Calvaire (The Ordeal) 2004

Calvaire, which could be seen as a strange bedfellow for Kim Chapiron's "Sheitan", again delves into the village in the middle of nowhere overrun by psychotic hillbillies scenario.

This time, we see Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas) a lounge singer at the wrong end of his career traveling from small town to small town playing gigs at nursing homes. After a bizarre performance at one of these homes, Stevens sets off in his van to keep a prior engagement, a Christmas gala a few hundred miles away. He soon finds himself lost on a remote woodland road at nightfall as a thunderstorm closes in, and of course his van breaks down. However help is at hand in the form of Boris (Jean-Luc Conchard) who is out searching from his lost dog. Boris convinces Stevens to accompany him to a nearby inn so he can take shelter and find someone to fix his van, huge mistake.

Stevens is greeted at the inn by its owner Mr Bartel (Jackie Berroyer) and after a while both men bond over the fact that they are entertainers, Bartel used to perform stand-up comedy. As Bartel shows him around the village, it doesn't take Stevens long to realise that things are not quite right with the locals and soon finds himself in a bloody game of cat and mouse with the villages unhinged inhabitants.

Director Fabrice Du Welzs use of shaky camera work and naturally lit locations works well and with little in the way of a soundtrack, the viewer is quickly drawn into the sense of impending dread. I find it also gives the film quite an edgy feel, and captures a palpable sense of claustrophobia. The films location also adds to the feeling that something really bad is going to happen with director Du Welz using the dark forests of Belgiums Fagnes region to excellent effect.

The performances too are all excellent, Laurent Lucas's portrayal of Mark Stevens is captivating, you are never sure if you actually like the singer or just feel extremely sorry for him. My favourite performance however is French comedians Jackie Berroyer, who slips into the role of Mr Bartel with unnerving ease.

Calvaire is definitely not for the faint hearted, prompting several walkouts when it was screened at Cannes in 2004 and contains shocking scenes including bestiality, crucifixion and male rape. However I think if you can sit through Mr Du Welzs debut film, you might find that while it is shocking and at times very brutal, it is ultimately a film about love and loneliness.