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Climax

 Climax
type
TVTItem
 Climax
label
Climax
 Climax
page
Climax
 Climax
comment
Climax is a 2018 French psychological horror dance film directed, written and co-edited by Gaspar Noé.In 1996, a large group of young French dancers (led by Sofia Boutella) is recruited by a mysterious company to star in a new production that will take modern French dance to the United States and beyond. After three days rehearsing a routine in a remote dance studio, the group celebrates by having a party involving dancing, drugs and a large bowl of sangria.However, the dancers realize that someone's spiked the sangria with LSD, and when the drug kicks in, their attempts to find out who's responsible are slowly overpowered by the combination of their rapid descents into insanity with the hypnotic rhythms of the music, turning the celebration into a hallucinatory nightmare.While Climax carries a number of Noé staples, including vibrant colors, an intense story and an oppressive atmosphere, the film is unique for its unusual production by his standards. It was conceived and pre-produced in only four weeks, shot in chronological order in only 15 days, and largely consists of unrehearsed improvisation by the cast (composed almost entirely of real-life dancers with no acting experience).
 Climax
fetched
2024-02-02T16:00:30Z
 Climax
parsed
2024-02-02T16:00:30Z
 Climax
processingComment
Dropped link to GenreBusting: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Climax
processingComment
Dropped link to SaloOrThe120DaysOfSodom: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Climax
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Climax / int_1b5fa24a
type
The Brute
 Climax / int_1b5fa24a
comment
The Brute of the bunch goes by Cyborg, a physically dominating type of character.
 Climax / int_1b5fa24a
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1.0
 Climax / int_1b5fa24a
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1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_1b5fa24a
 Climax / int_21889507
type
A House Divided
 Climax / int_21889507
comment
A House Divided: Once it's revealed that the sangria has been spiked, the group begin viciously turning on anyone they find suspicious, resulting in people being mortally wounded or, in the case of Omar, killed.
 Climax / int_21889507
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1.0
 Climax / int_21889507
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1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_21889507
 Climax / int_269e82c1
type
Death of a Child
 Climax / int_269e82c1
comment
Death of a Child: It's kind of to be expected if you lock a young child in an electrical cupboard.
 Climax / int_269e82c1
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1.0
 Climax / int_269e82c1
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Climax / int_269e82c1
 Climax / int_4e7f703c
type
Wham Shot
 Climax / int_4e7f703c
comment
Wham Shot: Dom kneeing then stamping a (possibly) pregnant Lou's stomach and potentially causing her to miscarry. The film's final shot, featuring Psyche on her bed with an LSD psychology book, implying that she spiked the sangria.
 Climax / int_4e7f703c
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1.0
 Climax / int_4e7f703c
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 Climax
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Climax / int_4e7f703c
 Climax / int_5067fd81
type
Everyone Is Bi
 Climax / int_5067fd81
comment
Everyone Is Bi: Only a few of the dancers express a strict preference for one sex. Everyone else seems open to everything.
 Climax / int_5067fd81
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1.0
 Climax / int_5067fd81
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 Climax
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Climax / int_5067fd81
 Climax / int_5a194444
type
But Not Too Bi
 Climax / int_5a194444
comment
But Not Too Bi: While most of the cast is bisexual, we see a lot of female-only intimacy but almost no intimacy between men. The closest we really get is Riley and Daddy sleeping beside each other in the morning.
 Climax / int_5a194444
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Climax / int_5a194444
 Climax / int_5abe5b74
type
Everybody Must Get Stoned
 Climax / int_5abe5b74
comment
Everybody Must Get Stoned: Played for Horror, as everybody getting stoned results in lots of horrific violence.
 Climax / int_5abe5b74
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1.0
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Climax / int_5abe5b74
 Climax / int_5d86966a
type
Man on Fire
 Climax / int_5d86966a
comment
Man on Fire: When Alaia discovers that Jennifer lied about running out of cocaine, snorting it beside a burning gas stove, Alaia shoves Jennifer and sets her hair on fire. She guffaws as Jennifer screams in panic and agony. At the end, it's revealed that she was able to put the fire out, though her psychotic trip, burned scalp, constant screaming throughout the movie, and her continued attempt to 'extinguish' it with dirty sink water meant that she still thinks her head is on fire up until the very end of the movie.
 Climax / int_5d86966a
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Climax / int_5d86966a
 Climax / int_5f91efd9
type
Creative Closing Credits
 Climax / int_5f91efd9
comment
Creative Opening Credits: The mid-film opening credits are all presented in a different font, recalling Noe's earlier film Enter the Void's hyperactive credits sequence.
 Climax / int_5f91efd9
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1.0
 Climax / int_5f91efd9
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Climax / int_5f91efd9
 Climax / int_61a503a7
type
Hell Is That Noise
 Climax / int_61a503a7
comment
Hell Is That Noise: The droning and booming soundtrack including Aphex Twin, Soft Cell et al. adds to the oppressive, hellish atmosphere of the complex. You'll never hear Daft Punk in the same way again.
 Climax / int_61a503a7
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1.0
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Climax / int_61a503a7
 Climax / int_637b6123
type
Sickening "Crunch!"
 Climax / int_637b6123
comment
Sickening "Crunch!": One of the dancers has contorting skills, and as the film progresses he pushes his body more and more to its limits, resulting in audible bone-cracking as his body shapes grow increasingly unnatural.
 Climax / int_637b6123
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_637b6123
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 Climax
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Climax / int_637b6123
 Climax / int_6b2b3b59
type
The Reveal
 Climax / int_6b2b3b59
comment
The Reveal: The driving question of the film, both in-universe and for the viewer, is "Who spiked the sangria?" The last scene reveals it was Psyche.
 Climax / int_6b2b3b59
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1.0
 Climax / int_6b2b3b59
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1.0
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Climax / int_6b2b3b59
 Climax / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Climax / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: During Selva's psychotic reaction to LSD, she momentarily calmed down after seeing the forest backdrop in the kitchen room. Selva means "Forest" in Spanish. Psyche. The final scene shows her with an LSD psychology book, implying that she spiked the sangria to see how the others would react. The Brute of the bunch goes by Cyborg, a physically dominating type of character.
 Climax / int_6bda9a30
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1.0
 Climax / int_6bda9a30
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 Climax
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Climax / int_6bda9a30
 Climax / int_6d332aea
type
Driven to Suicide
 Climax / int_6d332aea
comment
Driven to Suicide: Emmanuelle kills herself out of despair for losing the key for the room she locked Tito in, which resulted in his death.
 Climax / int_6d332aea
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_6d332aea
featureConfidence
1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_6d332aea
 Climax / int_7374ab13
type
Once More, with Clarity
 Climax / int_7374ab13
comment
Once More, with Clarity: The film opens with the chronological final image: a blood-stained Lou writhing in the snow. Come the end of the film, once all events have transpired, we see Lou staggering out of the school into the snow.
 Climax / int_7374ab13
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1.0
 Climax / int_7374ab13
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1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_7374ab13
 Climax / int_771f6307
type
Brother–Sister Incest
 Climax / int_771f6307
comment
Brother–Sister Incest: Taylor is extremely protective of his sister Gazelle and gets uncomfortably close to his sister at points, especially during the opening interviews. He makes good on his attraction to her once the LSD kicks in, seducing her despite her saying it's wrong. It's left ambiguous if Taylor did rape his sister: they're only seen after the time cut sharing the same bed, where even though Gazelle doesn't recall anything occurring, she is asked to not "tell Papa" by her brother.
 Climax / int_771f6307
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1.0
 Climax / int_771f6307
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Climax / int_771f6307
 Climax / int_7a667c8d
type
A Threesome Is Hot
 Climax / int_7a667c8d
comment
A Threesome Is Hot: David certainly thinks so.
 Climax / int_7a667c8d
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1.0
 Climax / int_7a667c8d
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 Climax
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Climax / int_7a667c8d
 Climax / int_7ea1791d
type
Choreography Porn
 Climax / int_7ea1791d
comment
Choreography Porn: The group dancing in this film is astounding. On a different technical level, the 43 minute shot is impeccable for a cast of non-actors, considering it includes several fights, Jennifer's hair being set on fire, Lou cutting herself open with a knife and several people continuing to dance throughout it all.
 Climax / int_7ea1791d
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1.0
 Climax / int_7ea1791d
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1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_7ea1791d
 Climax / int_7febc23b
type
Establishing Character Moment
 Climax / int_7febc23b
comment
Establishing Character Moment: The interviews establish most of the characters' defining traits. Some notable examples include: Taylor and Gazelle are interviewed together. Taylor behaves overbearing fashion toward his sister, while Gazelle shows more independence. Cyborg admits that he once severely brutalized a man in a bar fight and has no remorse, establishing him as The Brute of the troupe. Riley expresses openness to the DJ's Casting Couch insinuations, foreshadowing their close relationship. Omar discusses heaven, establishing him as a devout Muslim who would not drink alcohol as well as the fact that he dies. Psyche states that she hates drugs, which proves to be a lie.
 Climax / int_7febc23b
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1.0
 Climax / int_7febc23b
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 Climax
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Climax / int_7febc23b
 Climax / int_8151ec48
type
Driving Question
 Climax / int_8151ec48
comment
Driving Question: Who spiked the sangria? It was Psyche.
 Climax / int_8151ec48
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_8151ec48
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1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_8151ec48
 Climax / int_88cee6e2
type
Abhorrent Admirer
 Climax / int_88cee6e2
comment
Abhorrent Admirer: David finds himself having to constantly fend off the advances of Riley because he's trying to seduce Selva.
 Climax / int_88cee6e2
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1.0
 Climax / int_88cee6e2
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1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_88cee6e2
 Climax / int_94332264
type
Busman's Holiday
 Climax / int_94332264
comment
Busman's Holiday: The dancers relax and unwind after their dance rehearsal by... dancing.
 Climax / int_94332264
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1.0
 Climax / int_94332264
featureConfidence
1.0
 Climax
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Climax / int_94332264
 Climax / int_970c8a84
type
Big Fun
 Climax / int_970c8a84
comment
Big Fun: Daddy is a large, jovial man, deejaying for the group and happy to give out advice to its youngest member.
 Climax / int_970c8a84
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1.0
 Climax / int_970c8a84
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Climax / int_970c8a84
 Climax / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 Climax / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: During the opening interviews, films and books including Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, Un Chien Andalou and Suspiria (1977) surround the TV set, hinting at the events and atmosphere ahead for both the characters and the audience. At one point, Psyche notes that she had a roommate that inserted drops of acid into his eyes. Guess what she does at the very end of the film?
 Climax / int_9d12bbc1
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1.0
 Climax / int_9d12bbc1
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 Climax
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Climax / int_9d12bbc1
 Climax / int_a07afea2
type
Random Events Plot
 Climax / int_a07afea2
comment
Random Events Plot: After the spiked sangria effects kick in, the story devolves into a sort of chaotic mess of events only loosely connected by location and characters.
 Climax / int_a07afea2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_a07afea2
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1.0
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Climax / int_a07afea2
 Climax / int_a1b141f4
type
My God, What Have I Done?
 Climax / int_a1b141f4
comment
My God, What Have I Done?: Dom is last seen crying in a very desolate manner, which hints she may be regretting what she done over the course of the night (i.e knowingly kneed and stomped on a pregnant woman's belly).
 Climax / int_a1b141f4
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Climax / int_a1b141f4
 Climax / int_a4c37cbe
type
Mood Whiplash
 Climax / int_a4c37cbe
comment
Mood Whiplash: Ignoring the opening scene and the uneasy interviews that open the film, the rehearsal, dance party and character chatter is light-hearted and fun. It's only when Psyche wets herself on the dance floor that things start to take a sinister turn.
 Climax / int_a4c37cbe
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 Climax
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Climax / int_a4c37cbe
 Climax / int_a70223
type
Karma Houdini
 Climax / int_a70223
comment
Karma Houdini: Psyche manages to spike the punch without being accused by any of the other dancers or having any negative experiences while under the effects of LSD.
 Climax / int_a70223
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1.0
 Climax / int_a70223
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 Climax
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Climax / int_a70223
 Climax / int_abad35b4
type
Soundtrack Dissonance
 Climax / int_abad35b4
comment
Soundtrack Dissonance: Gary Numan's somewhat upbeat synth rendition of Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie #1" contrasts heavily with the visuals it accompanies: Lou staggering through the snow, wailing in agony.
 Climax / int_abad35b4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_abad35b4
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 Climax
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Climax / int_abad35b4
 Climax / int_b4a6ae4c
type
Everyone Has Standards
 Climax / int_b4a6ae4c
comment
Everyone Has Standards: In spite of being whipped into frenzy by the drugs, the crowd pulls Taylor off of David rather than let him continue to attack him after he's unconscious, admonishing Taylor to let him be.
 Climax / int_b4a6ae4c
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1.0
 Climax / int_b4a6ae4c
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Climax / int_b4a6ae4c
 Climax / int_b532f68b
type
Everybody Has Lots of Sex
 Climax / int_b532f68b
comment
Everybody Has Lots of Sex: Dialogue suggests that the group members are very promiscuous. David tries to insert himself into three situations under the influence of the LSD and gets thrown out violently each time.
 Climax / int_b532f68b
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Climax / int_b532f68b
 Climax / int_b77808f2
type
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue
 Climax / int_b77808f2
comment
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: Downplayed example during the epilogue. The camera cuts to each individual's position in the morning, showing who they're with, what they're doing and if they survived the night or not.
 Climax / int_b77808f2
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 Climax / int_b77808f2
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 Climax
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Climax / int_b77808f2
 Climax / int_bba30aeb
type
Late to the Tragedy
 Climax / int_bba30aeb
comment
Late to the Tragedy: The police arrive the morning after to survey the carnage that had taken place the night before.
 Climax / int_bba30aeb
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 Climax / int_bba30aeb
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 Climax
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Climax / int_bba30aeb
 Climax / int_c312bb2d
type
Too Hot for TV
 Climax / int_c312bb2d
comment
Too Hot for TV: For such a physically intense film that holds absolutely no bars whatsoever (it's Gaspar Noé, so what'd you expect?), Climax received an R rating by the MPAA - something of a very narrow escape from the dreaded NC-17 stamp.
 Climax / int_c312bb2d
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1.0
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 Climax
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Climax / int_c312bb2d
 Climax / int_c660bc15
type
Fan Disservice
 Climax / int_c660bc15
comment
Fan Disservice: Eva is found nude in the shower crying and washing the blood of Lou off of herself, muttering that it won't come off.
 Climax / int_c660bc15
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1.0
 Climax / int_c660bc15
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 Climax
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Climax / int_c660bc15
 Climax / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Climax / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: The acting troupe interviews are framed by a pile of VHS cassettes on the right side and books on the left, all of which relate in some way to the film.
 Climax / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
1.0
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 Climax
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Climax / int_c75df49a
 Climax / int_c83f40d8
type
Bystander Syndrome
 Climax / int_c83f40d8
comment
Bystander Syndrome: At one point the power goes out, signifying that Tito has touched the electrical cables and electrocuted himself. The dancers cheer, make arrangements to set up a boombox and continue partying while Emmanuelle is agonising over her now-dead son.
 Climax / int_c83f40d8
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Climax / int_c83f40d8
 Climax / int_ce165390
type
Casting Couch
 Climax / int_ce165390
comment
Riley expresses openness to the DJ's Casting Couch insinuations, foreshadowing their close relationship.
 Climax / int_ce165390
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_ce165390
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Climax / int_ce165390
 Climax / int_d68c925d
type
Creator Provincialism
 Climax / int_d68c925d
comment
Creator Provincialism: In the first half of this French film, the dancers frequently state that the dancing scene in France is much more sophisticated than America. After the film company logos are displayed, the text, "PRESENT A FRENCH FILM AND ARE DAMN PROUD OF IT," appears on screen. As the dancers prepare to take America by storm with a dancing tour, they shout, "Let's kill the Yanks!"
 Climax / int_d68c925d
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 Climax / int_d68c925d
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Climax / int_d68c925d
 Climax / int_d8d22bb0
type
Dutch Angle
 Climax / int_d8d22bb0
comment
Dutch Angle: A Noe staple, once again used to disorientate and discomfort the viewer and emphasise the confusion and strangeness of the night.
 Climax / int_d8d22bb0
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Climax / int_d8d22bb0
 Climax / int_e2a6ebc1
type
Closed Circle
 Climax / int_e2a6ebc1
comment
Closed Circle: The heavy snow outside and the fact that Emmanuelle says she's booked a minibus for the following day suggests that even though they can leave, the characters wouldn't get very far if they did. Sure enough, the one character who gets locked out of the studio freezes to death.
 Climax / int_e2a6ebc1
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Climax / int_e2a6ebc1
 Climax / int_e7e558
type
The Oner
 Climax / int_e7e558
comment
The Oner: Another Noe staple, the film is populated by long takes, once again adding to the unease and discomfort of both the characters and the viewers. The interviews scene is a static shot of a TV for 7 minutes. The group dance scene follows for 5 minutes. Without cutting, the camera follows the dancers around the dancefloor for an additional 8 minutes. Nearly the entire second half of the film, from the overhead shot of the sangria cup just after the mid-film opening credits, is one unbroken 43-minute take.
 Climax / int_e7e558
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Climax / int_e7e558
 Climax / int_ed503b22
type
Match Cut
 Climax / int_ed503b22
comment
Match Cut: The transition from David being attacked to the police finding the aftermath consists of two identical shots of David, separated by a title card. Emmanuel and Tito are found dead and curled up in the fetal position, each facing away from the other, with their backs facing the same door that separates them.
 Climax / int_ed503b22
featureApplicability
1.0
 Climax / int_ed503b22
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 Climax
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Climax / int_ed503b22
 Climax / int_f247d841
type
Intoxication Ensues
 Climax / int_f247d841
comment
Intoxication Ensues: Played for horror and drama, as the entire party spirals out of control into the worst acid trip caught on film.
 Climax / int_f247d841
featureApplicability
1.0
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 Climax
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Climax / int_f247d841
 Climax / int_f9206980
type
Dizzy Cam
 Climax / int_f9206980
comment
Dizzy Cam: The second half of the film increases in this as it progresses, to the point where the final 10 minutes of the film are shot entirely upside-down (with a few cuts in the epilogue to overhead shots.)
 Climax / int_f9206980
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Climax / int_f9206980
 Climax / int_fdb355db
type
Fun with Subtitles
 Climax / int_fdb355db
comment
Fun with Subtitles: One title card features text that is upside down. The translated subtitles follow suit.
 Climax / int_fdb355db
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Climax / int_fdb355db
 Climax / int_name
type
ItemName
 Climax / int_name
comment
 Climax / int_name
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Climax / int_name
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Climax

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Climax
hasFeature
Busman's Holiday / int_7de3e83e
 Climax
hasFeature
But Not Too Bi / int_7de3e83e
 Climax
hasFeature
Deranged Dance / int_7de3e83e
 Climax
hasFeature
Films of 2015–2019 / int_7de3e83e