I said before, this is the kind of film that is hard to describe intelligently without giving away the ending for those that have not seen the film, and I want all of you who like horror with a little originality to see this movie. Suffice it to say, not all of the main characters survive, and the ending will surprise-not shock or startle-you. It will also leave the door wide open for "Cannibal 2", but I don't know if Canadian/European filmmakers are as likely to go that route as
The film is beautifully shot and has an "art house" feel to it. The main actors are all very good, especially Tobey McGuire look-a-like Paquet. I do think something is lost in the dubbing, but this can't be avoided (unless you understand French) and it doesn't take from the overall effectiveness of the film. Slightly graphic, but not over the top, as the director clearly did not count on gore or effects to carry the film. Not for everyone, but if this kind of story is your cup of tea, watch it and I'll bet you like it.
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