Climax (2018)

Gaspar Noe can be fascinatingly superb (Irreversible [2002]) but also infuriatingly dull (Love 3D [2015]). Climax is absolutely the former. A dance troupe perform a rehearsal in an empty building, and follow it up with an after party. However, someone spikes the sangria on offer with LSD, leading to a night of hallucinogenic madness, and some brutal violence. That will be of no surprise to hear for fans of Noe, but Climax almost plays out like some sort of soothing yet violent meditation session. Irreversible's most infamous and horrific sequence isn't matched in terms of horror here, but there's one scene that stands out as particularly gut wrenching, although this time it's in the confines of a filthy toilet rather than a filthy underpass. Climax is unrelenting in its pace, submerged in its own soundtrack to the undertakings of the cast. It's really something, and throws you into the midst of the party, and barely lets you out at the films climax. Eh? 8.2/10