Raw (2016)

Director: Julia Ducournau
Stars: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella 
Runtime: 99 minutes

Synopsis: An innocent teenager, studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.

Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 4/5
Costumes/Makeup: 5/5
Editing: 4/5
Cinematography: 5/5
Score/Soundtrack: 4/5

Verdict: Unsettling, uncomfortable, disturbing but also fascinating and enthralling. This is how I’d describe “Raw”, a French-Belgian horror movie directed by Julia Ducournau. Set in a college campus, the film follows Justine, a vegetarian entering her first year of studying to become a veterinarian.

But her love of animals quickly takes a dark turn as she was taking part in a hazing ritual reserved for newly enrolled students, and her transformation becomes the centre of what turns out to be a very challenging and metaphorically-heavy movie. Now obviously, there is more than one way to interpret Justine’s transformation, but to me, it was supposed to symbolize the consequences of having a taste of something that could be considered as sinful or immoral. Ducournau does a mesmerizing job behind the camera as “Raw” both looks and sounds spectacular, but it’s her writing skills that make this movie such an unforgettable experience. The characters are all extremely well developed and nuanced, the dialogue is always engaging and natural, the attention to details in the narrative is admirable… Despite taking issue with the direction of some scenes (including the very last one), I was on the edge of my scene for the entire rundown of a film also enhanced by the magnificent performance of newcomer Garance Marillier (whose resemblance to Maisie Williams is uncanny).

It’s difficult to talk about “Raw” without getting into spoiler territory, so I’ll just leave it there. In my opinion, it’s one of the best movies of 2016 but also one that definitely won’t appeal to everybody. It’s challenging, thought-provoking, and captivating, which is exactly what I personally look for in horror films. 

FINAL GRADE: 8/10