Raw:
Director: Julia Ducournau
Year: 2016
Rated: R
Genre: Drama, Horror
Length: 1 hour 39 minutes
Country of Origin: France, Belgium
Language: French
Streaming on: Amazon Prime, Google, Redbox, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu
Summarizing the Film
Day 19 of 31 Days of Horror Movie Challenge: What’s For Breakfast, Cannibal?, we start off with the innovative 2016 film, Raw. In Raw, cannibalism takes center stage as a unique metaphor for personal awakening and coming-of-age. The film follows Justine, a young veterinary student, as she descends into a sickening world of hazing rituals, developing an insatiable appetite for human flesh. Cannibalism becomes a vehicle to explore desires, societal expectations, and the complexities of self-discovery.
Filmmaking Approach
Director Julia Ducournau employs visceral and unsettling imagery, refusing to shy away from graphic scenes. Close-ups and intimate shots emphasize the physical and psychological toll of Justine’s transformation, creating an intense and discomforting experience.
Impact
Raw received critical acclaim for its fear-inducing elements that go beyond physical horror. The film explores cannibalism as a metaphor for identity and desire, contributing to its unique take on the horror genre.
Unique Storytelling to Cannibalism
Justine’s journey into a veterinary school from hell becomes a captivating exploration of her corporeal awakening. The film delves into sadistic hazing rituals, excessive drinking, and violent raids, creating a world devoid of normalcy. The bizarre and disturbing images are grounded in reality, character, and story, making Raw an intense and beautiful work of horror.
Film Techniques and Effects
Ducournau’s direction creates a visually striking film with horror sequences that are both beautiful and deeply troubling. The meat becomes a metaphor for Justine’s sexual liberation, and the film skillfully explores the desires and reactions associated with cannibalism. The erotic and gory passages offer a fresh take on violence as a semi-sexual act in horror.