‘Climax’ is an appalling masterpiece you have to see to believe

Landon Roberts,  Contributing Writer

Brandon Shillingford, Contributing Writer

“Climax” is the brainchild of Argentine-French cinematic provocateur Gaspar Noé, the mind behind “Enter the Void” and “Irréversible.” His latest film tells the story of a dance troupe that — after a practice session in an abandoned school — slowly descends into madness as a result of drinking LSD-spiked sangrias. As the night continues, the drugs take over and what started out as a fun night out with friends turns into a living, breathing, hallucinatory nightmare.

Brandon’s Angle

2019’s biggest head-trip “Climax” is one of those rare theater experiences during which the film is equally as captivating as it is exhausting.

It’s a nauseating, grotesque, disturbing nightmare with little-to-no likable characters, and it instills a constant temptation to shield your eyes from the horrors unfolding. And yet, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had — and likely will ever have — in a theater.

Noé is at the height of his directorial powers with this film. Using a variety of bright neon greens, reds and blues in its cinematography, “Climax” is about atmosphere and making you feel uncomfortable — not only with the characters and their actions, but with their surroundings and how they move through them.

“Climax” is highly stylized and very aware of its setting, using the cramped and confined environment to its absolute advantage. The camera slowly glides through the school hallways and corridors, creating drawn-out shots with minimal cuts. The filming puts the viewer into the story, making the dancers’ unadulterated insanity seem closer.

As they fall into madness, the drugged dancers show their true colors, allowing their hatred for one-another to come out in displays of repulsive violence and aggression. Watching them slowly unravel and lose their grip on reality is an unnerving experience, but the gorgeous presentation makes it strangely alluring.

In a relatively brisk 90-minute runtime, Noé gives you just enough to make your own conclusions about the film and its characters. And while it isn’t a pleasant watch, it’s an outstandingly visceral and surprisingly insightful film that will surely leave you breathless.

“Climax” is Noé at his most outrageously creative and audacious, and I can’t wait to see whatever nightmare he has in store for us next.

Rating: 5/5

Landon’s Outlook

Walking out of Noé’s “Climax” was a freeing but frustrating experience. It felt as if I escaped hell, yet wanted to revel in the madness for a second time.

While the film’s premise is quite simple, Noé’s direction elevates it to mirror every character’s fear and paranoia. His use of the camera acts as a voyeuristic spirit that soars through moments of self-mutilation, body contortion and pleading screams, leaving no time for the audience to breathe.  The resulting discomfort is a stylish triumph that drives its roots in the middle of the madness.

While the camera work is masterful, the nightmarish fever dream wouldn’t have worked without the unhinged performances. Every character exemplifies a constant internal struggle for composure, and when this battle is lost the outbursts reveal the true colors of the troupe. With every nervous tick and fearful glance, one can only imagine the horrors the characters are seeing, but the violent screeches and flailing limbs bring forward enough insight to drive your imagination to a dark place.

The film’s style truly transcends through its infectious and uneasy EDM score that echoes throughout the entire set. At first, the score feels like a safe haven for the audience and characters, but as the film progresses and songs are repeated, the fast-paced beats match the characters’ paranoid heartbeats.

The score paired with neon-colored sets establishes an atmosphere only comparable to a hellish rave. At the peak of the dancers’ trips, these aspects become utterly disorienting — it’s the only point in the film where the audience can somewhat grasp the horrors visible to the characters.

“Climax” is a delightful dance through insanity. The nightmarish imagery will tiptoe through your psyche for days, leaving you with an experience you will not forget.

Rating: 5/5