While recently discussing
beautiful actresses for last week’s Six of the Best feature, a friend asked if
Monica Bellucci was in consideration for inclusion on the list. I had to be
honest and say that although I knew the name, I didn’t know what the actress
looked like and couldn’t name any of her films. I was told that she was in the
film Irreversible, that it was
horrible and that I should watch it. Again, like the actress, the film and its notoriety
wasn’t unknown to me but I hadn’t seen it. The following discussion was filled
with reasons as to why I should and shouldn’t watch it and I agreed with my
friend bringing the film to work later in the week. I was warned however that
under no circumstances should I watch it with my girlfriend. I was to wait
until she was out or away or something, but just not in the house. Now I’ve
seen the movie, I’m glad I heeded his advice.
Irreversible is a movie which wants to make you uncomfortable from
the very get go. Its interesting title sequence features back to front wording
which seems to slide off the screen as the ‘camera’ rotates like the hand of a
clock while pulsating, barely audible noise plays over it. This infrasound has
been clinically proven to create anxiety, revulsion and sorrow when played to
humans and it successfully created all three in me. The plot uses a non linear
narrative to tell of two men who attempt to enact revenge after a rape. Beginning
at the end and finishing at the beginning, the film isn’t difficult to
understand and it’s much simpler than the likes of Memento. The structure is fascinating and works really well to
create at times, tension, panic, worry, and towards the end, a welcome sense of
calm coupled with impending dread.
