Provokr Pick: Climax

BY: Zak Wojnar

The films of Gaspar Noé are as unique as they are divisive. He’s an auteur who makes movies for himself, not even considering his potential audience, or lack thereof. They’re abrasive, violent, sexual, and disturbing, and they don’t give a damn if it’s too much for you. It’s hard to watch his movies, which is part of why they’re such must-see projects. This pattern looks like it’s going to continue with the release of Noé’s latest film, Climax.

Starring Sofia Boutella and a slew of other actor/dancers, Climax follows a troupe of dancers who have one hell of a night when their drinks are all spiked with LSD. A deeply unsettling, psychologically riveting thrill ride, Climax dives deep into the minds of these dancers as their mental state deteriorates and they descend into a drug-fueled madness. Rather than relying on big-budget special effects to depict their collectively deteriorating psyche, director Noé utilizes his cast’s dancing skill to convey their fragile and frayed mental state. As they get more and more unhinged, their dancing reflects their fractured mentality.

Like the rest of Noé’s filmography, many will surely misunderstand Climax, and many will be utterly repulsed by its subject matter. However, those with the stomach for it will find Climax to be another solid entry in Noé’s pantheon of films, combining psychological thrills with disturbing violence, uncomfortable sexuality, and a compelling story, told mainly through interpretive dancing.

Climax is in theaters now.