Left Bank (2008)

Left Bank (2008)
Directed by: Pieter Van Hees
Written by: Christophe Dirickx, Dimitri Karakatsanis, Pieter Van Hees
Starring: Eline Kuppens, Matthias Schoenaerts, Sien Eggers

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSPx4vixyck[/youtube]

Left Bank (2008)

(18) Running time: 102 minutes

Director: Pieter Van Hees

Writers: Christophe Dirickx, Pieter Van Hees,

Starring: Eline Kuppens, Matthias Schoenaerts, Sien Eggers

Reviewed by: Matt Wavish, official HCF critic

This rather impressive Dutch horror reminds me of early Polanski. An extremely slow build up, very well put together with excellent performances. The only issue is that the payoff is not all it could have been and I did feel somewhat cheated. The story follows a young, twenty something athlete whose constant training as a runner is taking its toll. Her Dad is too pushy and her doctor has told her to take a break. She finds love in a mysterious, laddish guy and she moves in with him in this apartment block. It was built over an area called “Left Bank”, so-called because criminals and disease ridden locals were banished here to keep them away from the town many many years ago.

As the two enjoy each other’s company, we are blessed with numerous sex scenes and half naked shots of the strangely attractive girl. A strange conversation with her neighbour about the previous girl who lived in her flat gives her something to think about. The previous girl disappeared one day and never came back, and her partner wants nothing to do with the place or any packages that have been left for her. Added to the mystery, our girl takes a nasty fall and hurts her knee, which becomes infected and eventually starts to grow black hair. The mystery builds and you do end up drawn in, I just wanted a little bit more in the build up, and certainly more come the end. Still, it’s good to see horror still has the ability to build on a story rather than relying all out gore.

Rating:

[pt-filmtitle]Left Bank[/pt-filmtitle]