A French Gore Show, Brutal, Violent and Disquieting...

INSIDE (2007) is a French horror-thriller directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury. I've read that these two directors were supposedly poised to direct the upcoming "Hellraiser" remake in 2009. I'm not quite sure as to why they are no longer on board for that project, and from what I've seen from this film, the two young filmmakers can definitely repulse even the most experienced movie watcher in the way "Inside" focuses in blood and gore. I have a very strong stomach and nothing bothers me; I can stand the most gruesome images and violence as long as there is emotional content. I have not seen a lot of French horror, but one thing I can say is that if this film is any indication, the French can make "Hostel" and the "Saw" franchise seem like a kid flick. It feels like a homage to the 70's and 80's exploitive gore flicks.

Synopsis partially derived from the dvd back cover:

Four months after a pregnant woman named Sarah loses her husband in a horrific car accident, she is visited on Christmas eve by a mysterious madwoman. Alone and desperate to save herself and her unborn child, Sarah fights to stay alive as each of her potential rescuers dies at the sadistic woman's hands.

Extremely violent, bleak and brutal would be the best words to describe this film. The directors rely on violent imagery to totally immerse the viewer into intense thrills. Blood and gore are omnipresent throughout that gore fans will definitely have reason to celebrate. "Inside" definitely tries to push the limits of blood and violence, the subject is focused to give the viewer an uncomfortable sensation. I rather enjoy exploring those places, the dark thematic affairs that make most people turn away. This film may be great for what it is trying to do, but I personally found that it lacked an insightful vision to truly deliver pure effective suspense. It is a straight-forward gore flick that never lets up on the violent graphic details that it felt like a gore show.

Sarah (Allison Paradis) is a woman with little known origins. All I knew about her from the start is that she is pregnant, a photographer, have just survived a car accident and has been widowed by the selfsame accident. Surely, a pregnant woman who had just gone through all these tragedies would automatically promote sympathy and empathy; especially when her one safe haven (her home) has been invaded by a maniacal woman (played by Beatrice Dalle). A pregnant woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown being held prisoner at her own home is truly disturbing and the filmmakers spare no attempts to make the audience feel her pain by visual brutal violence. All the violence that happens to Sarah happens on camera, and on that effect alone, I was more repulsed than impressed. "Inside" is a genre film, and to call it a horror thriller is an understatement; it is a sadistic motion picture. It expresses violence against women and what is more disturbing is that the violence is done by another woman. (and others)

Just who is this unnamed woman and what does she want? This is where it gets interesting and quite frankly, the film's best asset. Beatrice Dalle's character is creepy, demented and truly enigmatic. Although in the first half of the film, she seemed to be a little too "cardboard" for me, quite a bit "uniformed" to be dressed in a black outfit with an unsettling feel. The woman is a "genre" character so the success of the villain is all a matter of tone and execution. Dalle's antagonistic character may be more at home with exploitation and highly stylized horror films. Thankfully, her links with Sarah's past may prove to be the film's biggest surprise and will leave folks in awe but it has been marred by a huge plot hole. There are actually some faults in the screenplay such as Sarah's bathroom door; the lock seemed too flimsy that the stalker shouldn't have any problems breaking it open.

"Inside" is a film that expresses itself through its own bleakness. Unfortunately, suspense is almost none-existent as its tone and execution telegraphs the inevitability of its horrific outcome. The style is bleak, the cinematography is bleak, the film's set up itself is an exclamation point that the worst will happen, but you just have to root for the protagonist. It was the directors' intention; to promote automatic empathy for Sarah. Sadly, they overlooked its dramatic potential and they opted to settle for the use of violent imagery to generate sympathy. There are also some scenes that looked a little too stretched out that made them look like minor "fillers" to induce intensity. Actress Allison Paradis does an impressive performance as the character very much in pain and emotional collapse; while Beatrice Dalle's delivers a very creepy, frightening portrayal of our mystery woman .

Overall, "Inside" is more successful as a "gorefest" than a great addition to horror-thrillers (this isn‘t a bad thing). The film is an effective "gross-out" feature film that is sadistic, brutal and unrelenting in its execution of violence. If what the directors are looking for is to repulse and shock audiences then they succeed hands down. However, if you are looking for pure, unadulterated suspense that can really get under your skin in a different way, look somewhere else. Folks who enjoy onscreen excessive violence and gore will embrace this film, but sadly it barely made it for me. It had all the dramatic potential but the film just became a vehicle for grim, dark scenarios with a lot of mindless bloodshed. True, the twist at the climax that explains Dalle's behavior may add some "punch", but it feels like a throwaway detail because of the huge hole in the plot. It felt like a gimmick that takes a stab at the audience; "did you see that coming?"…I did, unfortunately.

I do commend the filmmakers that they did have the guts to follow through its very bleak and violent execution; that they knew exactly what they wanted to do and they weren‘t pretentious about it at all.

Recommended timidly, rent it first. [3 ½ Out of 5 Stars ]