New French Extremityrefers to a variety of films produced since the dawn of the 21st century that feature violent and graphic content and explore challenging and taboo themes. The concept of New French Extremity coincided with the popularization of films within the Asian Extreme movement such asBattle RoyaleandIchi the Killerand the American torture-focused ‘spectacle horror’ trend, including films such asHostelandThe Devil’s Rejects.
Although not strictly a horror movement, many horror films are categorized as fitting the New French Extremity label. With their gory and graphic content,it is unsurprising that many of these extreme horror movies gained acclaim and controversyinternationally as well as in their native country. Considering their originality, impact and overall quality, these are the best horror movies classified as New French Extremity.
10’In My Skin' (2002)
Directed by Marina de Van
Written and directed byMarina de Van,In My Skinis a body horror/drama film often categorized as an early entry into the New French Extremity canon. The film stars de Van herself as Esther, a woman who becomes increasingly fixated on mutilating her body and removing her skin after an accident at a party sparks her curiosity. Due to Esther’s obsession, her life begins to spiral out of control both professionally and interpersonally.
The film is slow-paced and subtle with intermittent sequences of grotesque body horror, such as a particularly uncomfortable dinner scene with Esther’s professional contacts. Marina de Van is excellent in the lead role, portraying Esther’s pain incredibly realistically and showcasing her fascination with self harm in a way that is both compelling and disturbing. Far less overtly graphic than many other New French Extremity horror films, although still providing plenty of blood,In My Skinis an unsettling psychological drama about a woman’s destructive habits.
Buy DVD on Amazon
9’Calvaire’ (2004)
Directed by Fabrice Du Welz
Calvaire, also known as ‘The Ordeal’, is a French-Belgian horror movie directed byFabrice Du Welz, who also co-wrote the screenplay withRomain Protat. The film follows a singer named Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas) whose van breaks down in an isolated village, leading him to staying with and eventually being kidnapped by an unpredictable innkeeper named Mr. Bartel (Jackie Berroyer). Bartel quickly becomes enamored with Marc and forces him to fulfil the role of Bartel’s ex-wife Gloria, dressing him in her old clothes and torturing him when he resists.
Far less graphic than other horror films classified as New French Extremity,Calvairederives much of its horror from the unsettling and uncanny nature of Marc’s environment, as it becomes increasingly clear that the entire village is swept up in impossible delusions. The film provides an interesting inversion of common horror tropes, placing its male protagonist in situations that are typically reserved for female characters. With its unique setting, strong lead performances and disturbing content,Calvaireis a deeply strange andexcellent horror film.
Watch on Shudder
8’Frontier(s)' (2007)
Directed by Xavier Genz
Frontier(s), written and directed byXavier Gens, is a French-Swiss horror film in the vein ofThe Texas Chain Saw MassacreandHouse of 1000 Corpses. The film follows a young pregnant woman named Yas (Karina Testa) and her friends as they escape Paris in the midsts of political riots, only to find themselves in the clutches of a family of Nazi cannibals. Brutal from start to finish, the film explores themes of political extremism through the lens of ultraviolent action.
The film is a veritable bloodbath, containing one of horror’smost messed up familiesand numerous graphic set-pieces involving meat hooks, shotguns and even a circular saw. WhileFrontier(s)provides extreme horror at its most extreme,it remains incredibly watchable, providing the perfect balance of downtime and catharsisalongside its more unrelenting sequences.
7’Them' (2006)
Directed by Xavier Palud and David Moreau
Written and directed byDavid MoreauandXavier Palud,Them(Ils)is a French-Romanian home invasion horror film. The movie follows Clementine (Olivia Bonamy) and Lucas (Michaël Cohen) - a French couple living in a remote country house in a Romania - as they are attacked by a mysterious gang of assailants in the middle of the night.
Despite being a part of the New French Extremity movement,Themdoes not feature graphic gore or extreme violence. Instead the film relies on an atmosphere of mystery and intensity, being rapidly paced and providing a genuinely transgressive twist when the killers are revealed.Themis a great, punchy home invasion horror that undoubtedly set the stage for later films in its subgenre such asThe Strangers.
Rent on Vudu
6’Inside' (2007)
Directed by Julien Maury and Alexandra Bustillo
Inside(À l’intérieurin French) is a home invasion horror film directed byJulien MauryandAlexandre Bustillo. The film follows Sarah (Alysson Paradis), a pregnant woman grieving the recent loss of her husband, on the night before she is due to give birth. When a mysterious stranger (Béatrice Dalle) - credited only as ‘The Woman’ - appears at her door and later breaks into the house, Sarah is forced to fight for her life and for her unborn child.
Insideis an intense and ultraviolent horror movie, featuring unimaginable amounts of blood. The central premise of a woman attempting to remove and kidnap another woman’s unborn baby is horrifying on its own, and the film’s stylish direction and fantastic lead performances from Paradis and Dalle greatly enhance its brutal impact. Despite its extremity,Insideis a surprisingly accessible film, following a recognizable structure and featuring relatable themessuch as exploring thehorrors of motherhood.
Stream on Tubi
5’Revenge' (2017)
Directed by Coralie Fargeat
Revenge, a feminist take on the rape-revenge horror subgenre, is the debut feature of writer-directorCoralie Fargeat. The film follows Jen (Matilda Lutz), a young woman who is assaulted and then left for dead by her wealthy boyfriend Richard (Kevin Janssens) and his friends, and then vows to hunt them down in revenge for what they did to her. Much of the film takes place in a Moroccan desert as Jen and her assailants stalk one another through the sandy cliff sides.
Despite her vulnerability, Jen is presented as a badass hero, withFargeat citing filmslikeMad Maxand theRambofranchise as her inspirations for Jen’s characterization. Subverting the male gaze and exploring the strength and endurance of women subjected to misogynistic violence,Revengeis a compelling and empowering thriller with plenty of blood to satisfy gorehound audience members.
Stream on Shudder
4’High Tension' (2003)
Directed by Alexandra Aja
High Tension(Haute Tension) is a slasher film directed byAlexandre Ajaand co-written by Aja andGrégory Levasseur. The film starsCécile de Franceas Marie andMaïwennas Alex, two best friends who find themselves under siege by an unknown assailant. The film follows the women as a brutal home invasion takes place before Alex is kidnapped by the killer and Marie attempts to save her.
High Tensionis mostinfamous for its twist endingwhich totally recontextualizes the events up to that point, and has been criticized for its problematic subtext. However, the film has great merit aside from this element,providing an incredibly intense viewing experiencewith its home invasion sequence being particularly frightening. Aja has gone on to make many successful American films due to the international exposureHigh Tensionbrought him, includingalligator creature featurehorrorCrawland the remake of Wes Craven’sroad trip horror movieThe Hills Have Eyes.
High Tension
Best friends Marie and Alexia decide to spend a quiet weekend at Alexia’s parents' secluded farmhouse. But on the night of their arrival, the girls' idyllic getaway turns into an endless night of horror.
Stream on Prime
3’Titane' (2021)
Directed by Julia Ducournau
Titaneis a Belgian-French body horror film written and directed byJulia Ducournau, who gained international attention with her debut featureRaw.Titanefollows Alexia (Agathe Rousselle), a serial killer who feels a disconnect from humanity and a connection to machines due to having a metal plate in her head. When Alexia falls pregnant with a half-car half-human hybrid child and is forced to go on the run due to her crimes, she poses as a runaway teenage boy, concealing her gender, pregnancy, and dark past.
The film tells agenuinely emotional storyabout gender, motherhood and isolation. Despite her monstrous actions, Alexia is a sympathetic protagonist who the audience comes to root for due to her tender relationship with her surrogate father Vincent (Vincent Lindon). The film is visually stunning and anchored by phenomenal performances, making it one of France’s best recent horror films.
Watch on Hulu
2’Martyrs' (2008)
Directed by Pascal Laugier
Martyrs, written and directed byPascal Laugier, is a horror film that follows Lucie (Mylène Jampanoï) and Anna (Morjana Alaoui) on a revenge quest against the mysterious organization that tortured Lucie as a child. From their brutal home invasion to Anna’s eventual endurance of the same abuse as Lucie, the film is intensely violent and highly nihilistic, but also features an empathetic streak through the tender relationship between the two women.
With atruly bleak endingand extremely violent content throughout the film, Martyrs is a deeply controversial but also acclaimed horror film. Although Laugier disputes the film’s association with New French Extremity,it undoubtedly has a place in the 2000s extreme horror trend, beingdirectly inspired by Eli Roth’sHostel. The film explores themes of pain and martyrdom, forcing the audience to experience every moment of Anna’s brutal ordeal until both the character and the viewers feel no choice but to find transcendence through the misery.
1’Climax' (2018)
Written and directed by Argentine-French filmmakerGaspar Noé,Climaxis a psychological horror filmstarringSofia Boutellaas Selva, a choreographer whose dance troupe is unknowingly spiked with enormous amounts of LSD. The characters are then plunged into a night of hellish insanity, plagued both by their psychedelic hallucinations and their paranoia about who may have spiked their sangria.
The film is famous for itsunusual shootin which much of the film was improvised by its cast - most of whom were dancers with no previous acting experience - and large portions were shot in continuous long takes.Gaspar Noé is a wildly talented and controversial director, known for the extreme and brutal content in his films as well as his unique filmmaking techniques such as the extensive use of strobes and floating, dreamlike camera movements.Climaxis Noé at the very peak of his performance, essentially transporting his audience to hell with his characters in a deeply effective New French Extremity horror.
French dancers gather in a remote, empty school building to rehearse on a wintry night. The all-night celebration morphs into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn their sangria is laced with LSD.
