'Raw' Review

Before it even got its official release, Julia Ducournau's Raw had already gained a certain level of notoriety due to reports of audience members passing out during a screening at Cannes last year. These are the types of reports that fuel the fires of anticipation all around the world, and it's safe to say that the hype around Raw was very real. On Thursday evening I finally got a chance to see the film, and it's safe to say I was pleasantly surprised with the results. While the hype would have you believe that this is a film that is solely reliant on its gross-out imagery, Ducournau manages to transcend the films morbid subject matter to create a much more enthralling film. Raw is more than just a simple splatter film, it is an engaging coming of age tale about family and identity, that just so happens to involve cannibalism. While it does have its fare share of gory moments, it balances these with well-developed characters, clever direction, and its own grim brand of humour.

The film revolves around budding veterinary student and strict vegetarian Justine (Garance Marillier) who, after getting her first taste of meat, begins to develop a deadly addiction to it that will change her way of life forever. The fact that cannibalism is central to the films plot would have many expecting a straightforward exploitation film with consistent blood and gore, that's not exactly what Raw is, however that is not necessarily a bad thing. The violence in this film is infrequent, however when it does occur it really leaves an impact and there are several moments that will tickle the ol' gag reflex, including Justine's gruesome looking rash and a soon-to-be-iconic moment involving a finger. Ducournau certainly goes all out during these moments of intense violence, they are detailed, realistic, and enough to make your skin crawl. Whether or not they'll cause you to pass out is an entirely different question however, but there was no point during the film where I personally felt nauseous. Instead of going down the route of relying heavily on gore, Ducournau also makes excellent use of atmosphere by combining her ambitious direction with the wonderful score by Jim Williams, resulting in some eerie and often surreal moments to counter the films violence.

Ducournau displays a masterful talent behind the camera in her feature debut, creating this naturalistic yet visually pleasing film with help from cinematographer Ruben Impens. Everything in this film feels very real, allowing it to engage the audience and entice them into its dark world. This felt most evident during the party scenes when the protagonist, Justine, is followed through the crowd by a tracking shot. It was moments like this where I felt as if I wasn't just an audience member, but as though I was there among the crowd witnessing these events unfold in real time. It does not feel like this is Ducournau's feature debut, rather, it feels as though she is a professional who has been making films like this for years, she is the type of filmmaker who leaves audiences hungry for more. Of course I must give a special nod to Jim Williams' soundtrack that was one of my personal highlights of the film, upping the intensity when needed and making the film all the more memorable. It reminded me very much of those iconic horror scores by the likes of Goblin and John Carpenter.

While one could easily get wrapped up in all the violence and thrills, the real focus of this film is on the relationship between Justine and her sister Alex (Ella Rumpf). We watch their developing relationship coincide with Justine's sudden lust for flesh and how the two intertwine, making for a macabre yet touching coming of age tale. Their dynamic is very much like that of the Fitzgerald sisters in Gingersnaps, only it feels much more grounded. Rumpf and Marillier share a fantastic and believable onscreen chemistry and have a lot of fun playing these two sinister sisters, at times it feels as though they really are related. Marillier, of course, is the real star of the show and steps into the role of Justine with great ease. From the timid young girl in the beginning, to the bloodthirsty seductress she eventually becomes, Garance Marillier is superb at bringing her character to life and is a pleasure to watch from start to finish. While she does bring that sense of innocence to the role, she has no trouble shedding it away to bring forth that sheer savagery that eventually consumes her character. She has a promising career ahead of her.

Raw is more than just your average tale of cannibalism, it is a coming of age story about a girl coming to terms with who she really is and how she handles this. While there is plenty of gore and plenty of horror to be found within the film, at its core it is a tale of growth, development, and family. Julia Ducournau's script and direction is backed up by the fantastic performances by Garance Marillier and Ella Rumpf, making for an engaging and captivating film soaked in realism. Raw is a tantalising piece of cinema that will appeal to both horror fans and a wider audience, provided they have a strong stomach that is. It is safe to say I am hungry to see what Julia Ducournau will do next.