THE FILM: Sheitan
Sheitan was recommended to me by Netflix in the “slasher” sub-genre, however, I will restrain from categorizing it as such in this review. Sheitan couldn’t be further from a slasher film. There’s only one or two kills in the film, but they make one hell of an impact. After a night of hard partying on Christmas Eve, a group of friends encounter Eve, who lures them back to her farmhouse to further continue their debauchery. Upon arrival, they immediately meet Eve’s bizarre housekeeper, Joseph, played to perfection by Vincent Cassel, one of the best actors working today. Their antagonizing urban attitude doesn’t mesh well with the abnormal rural locals, who seem to have something planned for their new guests. “Sheitan” is a French film (the title translates to Satan), and if you ask me, many of the finest films are imported from France. If you’re expecting a gorefest like Haute Tension, look elsewhere, for “Sheitan” is about as slow burn as it gets, yet there isn’t a dull moment in the film. From the first frame, it grips you close, making you feel uncomfortable with the disturbing sense of humor and almost otherworldly demeanor of the village. What’s interesting about the film is that we’re kind of against the protagonist, Bart, from the very start. The opening scene has him calling a girl horrible names and picking a fight with the bouncer, where it concludes with a bottle being broken over Bart’s head. The other friend, Thai, picks up this girl with the obvious intention to sleep with her, despite the fact that he’s in a relationship (we never see his girlfriend). And the other friends are simply obnoxious. When the film introduces Eve and later Joseph, they’re so wickedly charming that you’ll find them completely irresistible. Cassel knows how to play this splendidly, as he never crosses into parody, even though he does teeter precariously. At the very moment you think it may be too much, he turns on the characters (and audience) with a razor sharp violent outburst. He’s magnetic, and mercilessly owns every frame he occupies. I’ve read numerous complaints about the ending, that it’s cheap and too open-ended, I loved it. I agree, it is abrupt, but I feel that it’s intentional. It’s appropriate. And, as I’ve stated before, the audience doesn’t need to know every detail to enjoy a film. It’s not about knowledge, it’s about experience, and this film is painfully visceral. “Sheitan” is the antithesis to the Saw franchise. If you have Netflix streaming, bump this up to number one and watch it tonight. You won’t be sorry.
Fun fact: A few seconds after the credits start, a subliminal pornographic frame is inserted.
MORE TO COME!
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