Film Review: Climax Is MTV Meets Horror On LSD
If MTV and a literal nightmare got together to remake Reefer Madness, you would have the wonder that is Climax. This movie is human chaos and hedonism dispersed between Step Up dance sequences. Yet, it is for that reason it is unlike ANYTHING you will ever see, and will leave some adoring its perceived brilliance while others will hate it as seemingly pointless. Still, is that not the point of art?
Directed by Gaspar Noé, this director is known for two things: insanity and observances of the human body. Both of which are heavily featured throughout the film. Altogether, there are between 20- 30 dancers in a French school that, from the beginning, declare their love for dance and their random acts of violence, sex, and drugs. In an old tv screen, you see their interviews, of which its surrounded by books by Fritz Long and films like, Possession and Suspiria. Looking at the titles, alone, you get the feeling that Gaspar is about to take you into the depths of a truth humanity NEVER likes to bring up: we are animals.
When a bowl of Sangria is laced with LSD, things get too out of hand.I kept on thinking of how Mitch McConnell would love to post this film on the Congress floor to terrify people into never having LSD. Still, there is an interesting note about “tripping” that many remark as the reason for its ignored danger. I have always heard you have to be in a good emotional or spiritual space before taking a psychotropic drug. Whether or not that is true is debatable, but it stems from the idea that psychedelics are meant to reveal to you your true mind and whether it is really higher or lower. This is interesting considering how the characters divide between those that have a good, innocent trip and those that completely lose it.
There are several moments throughout Climax that make you say, “But why?” Yet, drugs CAN bring out people’s madness, especially if they are insecure. Visually, Gaspar chops up the film with color, noise, and deranged angles to capture, not only the character’s viciousness, but their inner turmoils. Everyone in this film is scared that their life and relationships are not good or fulfilling, and their conversations set up both the secrets and surprise truths that will be revealed about them throughout the film. Franky, it is not without irony that the hypocrite is the one that laces everyone and has a blast watching their demise. With this in mind, while some dance and play others commit murder and self-mutilation. It is as if the LSD responded to what was inside of them: for better or worse. More intriguingly, even those whom were sober lose their mind; caving into the surrounding chaos as if madness is an infection.
The thing I most admire about Climax is that I do not think it cares if you like it or not. It truly was a film made for and by Gaspar Noé. Whether he is making vast comments on human nihilism or just wants create some of the most exhilarating, energized dance sequences, especially in terms of the Kiki scene, the film is truly about him. He has made his vision, and it will keep you talking. Climax Comes Out On February 28.
