Megalomaniac" (2022, Belgium), is a film in the new French raw tradition.
Back story
The film follows the fictitious lives of the two children of the Butcher of Mons, the unidentified serial killer, who killed five women and left their body parts in 15 plastic refuse bags in streets in Mons, a city in Southern Belgium, during March and April 1997. The serial killer, thought to be Smail Tulja, who died in a Montenegro prison, was never caught and the investigation remains open.
Storyline
Felix (Benjamin Ramon) and Martha (Eline Schumacher), lives in the gothic family home left to them by their serial killer father. Felix follows in the footsteps of his father by murdering women at night. He further micro-manages every aspect of Martha's life by creating strict rules for her to follow. Martha works as a cleaner in a factory where she is sexually abused by co-workers, whilst the supervisor turns a blind eye. These events lead to Martha suffering ever-increasing psychological trauma, up to developing disassociative personality syndrome. The turning point comes when Felix accedes to Martha's request for a "pet" and he brings her a woman who is then chained up a bathroom, effectively as a pet. Martha's interactions with the "pet" gives an insight into her mental changes which culminates in Martha seeking revenge on her co-workers and involving Felix in her plan to do so.
Review
Karim Ouelhaj creates a nightmarish world where each scene holds a mirror to the ugliness of "humanity'. Inspiration from the scenes is taken from the Baroque era art works of Delacroix, Velázquez, Bacon, and Van Eyck, which gives the film the distinctive and visceral atmosphere of a never-ending nightmare. This nightmare world and the subtext, which includes the circle of the patriarchy, victim turning into monster, nature vs nurture, and the repetition of history, carries the film. The storyline itself, although uniquely told by focussing on imagery, remains intentionally underdeveloped. Schumacher's acting is superb, and Ramon is able to pull off the cold and calculated self-centred and almost vampirish, role to its full effect. Given the budget and three-week shooting time, the film is a masterclass is underground cinema. As such, the film is one to appreciate for its elements, more than a film which seeks to fully develop characters and storylines.
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