History Film / Climax

''Climax'' is a 2018 French[[note]]"and proud of it"[[/note]] psychological horror dance film directed, written and co-edited by Creator/GasparNoe.

In 1996, a large group of young French dancers is recruited by a mysterious company to star in a new production that will take modern French dance to the United States and beyond. After three days rehearsing a routine in a remote dance studio, the group celebrates by having a party involving dancing, drugs and a large bowl of sangria.

However, the dancers realize that someone's spiked the sangria, and when the drug kicks in, their attempts to find out who's responsible are slowly overpowered by the combination of their rapid descent into insanity with the hypnotic rhythms of the music, turning the celebration into a hallucinatory nightmare.

While ''Climax'' carries a number of Noé staples, including vibrant colors, an intense story and an oppressive atmosphere, the film is unique for its unusual production by his standards. It was conceived and pre-produced in only four weeks, shot in only 15 days, and largely consists of unrehearsed improvisation by the cast (composed almost entirely of real-life dancers with no acting experience).

* AnythingThatMoves: A few of the male characters express their desire to have sex with all the girls in the troupe. [[spoiler:David, under the effects of the LSD, attempts to throw himself on three separate couples of all genders trying to have sex. He ends up getting beaten up in part because of it.]]

* ManOnFire: When Alaia discovers that Jennifer [[spoiler: lied about running out of cocaine, snorting it beside a burning gas stove, Alaia shoves Jennifer and sets her hair on fire. She guffaws as Jennifer screams in panic and agony.]]
** [[spoiler: At the end its revealed that she was able to put the fire out, however her psychotic trip, burned scalp, constant screaming throughout the movie, and her continued attempt to 'extinguish' it with dirty sink water meant that she still thinks her head is on fire up until the very end of the movie.]]

* FanDisservice: Eva is found nude in the shower [[spoiler:crying and washing the blood of Lou off of herself, muttering that [[OutDamnedSpot it won't come off]].]]

While ''Climax'' carries a number of Noé staples, such as its vibrant color, intense story and oppressive atmosphere, the film is unique for its unusual production by his standards. It was conceived and pre-produced in only four weeks, shot in only 15 days, and largely consists of unrehearsed on-the-spot improvisation by the cast (composed almost entirely of real-life dancers with no acting experience).

** Nearly the entire second half of the film, from the overhead shot of the sangria cup just after the mid-film opening credits, is one unbroken 43 minute take.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Gary Numan's somewhat upbeat synth rendition of Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie #1" contrasts heavily with the visuals it accompanies: [[spoiler:Lou staggering through the snow, wailing in agony]].

In 1996, a large group of young French dancers is recruited by a mysterious company to star in a new production that will take modern French dance to the United States and beyond. After three days rehearsing a routine in a remote dance studio, the group celebrate by having a party involving dancing, drugs, and a large bowl of sangria.

However, the dancers realize that someone's spiked the sangria, and when it kicks in, their attempts to find out who's responsible are slowly overpowered by the combination of their rapid descent into insanity with the hypnotic rhythms of the music, turning the celebration into a hallucinatory nightmare.

* AdultFear: [[spoiler: Trying to protect your child, only to have your efforts result in their death.]]
** [[spoiler: Failing to comfort your child on acid while he's locked in a pitch-black electrical closet, with only a metal door separating you and your son, screaming at all the hallucinatory cockroaches crawling on his skin.]]

''Climax'' is a 2018 French psychological horror dance film directed, written and co-edited by Creator/GasparNoe.

While ''Climax'' carries a number of Noé staples, such as its vibrant color, intense story and oppressive atmosphere, the film is unique for its unusual production. It was conceived and pre-produced in only four weeks, shot in only 15 days, and largely consists of unrehearsed on-the-spot improvisation by the cast (composed almost entirely of real-life dancers with no acting experience).

''Climax'' is a French 2018 psychological horror dance film by Creator/GasparNoe.

In 1996, a large group of young dancers is recruited by a mysterious company to star in a new production that will take modern French dance to the United States and beyond. After three days rehearsing a routine in a remote dance studio, the group celebrate by having a party involving dancing, alcohol and drugs.

However, someone's spiked the sangria and when it kicks in, things start going to hell...

In textbook Noe fashion, ''Climax'' is a mix of vibrant, colourful visuals, beautiful choreography, horrifying plot developments and an oppressive soundscape, combining to make a nightmarish atmosphere and story.

* ClosedCircle: The heavy snow outside and the fact that Emmanuelle says she's booked a minibus for the following day suggests that even though they ''can'' leave, the characters wouldn't get very far if they did.

** During Selva's [[spoiler:psychotic reaction to LSD]], she momentarily calmed down after seeing the forest backdrop. Selva means "Forest".

* FanDisservice: One woman is found nude in the shower [[spoiler:crying and washing the blood of their friend off of herself, muttering that [[OutDamnedSpot it won't come off]].]]

* ManOnFire: When one character discovers another has [[spoiler: lied about running out of cocaine, snorting it beside a burning gas stove, she shoves her and sets her hair on fire. She guffaws as the girl screams in panic and agony.]]

** [[spoiler: Possibly true of Lou's unborn baby as well, if her claims of being pregnant are true.]]

** [[Spoiler: At the end its revealed that she was able to put the fire out, however her psychotic trip, burned scalp, constant screaming throughout the movie, and her continued attempt to 'extinguish' it with dirty sink water meant that she still thinks her head is on fire up until the very end of the movie.]]

* MoodWhiplash: Ignoring the opening scene and the uneasy interviews that open the film, the rehearsal, dance party and character chatter is light-hearted and fun. It's only when [[spoiler: Psyche wets herself on the dance floor]] that things start to take a sinister turn.