Don't miss this haunting love story and disturbingly violent revenge drama that dares you to look away! Haunting, lovely, innocent, graphic, touching, personal, frozen in time, unique, artsy, voyeur, friendship, love, selfish, selfless, beautiful, ominous, lurking, dirty, fear, violent, graphic, empathy, sorrow, burn, hatred, drunk, searching, fueled, disgust, graphic, determined, graphic, hatred, graphic, violent, pain, graphic, satisfaction, graphic, empathy. All of these words come to mind when describing the path Irreversible takes you on; a clever and truly unique look at lovers drawn into a seedy world that ultimately devastates their lives.
There are many elements of this film to consider, style, plot, characters, violence, sex; but the overwhelming theme is love and the lengths man will go to revenge or satisfy his thirst.
Irreversible is disturbingly violent and pornographic at times, no doubt shocking American audiences who have never seen such a raw unabashed peek into the acts so brutally depicted by both the protagonist and villain on screen. It seemed as if the director wanted to first de-synthesize you to the point of numbness, daring you to look away and then taking you on a personal journey through the lives of three individuals as they put their flaws aside and cope with each other and their environment the best they can. Like a trip to the dentist, the director dispenses with the Novocain and starting drilling! This film is nothing but original and takes a fairly simple story line and depicts in a very stylish way. I found myself wanting more at the end of the film but feeling satisfied that I had experienced what was intended. Recommending Memento as a comparison is not fair to this work Like Haute Tension, of the horror genre, the director has taken a common plot theme and added his version to include a few shocks and insight along the way.
Emotionally draining and ultimately satisfying meal to be savored and discussed but probable seen only once for fear of giving into our own hidden weaknesses.
Maddis 8/10.