Vinyan (2008)

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Many reviewers denounce 2008's "Vinyan" because it's not a typical horror film, but that's precisely why it's worthwhile. It's original.An American couple in Thailand discover possible evidence that their young son who died in a tsunami six months earlier is still alive and living in the jungles of Myanmar (Burma). They pay some dubious characters a lot of money to go up river into the forbidden country. Things go from bad to worse."Vinyan" is equal parts haunting, beautiful, strange and creepy. The plot is thin but the story maintains your attention. The acting is excellent all around and you believe that these characters are real. The five main characters are Paul and Jeane Bellmer (Rufus Sewell and Emmanuelle Béart), a human trafficker named Thaksin Gao, the captain of the small boat named Sonchaï and the couple's liaison, Kim (Julie Dreyfus).Memorable parts abound -- Kim's subtle-but-clear seduction of Paul, the beautiful floating-lanterns at the beach ceremony, the awesome tree fortress, etc.The meaning of the film is ambiguous, but it provokes thought on many things: The nature of grief -- letting go or not letting go, obsession, madness, tribal instincts, going feral and more.As for the tribe of lost kids in the last act, are they vinyan -- angry, confused spirits who suffered horrible deaths -- or are they simply a pack of kids gone wild in the jungle a la "Lord of the Flies"? I say the evidence points to the latter.In any event, "Vinyan" has elements of films like "Apocalypse Now," "The Emerald Forest," "Fitzcaraldo" (or "Aguirre") and the aforementioned "Lord of the Flies".The film runs 96 minutes and was shot in Thailand.GRADE: B+

This film has some of the most beautiful images I have seen in a film in a while. It is a shame that the film lacks substance. Thank goodness for the box that says a couple searches for their son that was lost in a Tsunami because that is never mentioned in the film. All we learn way late in the film is that the child drowned. The film takes us to an eventual old temple where tons of kids with white painted faces are running around like Lord of the Flies. The film gives no answers to the questions it poses. It is not a horror film, more of a drama. We never learn anything about the characters other than Ms Beart never smiles in the film and in fact her facial expression never changes. Rufus is left acting against a bunch of amateurs it seems. Trying to be the logical one in the film but since everything illogical happens he is lost as is this film. There are things to like though, most of it with Imagery. Sound was another good point as well over all creepiness of the kids (albeit without explanation). So, for photographers and cinematographers you will enjoy some wonderful work. For directors, shot selection and placement was very nice. For writers, um, yeah, it lacks everything. The ups and downs, the almost got what we wanted only to be let down. Basically, everything in the SAVE THE CAT BOOK and How to Write a Screenplay. The film starts in a depressing mood and only goes deeper into depression with no hope of satisfaction.

Determined Jeanne Bellmer (a fine and affecting performance by the ravishing Emmanuelle Beart) and her husband Paul (a sturdy portrayal by Rufus Sewell) encounter a dangerous tribe of feral children after they venture into the Burmese jungle in search of their missing son. Writer/director Fabrice Du Welz relates the intriguing story at a deliberate pace, does a bang-up job of creating and sustaining a powerfully dark, bleak, and hopeless tone that's dripping with dread and despair, offers a vivid evocation of the seamy Thailand locations, firmly grounds the premise in a credibly harsh and sordid reality, and takes the viewer on a gradual descent into hell that becomes more increasingly intense and unsettling as the narrative unfolds towards a devastating downbeat ending. Moreover, this picture acquires extra poignancy and resonance from the potent central theme about the tremendous precarious lengths one is willing to go to in order to be reunited with someone they love. Sewell and especially Beart do sterling work in the lead roles. Julie Dreyfus registers well in her regrettably small part as the spunky and enticing Kim. Petch Osathanugrah likewise impresses as treacherous local guide Thaksin Gao. Benoit Debie's sumptuous widescreen cinematography provides a wealth of stunning visuals. The brooding score by Francois Eudes hits the moody spot. A truly nightmarish movie.

Fabrice Du Welz is that kind of director who doesn't make a film every year. The best known so far directed by him was Calvaire (2004). A horror that really took you by the throat. Vinyan was his follow-up made 4 years later. It's a complete other flick, still, it delivers some dark moments. People are arguing about it in what genre you would classify it, sure, it's a drama but the overall atmosphere gives it a horror feeling too. Towards the end it do goes darker and darker and once the children take over the jungle it surely reminded me of Children Of The Corn. As I said, it's the atmosphere that defines this flick. The opening sequence already gives you the feeling what you will get. And i mean before Jeanne Bellmer (Emmanuelle Béart) comes out of the water. The acting by her and Rufus Sewell is excellent. The score used is creepy too and adds toward the atmosphere. It isn't arty but it leans against it. The director surely knew what he wanted.The drama lays in the fact that Jeanne has lost her child and wants to find him back against all the negative advise. So she travels with her husband to the country she's thinking they could find him, but they need help from the locals, but the deeper they go in the woods the worser it gets. The horror lays in the fact that once they are deep in the wood and are depending on some guys money takes over and people are dying for it. Naturally the locals doesn't like what's going on and are out for revenge. It's low on blood but the last scene is worth watching.Excellent performances, great camera-work, good score, that's what makes it a special experience to watch. And for those who want to see Emmanuelle Béart in her nudies, she goes full frontal. Gore 1/5 Nudity 1,5/5 Effects 2/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5