If you’ve ever seen a film by Claire Denis, you know that poon-feeding the audience is not on her priority list.
This wild and perverse science fiction film shares the same enigmatic and unnerving qualities as Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, and while not on that film’s overall level of accomplishment, stands as one of the more memorable motion pictures from this year (and let’s be honest – it’s been a SHITTY year for cinema overall).
Centering on a space ship full of death-row inmates who are serving as guinea pigs by a whacked-out doctor (Juliette Binoche, totally unhinged) who is conducing all sorts of sexual experiments while the vessel heads to a black hole to study new energy resources.
This film withholds information as if it were its job, pausing only momentarily for overt exposition, and instead concentrating on creepy atmospherics, close-to-the-vest performances (Robert Pattinson is excellent, yet again), and icy stylization, resulting in a heady brew that will confound many and delight others.
One of the best things a movie can do is keep you guessing all throughout. I dare you to predict what will happen during the course of the aggressively sexual and freakishly violent narrative.
I would have loved to have seen this in the theater with a packed house, just to gauge the immediate audience response when the final shot unfolds and the credits start to appear. Available on Blu-ray/DVD and via various streaming providers.
High Life review by Nick Clement
Summary
I would not blame anyone for not “enjoying” High Life, the latest film from revered French filmmaker Claire Denis (White Material, 35 Shots of Rum, Let the Sunshine In, The Intruder – all terrific films), as it’s as boldly challenging as anything I’ve seen all year.
