Wij (We) is a dark movie indeed. What plays out like a twisted Manson family cult the film goes to depths not seen for a long time on the big screen.
Get ready, this isn’t your ordinary run of the mill movie. Strap yourself in, it’s going to be a weird and extremely bumpy ride.
Synopsis
Eight teenagers play a depraved game to break up the monotony of living in a small village.
Directed by Rene Eller this film crosses over so many genres it’s a difficult one to review.
We have a thriller, we have real sex scenes, we have horror, we have sick, dark and boundary pushing content here.
This film will not appeal to the large population. It’s intended to shock, to push limits and to offend.
The sex scenes alone are just ridiculously thrown in there to add shock value. One minute I’m watching a normal movie now I’m watching a Hustler production.
These group of privileged teens get bored and start testing their limits.
Their carefree hippy style cult delve into prostition, pornography, criminal activity and more. At the command of Thomas (Aimé Claeys). Our Charles Manson figure in this twisted tale.
Whilst the movie is uncomfortable to watch at times it is beautifully shot. It almost feels like a dream state as this group’s superiority over others seems to reflect in the filters on screen.
These dreamy landscapes, these whispy tones all culminate in this higher than life visual tone that is beautiful.
When we’re not seeing random erotic acts being performed in various scenes that is!
We follow this group as relationships don’t exist, sex is used as a job and as a way to enjoy life to its fullest and as the film draws on we get darker and darker in tone.
Slowly unfolding in depravity with every passing scene.
I’m sure there is a coming of age story somewhere in this movie but only for those who have zero morals and zero conscience.
It’s the perfect coming of age movie for future serial killers and regular reoffenders that’s for sure!
A dwelling into brutal and extreme behaviour. Not a film that should be seen by our young impressionable generation.
Overall
Not a film that I felt needed to be made at all. Or not particularly in the way it was made.
It didn’t need to shock people by introducing extremes. Especially extremes of that nature.
One minute they’re there, the next, gone. Like they never happened. So unusual.
It had such potential with luscious cinematography, and incredible colours that painted their own dreamscapes and then decided to tone down a visually stunning down to a smutty level.
Just a film that pushes boundaries to gain attention with no real purpose, meaning or motive behind it.
No stories coming full circle we’re just thrown down this dark, gloomy well and we all sink lower into its depths with every passing minute.
More a disgracing with age than a coming of age feature film.
Summary
A film that tries to push the limits in the worst way possible sacrificing filmmaking values for a cheap thrill.
Take out the consistent need to push the envelope and there’s a really well shot movie in here somewhere.
