Calvaire

About This Movie

Calvaire is a pretty disturbing piece from Fabrice Du Welz. The atmosphere is thick with dread, underscored by the bleak, wintry landscape of the Hautes Fagnes. There's this relentless sense of isolation that really seeps into you. The pacing is slow but deliberate, allowing the tension to build in an almost suffocating way. The performances, especially from Laurent Lucas as Marc, are raw and unsettling, which really sells the horror here. Practical effects play a big role, too—nothing flashy, just gritty and effective. It’s the sort of film that stays with you, not necessarily because of jump scares but more from its deep dive into madness and the human psyche.

Region B Blu-ray from Second Sight, 2020Includes commentary with Du Welz and LucasShot on location in Belgium’s Hautes FagnesFeatures impressive practical effects