Never before have I thrown my notebook at a film screening.
I've always had a good sense of when a horror film is going to strike, and attempt to frighten you out of your seat. But in this genre-bending psychological thriller from Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) the brutal violence comesout of nowhere - and the notebook soared.
The signs were there. The opening scene begins with a woman being sexually assaulted in her home. We learn a lot about Michele (Huppert) by what follows immediately afterwards; she's clearly distressed and shaken, but rather than call the police she cleans herself up, throws her ruined dress in the rubbish and orders in food. Michele is a woman who handles things her own way.
Isabelle Huppert in a scene from the film, Elle.
She is a successful and ruthless business woman who co-owns with her best friend Anna (Consigny) an animation company that makes highly sexualised and violent computer games. When her assailant makes contact soon after the assault, Michele realises it is probably someone she knows and begins a twisted game of cat-and-mouse to reveal the assailant's identity. It's a dark, Machiavellian power play that leaves you wondering who's enjoying the game more, Michele or her mysterious rapist.
Elle is filled with complex characters, and Isabelle Huppert is unrelenting in her portrayal of Michele and her unorthodox approach to being a "victim". Michele's decision to become a willing participant in further brutal attacks begs the question; is she punishing herself for her own exploitative, immoral behaviour or is she testing the waters to see if she possesses her father's psychopathic traits.
It's for you to decide, but, one thing is certain, Huppert is perfectly cast to bring this adaptation of Philippe Djian's novel "Oh..." to life, and to relaunch Dutch director Verhoeven controversially back into the limelight.
Isabelle Huppert in a scene from the film, Elle.
Ultimately, what's disturbing is how nonchalantly Elle flicks between violent and melodramatic, art house-worthy and light-hearted, tragic and almost comical. One minute you're chuckling at Michele's Parisian driving, the next you're trying to process the characters masochistic and sadistic desires. Frankly, Elle is a twisted little number that's weirdly entertaining.
Verdict: A strangely compelling and twisted thriller.
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Anne Consigny Director: Paul Verhoeven Running Time: 131 mins Rating: R18 (Violence, sexual violence, offensive language)
