Inside (2008)
It is typical of horror movies to move in cycles. After the "torture porn" stint which comprised of HOSTEL, SAW and CAPTIVITY following on form Asian films such as AUDITION and ART OF THE DEVIL, we come to the home invasion movie. Already we've had HAUTE TENSION, VACANY, ILS (aka THEM) and now once more from France, INSIDE.
It is Christmas Eve in this minimalist scare tale and we follow a woman, her character is billed simply as La Femme, in preparation for the arrival of her child. Having recently lost her husband the woman laments on the bitter sweet events ahead of her. Then there is some one at the door. Some one who wants in. who wants that baby ... whether it is born or not.
INSIDE is gruesome, graphic and most of all brilliant. An equal balance of atmospheric tension and down right nasty shock sprayed gloriously in sickening crimson this is unmissable for any horror fan. There is something about Euro horror that connects with me, American horror seems so forced yet European films, in spite of many extreme and implausible plots, seem to sit better. There is no contrived and predictable plotting, shrugging off the obvious character arcs that we have seen many, many times before. While Hollywood is slavishly dictated too by the screen writing guidelines of Syd Field and his ilk Europe is more likely to strip everything down to basics and seek purely to thrill, shock and repel. INSIDE is at the top of the game wrestling with HAUTE TENSION for that top spot. It is deeply shocking and many average viewers will be shocked and I'd be willing to bet a few hardcore grue hounds will find themselves wobbling a bit. This is ultra violence in a way that Burgess only hinted at!
