Raw (2017)
2017
R
95 Minutes
In Justine’s family everyone is a vet and a vegetarian. At 16, she’s a gifted teen ready to take on her first year in vet school, where her older sister also studies. There, she gets no time to...
User Review
-
Raw is a coming-of-age story like no other. Now, I like to think I have good tolerance when it comes to scenes that cause great disgust or distress. Aside from stupid films like 'The Human Centipede' that are designed simply as a means to gross you out, Raw is possibly the most grotesque film that actually has meaning and context. A young girl goes to a veterinarian school, and as part of the first week there she undergoes "Rush Week" (a hazing type "Freshers Week" here in the UK). However, our vegetarian protagonist soon starts to transform and explore the idea of consuming meat, with grim consequences. Honestly, I don't know what to say. My head is circling around the concept of cannibalism that I feel ever so slightly nauseous. I'm not even joking, there were certain scenes where I physically looked away. Whether it be her feasting on a finger like it's a chicken drumstick or somehow pulling a long clump of hair from her throat. Extremely powerful imagery that has induced a fear of vegetarians. Never give them meat. Never. What I really appreciated was the character development of Justine, her arc was surprisingly detailed and meticulously thought out that made her likeable and relatable. Evoking several layers of subtext. Don't give in to peer pressure, the exploration of one's self under a foreign environment, the need for red raw juicy meat in one's life...! There is plenty to love on a conceptual scale. Technically, this film also delivers. Julia Ducournau's direction was rather bold and inventive. The blend of slow motion scenes and long static shots as teenagers gradually walk towards the camera felt fresh. The cinematography was excellent, particularly during the party scenes. Garance Marillier's central performance was electrifying, I mean I could imagine some of the scenes were extremely difficult to act but she aced it. The most grotesque scene arrives about halfway through the film, this means the third act ultimately feels slightly tamer. I also felt the runtime was too short, I wanted more from it! But yes, Raw is a bloody good time.0 member like this review.
