Review of Léolo (1992) by Christopher M — 25 Jan 2008

Still haven't made up my mind if this is merely gratuitous or if Lauzon's grotesque vision is tinged with genius. I despised this film when I saw it in the 90's, but try as I might to get it out of my mind I am haunted by it to this day.

Lauzon surpasses Fellini in his obsession with bodily extremes (Ginette Reno as a bloated fertility icon; a muscle-bound teen who "physically" reverts to his scrawny inner self when confronted with the bullies who inspired him to work out in the first place), biological processes (especially ejaculation and.

..defecation) and creepy characters (the "angelic" sister under the porch, cat-raping(!) delinquents). For all that this sounds like a mash-up of John Waters and David Lynch, I would nonetheless urge you to see it and come to your own conclusions.

Forewarned is forearmed.