Frontier(s)
Review: Around the turn of the millennium, it seemed the seat of power of world horror was securely held in South-East Asia. With unnerving ghost stories being produced out of South Korea, Singapore/Hong Kong, Thailand and especially Japan, all other regions seemed able to do was imitate. Now, a new movement is taking precedence. A more visceral brand of horror with outre gore and ferocity, spearheaded firstly by Alexandre Aja's High Tension and followed by a run of films across Western Europe. The epicentre seems to be France with stylish, ultra-violent flicks like Inside, Martyrs...and Frontier(s). "This is effectively The French Chain Saw Massacre." Set against the backdrop of political unrest in Paris, reminiscent of Mathieu Kassovitz's La Haine, Frontier(s) begins with five young criminals fleeing the carnage. When one of their number is hurt in a gun battle with police, the group split up, arranging to meet before crossing into the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the place they choose to meet and stay the night at turns out to be, well, run by a family of Nazi cannibals. Yes, this is effectively The French Chain Saw Massacre. Hell, it even has not one but TWO dinner scenes. Also on the negative side is the fact the protagonists are blank slates; their characters remain completely undeveloped beyond simple tics to tell them apart. Once the carnage starts, any thoughts of some sort of arc for these people go right out the window. Certainly outside of the female lead, the remaining characters are clearly just cannon fodder. "Characters remain completely undeveloped beyond simple tics to tell them apart." Fortunately, it is the carnage that is the saving grace of Frontier(s). Once things kick in, there are explosions, gun battles, stabbings, sledgehammers and death by steam, circular saw and everything in between. The majority of the movie consists of a series of stalk 'n' slash scenes as the young criminals are pursued around an abandoned mine by the lunatic fascists. For a horror fan able to leave their brain at the door, this is entertaining, vicious stuff that certainly fulfils a certain need. For viewers seeking something beyond surface thrills however, it would be best to look elsewhere.
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