Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National IdentityThe films of the New French Extremity have been reviled by critics but adored by fans and filmmakers. Known for graphically brutal depictions of sex and violence, the subgenre emerged from the French art-house scene in the late 1990s and became a cult phenomenon, eventually merging into the horror genre where it became associated with American torture porn. Decidedly French in flavor, the films seek to reveal the dark side of French society. This book provides an in-depth study of New French Extremity, focusing on such films as Trouble Every Day (2001), Irreversible (2002), Twentynine Palms (2003), High Tension (2003) and Martyrs (2008). The author explores the social implications of cinematic cruelty presented not as "violent films" but as "films about violence." |
Contents
Foreword by Andrea Subissati | 1 |
Introduction | 5 |
1 Vive la Révolution Frances Bloody and Divided
History | 13 |
The Film Industry in France | 32 |
Gaspar Noés Carne 1991 I Stand Alone 1998 and Irréversible 2002 | 45 |
Romance 1999 Pola X 1999 and Baisemoi 2000 | 56 |
Sombre 1998 and LHumanité 1999 | 70 |
Trouble Every Day 2001 and In My Skin 2002 | 81 |
Calvaire 2004 Sheitan 2006 and Frontiers 2007 | 124 |
Them 2006 and The Pack 2009 | 135 |
Martyrs 2008 | 147 |
Inside 2007 | 154 |
The Hills Have Eyes 2006 Mirrors 2008 The Eye 2008 and Maniac 2012 | 161 |
Conclusion | 175 |
The Business of Violence An Interview with Colin Geddes | 179 |
Chapter Notes | 189 |
Criminal Lovers 1999 and Twentynine Palms 2003 | 93 |
Intimacy 2001 Demonlover 2002 and Ma Mère 2004 | 104 |
High Tension 2003 | 116 |
| 197 | |
| 201 | |
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Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity Alexandra West Limited preview - 2016 |