The New French Extremity is a term used to describe transgressive French films, usually horror, that mix strong narratives and performances with brutal violence. Many of these films are criminally unseen, and some have directors that went on to become big in Hollywood, but all of the films pack a punch. Ranging from the early 2000s to last year, these are horror films too graphic for many, but rewarding for others.

High Tension

Directed by Alexandre Aja of last year's hit Crawl, High Tension is a twisted gore-fest released in the age of torture-porn. Although this film is incredibly violent, it contains a certain style and narrative structure that the American horror films of the early 200os didn't have. High Tension follows Marie (Cécile De France) as she stays in the family home of her college friend Alex (Maïwenn). Unfortunately for the friends, a psychotic killer (Philippe Nahon) breaks into Alex's home, kidnaps her and murders her family. Marie then sets out on a mission to rescue her friend from the murderous psychopath.

This movie may sound like a typical slasher, but it's anything but. The kills are elaborate and gory like Hostel or Saw, but it's more narratively complex than those films. The movie plays out like a conventional horror with a heroine, a ruthless male killer and a rising body count, but there is a twist revealed in the climax that throws everything for a loop by playing with gender stereotypes and horror tropes. High Tension is a film for horror buffs sick of the same old thing, but it's certainly not for the faint of heart.

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Inside

One of the more known films from the New French Extremity movement, Inside, makes the average horror film seem like it's made for children. Inside follows through with all of its nasty threats, whereas other horror films flirt with being truly diabolical, but stop short of going through with it. The movie is about a pregnant mother whose home is invaded by a devious woman who wants what's inside at any cost.

This film pushes so many boundaries that it would be impossible to keep track of them all. The movie's death scenes are merciless, and there is copious amounts of blood squirting, as well as tons bodily injuries. Every time viewers think they know what's going to happen, the script is flipped. In most American horror films, it's safe to assume that there is one character that can't die, and the bad guy won't win, but Inside takes every risk possible.

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Martyrs

Possibly the face of the New French Extremity movement, Martyrs is a film experience like no other. It's harrowing in such a raw way that's not meant to be fun like Saw, but it is so realistic that the audience feels shell shocked by the time the credits roll. The film tells the story of a young woman who exacts revenge against some of the people who imprisoned her as a child, only to fall back into the same old hole, dragging her best friend with her.

Martyrs is one of the most disturbing films made, right behind A Serbian Film. Like many New French Extremity films, Martyrs treats graphic violence and nudity like they aren't taboo, but all of it is crucial to the plot. Martyrs is a horror film that makes meaningful points about religion, the afterlife and mind control, while still being one of the most heinous films to exist in the horror genre. The film polarized critics after it premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, with some hailing it as brilliant and others dismissing it as excessively violent.

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Trouble Every Day

Directed by auteur Claire Denis, this lesser known vampire flick is soothing, until someone is brutally eaten by one of the infected. Trouble Every Day follows Shane Brown (Vincent Gallo), an American doctor on his honeymoon in Paris, who also happens to be infected with a disease that makes one slowly crave human flesh. To give the age old vampire tale an even fresher spin, the vampiric tendencies are triggered when an infected person has sex. This makes Shane's relationship with his wife very complicated.

The most interesting thing about this film is that it feels like a relationship drama for most of its runtime rather than the hardcore piece of horror it is. A majority of the film consists of a tender soundtrack by The Tindersticks, as well as a couple exploring Paris, having sexual difficulties and trying t0 connect. The film doesn't reveal its true self until a brutal murder is depicted in the subplot, and this is only one of two truly horrific scenes. Although the film may be slow, it's a brilliant mediation of love, lust and what it means to be human.

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Climax

Gaspar Noe is one of the worlds most controversial filmmakers, but one of the most shocking things the director pulled off was getting a standing ovation for Climax at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Most of Noe's movies are met with negative press and called pretentious and depraved by some, but Climax has given Noe the respect he deserves.

Climax is about a dancing troupe that is holed up in a wintery cabin after someone laced their sangria with LSD. What ensues is an explosion of psychedelic imagery, brilliantly choreographed dance numbers, deranged behavior and a forty-two minute tracking shot. One of the few dance based horror movies, Climax creates a circus of horror that feels like it could be a broadway play.

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Raw

Possibly most famous for making several audience members faint at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, Raw is arguably the best coming of age horror film. The film tells the story of Justine (Garance Marillier), a freshman at veterinary school, who begins to have unspeakable urges after ingesting a piece of meat for the first time.

Raw is a metaphor for female sexuality and taboos, but it's really the story of a girl finding herself. Justine may be coming of age as a cannibal, but the film treats her like any other girl discovering who she is. The film never judges Justine for how she is feeling, and viewers are not forced to feel horrified. Other films of this nature would be a slow burn and then turn into a full blown horror movie, but this film is a coming of age drama about people who crave the taste of blood.

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