davidvmcgillivray-24-905811 Review of Knife + Heart

Knife + Heart (2018)

Another post-modern giallo from another promising film stylist

[7/10 · 14 October 2018]

The re-make of "Suspiria" has been preceded in the UK by at least two hommages to its creator Dario Argento. In Argentina Endelman and Montejano produced "Crystal Eyes" while in France Yann Gonzalez paid tribute with "Knife + Heart", a perfect choice for a midnight screening at the London Film Festival. "Crystal Eyes" is marginally the more creative work, certainly the camper, but Gonzalez is a great stylist, who knows his slashers and can flawlessly recreate the exploitation era. In 1979 Paris lesbian film-maker Lois (Vanessa Paradis!) makes arty gay porn that suddenly attracts the attention of a masked fiend, who begins murdering her cast. The opening sequence, which intercuts gay skin flicks with real life, sets the tone. "Knife + Heart" is very pro-porn, pro-gay and intensely cinematic. Although Gonzalez is mainly parodying and poking fun here, he's clearly a gifted stylist, choosing great locations and revelling in that "Suspiria" colour scheme. Two thirds of the way through, the daft story takes a dip, but then builds to a rousing finale in which the heroes are the patrons of a gay grindhouse. At the screening I attended people left the cinema during the main end credits, thereby missing the "message" about life and cinema which comes before the end crawl. Some will be appalled at the idea of Paradis starring in a gay slasher. But she throws herself into her work and is a commanding presence throughout despite strong support from everyone. As with "Crystal Eyes" it'll be interesting to see whether "Knife + Heart" can cross over from the festival circuit. If not it'll also be interesting to see what Gonzalez tries next. A talent to watch.