With Glasgow FrightFest approaching this weekend I realised (after much disbelief and googling to double check) we are approaching the anniversary of the first full lockdown in the UK. It’s such a cliche but time really has lost meaning and it simultaneously feels like forever ago and also just yesterday that we were told to stay at home and things would be back to normal before we knew it.
Unsurprisingly, now nearly a year down the line, I get the impression that most people are completely fed up with restrictions, though there is hope that we may see something resembling normality by summer.
It’s really hit me over the last few months how much I miss socialising but I’ve managed to keep somewhat sane (for the most part) through catching up with friends and getting to know some lovely new people on social media.
Over the last week, I’ve found I’ve discussed one film in particularon more than one occasion, and given that it is a film directed by a woman, thought it would be the ideal next selection for Women in Horror Wednesday.
Raw (2016)
Director : Julia Ducournau
I heard a lot of the hype around Raw before I actually knew much about the film itself. Early promo of the French film placed focus on sensational headlines of audiences fainting during screenings so I had an expectation that Raw was going to be similar to some of the films considered part of the French Extremity movement – such as 2008’s Martyrs.
Obviously, the morbidly curious part of me wanted to see what all the fuss was about (I didn’t learn my lesson from A Serbian Film) but I actually think a lot of the promo did quite a big disservice to Raw. The implication that the film contains extreme gore definitely turned off some potential audiences (or let down others) whereas in reality there is so much more to Raw, with a lot of scenes actually being surprisingly subtle – relying heavily on the strong performances of the cast.
Whilst the central plot is cannibalism,Raw is actually a beautifully crafted coming of age tale. The film follows veterinary student Justine as she navigates new experiences and her first taste of freedom.
Stylistically, it is immaculate and there are some scenes that are so visually appealing through the use of usual composition and colour. Raw also has an incredible score from Jim Williams that manages to get under your skin and compliments the film so well.
I initially caught Raw at Glasgow Frightfest in 2016 and I have watched it a number of times since.
Whilst it wasn’t what I had initially expected, I absolutely loved it, and it has definitely cemented its place as one of my favourite films. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet – it’s currently available on Amazon Prime.
