Review of Irreversible (2002) by Chris O — 14 Nov 2010

"Time Ruins Everything".

This is what the film bases its whole story on, that over time, even the great things in life will eventually be destroyed. However in Irreversible's case it doesn't quite adhere to its own philosophy. In reality, the more time you put into the film, the more you will gain from it. Although the first half is as hideous and as grotesque a film as I have ever seen, the second half is actually rather beautiful and an interesting character study of two people very much in love, and I would urge anyone who has seen the first half and found it too much, to return to the film and finish it off. This is because after seeing the film in its entirity, I really began to care for its characters and I felt that even though the beginning is completely revolting, the end justifies the actions of the characters in a completely believable and enthralling way.

Although told in reverse (Memento style) the plot is manageable. The first scenes we see are actually the end so it is actually the motive of the antagonists that we actually ponder over, rather than the final outcomes. In the initial scenes we see Marcus (Vincent Cassel) and Pierre (Albert Dupontel) searching a shady gay club for 'the tapeworm'. After searching the dark and seedy club for 'the tapeworm' they eventually are directed to the man who is meant to be 'the tapeworm'. They find who they believe to be this man and Marcus gets angrier and more violent until to snaps. He glasses the man and fights him. The man then fights back, breaks Marcus' arm and attempts to rape him. However he doesn't get far as Pierre attacks him with a fire extinguisher. At this point in the film we have no idea as to why these men are looking for 'the tapeworm', this is what makes you want to see the rest of the film, as without the knowledge that comes later on, we have no idea why this carnage has been unleashed. It created juxtaposition in my mind as I both wanted and didn't want to know why this atrocity had been committed.

The first hour of Irreversible is possible the most unbearably intense hour or so of film I have ever seen and I could understand if most people would turn it off straight away. The very slow build up at the beginning of the film, the strong subject matter and the 'flash and dash' filming technique makes for very difficult viewing. This very long scene full of twirling camera shots culminates in a hideous and gratuitous death. Never have I seen such a horrible image that would reduce most hardened horror fans to a quivering wreck. I vehemently poured scorn on this twenty minute section of the film a few days earlier and I am deeply regretting doing so. Although these scenes and a ten minute long rape later on in the film are disgusting and horrible, they are needed once the whole story has been unveiled, they are what make us care about the characters and feel that they have had retribution. The final scenes of the film are really rather beautiful. The way that Marcus (Cassel) and Alex (Monicca Bellucci) interact is very natural, as is the rest of the film. Most scenes, if not all, do feel as if they are actually real. None of them seem staged.

If you want to watch Irreversible, watch the film in full. No matter how much you want to turn it off, DON'T. If you do you will find that you will decide that you hate the film unjustly, just as I did. If you keep watching, then you will be rewarded.

8/10.