a feast for the eyes and ears, or at least stomach

The French are at it again. After recent shockers like “Romance”, “Rape Me” and “Fat Girl” Gaspar Noé has taken up the challenge to assault his audience in a whole new way. In a NY Times interview he cites inspiration from such subtle and nuanced classics as “Straw Dogs”, “Deliverance” and “Salo.” Funny how all three feature vivid rape scenes of a woman, men and children respectively. Aside from graphic visuals, because what doesn’t have those nowadays, Mr. Noé has found something new to add:

Throughout the film’s first half, there is also a droning soundtrack, augmented by a low-frequency, 27-hertz vibration of the sort, Mr. Noé said, that police use to induce nausea in rioting crowds. (This, as much as the film’s difficult subject matter, may explain why some viewers have become ill.) Listening: Cut Your Hair-Pavement