CLIMAX (2019) - Movie Review

[@nilsa6947]

Loved this review. As someone who used to be very involved with a "party scene" and now isn't in the slightest, one theme that stuck out to me in Climax is the ironic misery of living to have a good time. I've thought a lot about what a positive atmosphere a "party" is when you're a child, and how at some point the word become redefined to something that can be quite dark. Not usually as excessively or as horrifically as in the film, but tragedies do occur-- and they occur often. When Selva kneels, crying, outside the braker room door and tells Tito that everything's ok; it's a party and it's fun and there's surprises, that hit me.

[@TreffpunktZoo]

Great comment. I went through a very hedonistic phase in my youth (in the late 90s), very different to the life I lead now. There were some great times and I met some amazing people but there was a dark and slightly desperate aspect, which I was aware of at the time but which really stands out in hindsight. Nothing comparable to the events in this film of course, though it made me think about those days a lot.

[@TheVern]

This was one of the best reviews of this movie that I have seen. I got a much better appreciation of it's themes than I did during my watch. I agree it is a psycadelic Rorschach test.

[@natemarx4999]

The best movie reviewer on KZbin.

[@jamespader]

Nate Murdoch no question

[@kriziawalker183]

AGREED

[@frentury]

Easily

[@gardenia1773]

hello marx

[@Arachne1111]

No, she's a terrible reviewer. Incredibly naive and pretentious.

[@Arsolon618]

I am a fan of both Suspiria films and when I saw the Suspiria VHS resting there in the opening interview section of Climax I got very excited. I think there are strong hints in the film that the dancer Psyche is supposed to be a member of the coven in Suspiria. During the early section of the party when dancers are talking to each other in pairs, one of them casually mentions that he is getting a witch vibe from the venue they are in. We are told that Psyche is a dancer from Berlin, the same city as the dance coven in Suspiria. We are told that her roommate used to drip LSD in her eyes, and that very well may be true, if she was living with other members of the coven. LSD seems to be a tool they are using. We see the title card "Climax" as Psyche enters her own personal trip, which only occurs after the murder/orgy has occurred, which she set into motion. We are never told specific reasons, but I think with these clues in mind, one can imagine the events of the night were her way of making the rest of the dancers participate in a ritual for her own purposes. A ritual where the worst aspects of their personality, their psyches, were brought forth and left to interact with each other. It is a psychic ritual she brought about and enjoys the fruits of during her climax.

[@cherry-ob7xs]

Do you believe she wasn’t on LSD with everyone else during the party? That’s some next level bullshit to be pretending the whole time with people dying…. I think she knew what she was doing and didn’t care but she was definitely drinking it too

[@Arsolon618]

@@cherry-ob7xs I don't think she was high until the end of the movie when we see her dose her eyes.

[@karlknight4678]

@4:55 "The ending credits are at the beginning of the movie and the beginning credits are in the middle of the movie..." That really tripped me out. I liked how musical artists such as Aphex Twin are listed in the "beginning" credits. I like your reviews very much.

[@gabrielacordova-valdivia2271]

I absolutely love the fact that you said "you can subscribe if you like" I've always hated the fact that youtubers asks for subscribers; and that added to your thorough and excellent review, it's just perfect.

[@cruddddddddddddddd]

I just watched this for Halloween. I was able to see the film from two perspectives: 1) I've had a very bad trip on psychedelics. I can't imagine not knowing what I was ingesting prior to tripping (rolling is a different story: if someone spiked my punch with MDMA, I might thank them, lol). 2) I've been to parties that turned really shitty with nothing more than alcohol as a catalyst. You begin the night and everything is great, life is good, there is promise in the air. Then, something changes; it's like something affects everyone and the spiral to hell begins. My worst party experiences have involved alcohol and not drugs, interestingly enough. Noe captures these feelings so well. The guy is brilliant. His films are an experience, period. He doesn't seem interested in telling a standard story; he's trying to sell an experience, and so far, for me, he's successful. Great review! EDIT: Years ago, I did have a dream in which I had sex with my mother, lolol. And it's just not like that... I'm not like the overprotective son/brother/whatever. I remember being drunk and telling my friends about this dream at a late-night diner, and we laughed and laughed about that for probably an hour. I'm in my mid-thirties, so this was fifteen or so years ago, and it's not even the worst dream I've ever had. So... good point.

[@bassicdiego]

watching your reviews are honestly a spiritual experience for me. you are so effortlessly able to verbalize the deeply subconscious nature of experiencing art in such a fluid way that feels actively not pretentious at all. keep doing what you’re doing; it is extremely special!

[@nilesknives6484]

This movie made me feel like I was there, but the sober one that watched everyone else go nuts and barely live to tell about it.

[@2by3]

Suspiria (D. Argento) makes much of the color scenes in this movie.

[@NateS717]

Great point. Dario's pastel template is a trademark! in Inferno almost as much as Suspiria. Gaspar seems to be a lot like Dario in that they are innovators in their craft who are criminally underrated (at least in the west)! They are copied at a lesser degree so often without credit...

[@NateS717]

I feel like Gaspar uses sound like Dario used colors...and then together they are amazing...

[@ant3le]

Lucile Hadžihalilović has mentioned Argento as an influence when talking about Innocence.

[@kriziawalker183]

yes! his movies are "interactive" ! well-put

[@anthonywheeler2082]

I love how indepth your reviews are. I've seen Love and Irreversible and I want too see this. Also your dress is very trippy and it goes wth themes of the video

[@rodrigomadera3048]

First!! (i think) One of my favorite movies from last year along with Suspiria (i know it wasn't your cup of tea, but i really loved it) Two autor horror (or horror like) movies i wich the dance play an important part of it. Always a pleasure to here your thoghts about a film. Get better soon.

[@isaiahromero9861]

Great review. Also your dress reminds me of Beach House

[@evanjohnmo]

Holy poo, just finished watching this movie. I'm still trying to calm my heart down. My hands are shaking while typing this out. Noe really swims in the dark crevices of the human mind. The two parts that I will never be able to unsee are the hair burn scene, and when the mother realizes what happened to the child when the breaker goes off. It's just a movie, it's just a movie, it's just a movie.

[@domwalker6526]

This is one of the best movies to trip on. Honestly the music and dancing alone just put you right on the dance floor

[@kylespringthorpe5392]

Angie, the instrumental version is the absolute perfect choice for when the trip is wearing off and they are coming back to 'reality'. It's absolutely beautiful ❤ .

[@thanos1000000fc]

This movie teaches us an important lesson: Don't lock kids in the electrical room.

[@starsmash7491]

wow.....this is the most in depth and fluent review i've ever seen for this movie. kudos.

[@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL]

the long opening dance sequence is great

[@acouelfoly]

At some point during your review I realized everything you had said was perfect! So I started to scrutinize every new sentence waiting for a wrong note.... en vain!! It could have been me all along and trust me as a french citizen I am particularly awesome! Seriously this is one of the best reviews I have ever watched. And the icing on the cake : the way you approached the incest subject. I guess you are not easily influenced : you know how to use your brain! I want more people like you!

[@nopizzawithoutpineapple]

Wow. I've rarely seen such an amazing and complex spoiler review of an film. Definitely gonna watch all the videos about films I've seen due to spoilers and stuff

[@GravityFromAbove]

You know I don't often agree with your philosophical outlook, especially when diving off into psychedelic territory. But I really respect your honesty, and consider your thoughts to be measured and worth a serious listen. But I find your reviews quite compelling. And in this case you have indeed compelled me to give Noë another try. My main issue with psychedelics being that it creates an self-induced spiritual experiences that are so powerful that the people I know who have dived most seriously into the cosmic pickle jar have great problems indeed applying what they have learned to the world of human relationships, except for wanting to convert others to take their own voyages. And of course each person drifts alone, and each trip is actually the product of a serious technology. But you've made me curious to see Noë's take on it. Thanks.

[@trueaddict8733]

This review is refreshing. You really understand what Gaspar was intending with this film, what this film is, and who Gaspar is as a filmmaker. Very well done. I'm sure you already know this, but Gaspar didn't have a script for this movie. The only line that was written was said in the beginning audition tapes. He told everyone what he was looking for and just planted a camera in front of them while they talked and he took out the parts he liked. I think it works as it feels very organic the whole way through

[@ericisdead95]

God damn I got excited when I saw this vid pop up in my feed. You’re always so good at expressing your thoughts in a cohesive and efficient manner. Cheers! (Btw I hope u feel better soon, the movie had a similar effect on me too lol)

[@gjtuypioasdcgj]

Excelent review, this movie hits different when you know what LSD is like.

[@cherry-ob7xs]

What do you think of the title cards throughout the movie? -Existence is a fleeting illusion -Birth is a unique opportunity -Death is an extraordinary experience -Life is a collective impossibility

[@1080TJ]

This was my first Noe film and I found it technically impressive but overall boring and repetitive. The part where characters talk about pretty much nothing but sex for what felt like at least 10 minutes was just obnoxious (two people in my theater walked out at that point and I can't blame them). Overall this felt like a short film's worth of ideas stretched out to 90 minutes. Granted, I don't do drugs so maybe I'm just never gonna connect with it on that level. But the film didn't give me much else beyond that and some obvious shock value. I didn't come to care about any of the characters so watching them get tortured felt so empty. I know you weren't a fan but i feel like mother! did a similar kind of visceral experience much better.

[@aiyanash8027]

TJ Hastie I feel like you’re completely missing the point of the dialogue in the beginning, as it gives each character’s motives and shows what they will act like and do when they start tripping

[@sergiogregorio9426]

You are so fucking talented reviewing movies, keep doing it.

[@Bonedust66]

Hey DFL...what are your thoughts in regard to the works of Nicolas Winding Refn? Valhalla Rising and Bronson are both excellent projects. His Pusher trilogy is great as well.

[@RiderOfKarma]

Selva def did her nod to the famous subway scene in Possession.

[@donwhite5129]

Very thoughtful and intelligent review. Enjoyable to watch and listen to.

[@Jcrashinthecar]

Just caught this flick last night. A very good picture. To me, not quite Enter the Void caliber but one of Noe’s best! Loved how stripped down the film was, yet so visually powerful.

[@pepetenpiku9953]

I wacht irreversivle whe i was 16 now with 33 climax is hes best movie. He mixes Enter the void and Irreversible on a more chorent story for mass audience without forgeting hes art.

[@herbalcoast358]

Watching this movie after smoking a couple joints was definitely an experience

[@brentulstad3275]

Have you ever seen David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE ? I think you'd have an interesting take on it. In my opinion one of Lynch's most surreal and fractured films, can be frustrating but one of my favorites.

[@Dieafreak]

The most disturbing scene I’ve seen ever involving a bad acid trip was the rich son and his Psychiatrist in the TV show/series Ratched back in Netflix released a couple years ago.

[@TheTristanmarcus]

Many of these features, such as not using professional actors etc, were pioneered by Jacques Tati 😎 And you would never know that you were ill, you are still super-gorgeous ❤😎❤

[@bankjibbernow]

I loved this joint. Say what u want about Noé but he does hallucination like no other. And if you understand french, watch in ost coz it's actually very funny too... at the beginning 😉😅

[@Zombiewasabi]

I loved this movie even though it was extremely silly. But I'm also a big fan of dionysus

[@Moiiiii321]

I live for these longer reviews!😇

[@SulaHopey]

Great review, feel better! Anybody else lost in the calculations of just how much damn LSD it must've taken to super spike those big ass bowls of sangria? #BlackNerd #UrWelcome

[@Turtleproof]

I admire you for truckin' on thru the ups and downs.

[@matiassanz3694]

Agree

[@pandabearmadness6263]

Wow that was a great review. For me this is my favorite Gaspar Noé film. I like dropping acid and I like to trip balls, and for me this movie really made me feel like I was on acid lol. Gaspar Noé really captures how it feels when you are on acid and you start losing your thoughts everything's becomes confusing. So for me this premise of being spiked lsd is horrific. If you've never done lsd and all of sudden you start tripping balls out of nowhere you will go insane or do something horrible like in the movie lol. Overall I really loved movie, the intro dance scene alone, is worth suffering through that decent into madness

[@drennyvision6141]

I like that the picture fades as the girl gets faded in the last scene. I didn't like/get why selva in the yellow dress was walking down the hallway screaming and rolling on the floor i thought that was a bit of over acting. If anyone did understand it plz explain....

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I watched Beyond the Black Rainbow last night. Not what I was hoping for.

[@adamant5550]

One of the greatest films of the century so far.

[@johnt84]

I really enjoyed this one, but what a trip. I love your reviews.

[@haonyoass9556]

Dude love ur movie reviews u rock

[@love_exegence]

I would love to hear more about your drug experiences !

[@brod515]

do you think It's a good idea to try recreational drugs like LSD... because they way you explained makes it seem like you could do anything... which is scary. My problem with drugs like LSD or Ecstasy is the fear that you would do something that you normally would never do.

[@artestra]

I don't feel the need to agree or disagree with anything you say in these videos. I've never experienced that with other movie "reviewers" on youtube

[@Crudedrawing]

Did anyone climax during the climax of the movie, Climax? Also feel better!

[@musicfilmhead9051]

Loved this film. Great review as always. Keep up the awesome work.

[@inesmargaridacorreia9817]

Beach house dress 🌸

[@CoryCapron]

Really can't wait to see this! So glad you liked it!

[@Thecrispykid]

This chick is really smart.

[@chrisballas3356]

You really have serious talent with words. The problem is that he is not offensive, nor experimental, he is pure garbage with sick friends.

[@Damezumari1]

Would you consider doing a review of a Woody Allen film? How about some other commercial filmmaker?'

[@JoeStaehle]

I still need to see it but the only theater showing it is like an hour away ugh!

[@johnnyrascal6109]

Gaspar always breaks ALL the rules. All of them.

[@benjaminmoon7764]

My right ear loved this.

[@dominicschlaeger8961]

Hello my dear, im also obsessed with David Lynch. You should check out; A tale of two sisters (the korean original), Perfect Blue, Paprika and The Tenant. I'm sure you will like them.

[@brentulstad3275]

I'd like to see her thoughts on INLAND EMPIRE. One of my favorite David Lynch films.

[@ethidian3444]

* I mean no disrespect, buuutttt... 2:05 "Noe is not interested in exploring character depth here, or any sort of real profound thematic exploration" and here is why I think the movie is bad. And the arguments that most people have about this movie being great (from Letterboxd/Twitter/Reddit) are basically the same arguments that high-schoolers have for the Saw or Human Centipede movies being genius. This thought about the movie being a social experiment, with the way it is described in this review, sounds like the movie is supposed to be like an actual psychological research study... not a hypothetical, philosophical "what-if" thought experiment-which is more of what movies are, as opposed to real-life psychology research. The hive-mind commentary is so over-the-top and jarring in the film it comes off as completely false and shocking-for-the-sake-of-shocking. Lars Von Trier is the example of how to be a weirdo provocateur and a consistently good artist at the same time (except for maybe Antichrist [and it is no shocker that Noe fans tend to love that one the most]).

[@aiyanash8027]

Ethidian Who said every movie has to be deep or have a moral message to be good, also this movie has themes they just aren’t deep. I think people that say this movie is great say so more because of how intense it makes the audience feel whatever the movie wants them to feel at that moment and the ways at which the film achieves that. I don’t think this movie is being shocking for the sake of it but rather just trying to portray people losing control of humanity, as all gaspar films do but this one is doing it on the largest scale yet and I think it’s one of the boldest experiments in recent cinema

[@marcogianesello6083]

No one ever praised saw or the human centipede for having god tier camerawork, cinematography, music and directing

[@petermichaelpetretich551]

Fabulous, as always. Hope you're feeling better soon, Maggie! Btw, do you have a favorite film studies textbook or writer? I apologize if this question has already been asked by someone else...

[@sagarsaxena6318]

Great review as always. Get well soon!

[@vanhoywilliam2439]

Have you reviewed Irreversible?

[@richardsantanna5398]

"Psychedelic Rorschach test" I like that. So do you recommend watching this under the influence of any particular substance?

[@dirtthrower1998]

lots of crystal meth and weed

[@richardsantanna5398]

@@dirtthrower1998 Thanks 👍🏽

[@wilfordgrimley4339]

I watched on edibles and it made me feel really fucking dirty. Like i was cheating on god. I say try it on acid. Especially if you've never seen it.

[@robbieclaravall]

hi, am really interested in your thoughts on high life!!

[@danielortega2441]

Question......Why not post more often......They offer a great perspective.

[@natewylz8289]

Again, now you need to review I Stand Alone and LOVE

[@louisaparker]

Can you upload the video of your trip onto your channel?

[@lamegoldfish6736]

The snake eats its tail?

[@deepfocuslens]

precisely

[@thebigzapfer8696]

Hmm interesting sounding movie, I'll have to check it out. Good luck with cold ;]

[@wilfordgrimley4339]

Nothing social or political about this movie. Gaspar has confirmed this

[@jbliv831]

Next weekend. Can't wait.

[@skipd9164]

Unless you have seen a bad trip. That was close but 100 percent of them going crazy. Some people its a great experience even though first time. I do not recommend doing it. You can go either way so don't do it. There was a guy in my area never was normal again happened in the 70s

[@jwnj9716]

Its another masterpiece.

[@markrowe5992]

Great review. Thank you.

[@_BASIC_INSTINCT]

"the source of suffering is psyche's fault"

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I can't remember you ever reviewing any post-apocalyptic films. Is that kind of a guy thing?

[@caseyglover7298]

I don't know about movies, but I think I remember her saying in a Q and A that the Last of Us is one of her favourite games.

[@snomad2248]

I watched "Love" last night. You kind of get bored of seeing them naked and the 500th time of "I love you" had me groaning. For "climax" I didn't suspect who the culprit was but the only mention of lsd in the interview stage at the start of the movie kind of hints at it.

[@maximboyko1780]

Very nice review!!!

[@torben7424]

are you on letterboxd??? :)

[@richardsantanna5398]

Let's see those LSD videos!

[@deepfocuslens]

Hell no. XD

[@richardsantanna5398]

@@deepfocuslens Ok 😔

[@deepfocuslens]

Way too personal. Only trusted friends have seen them.

[@thestendhalsyndrome]

@@richardsantanna5398 Jesus Christ...

[@Demention94]

I always find myself watching your reviews from time to time. Never thought to subscribe until now! This was a interesting film and exeprience. Did you wear that dress to match the tone of the film? 🙃 Dancers in Wonderland...

[@deepfocuslens]

Thanks! Haha yes, the outfit was intentional. It's actually a romper.

[@alexyospears2210]

Hey maggie how are you

[@tonycairns6728]

I just saw 'Climax' last night, but it turned out to be an anti-climax. Unlike 'Irréversible' (the only Noé film I've seen), it doesn't compel the viewer to seriously consider the more degraded side of human life. It seemed shallow and empty. Disappointing.

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

Fantastic movie.

[@aftermath4096]

you spelled garbage wrong

[@joshuapage5689]

thanks for posting this awesome review

[@LAZISH]

Shock Poet!!!! So true!!!!

[@NateS717]

You rock. Subscribed :P

[@cherry-ob7xs]

I love your reviews sooo much and wanna b friends :)

[@sirmium12]

Nothing polítical on th3 film just incidental...

[@chanceneck8072]

Good movie that I hated the first time I saw it.....

[@cokgezen_official]

Great !!

[@wagneryardstep2622]

Taxidermia?

[@Jon-yn4pq]

This movie was not good

[@joelwalter6584]

You have never done DMT. That is why you made this this "video".

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

Fantastic movie.