MIFF NOTES: The Demons (2015, Dir. Philippe Lesage)

The Demons had me in it reminiscent grips for so long. It took me gently by the arm and dragged me back to my childhood. Back to sleepovers. Back to family fights. Back to innocent infatuations. Back to dress-ups. Back to family fights, bed frights and local baddies.

Back to change rooms. Back to echoey gymnasiums. Back to team picking. Back to sports time fears.

Back to best friend loves. Back to fag fears. Back to AIDS talk. Back to playtime scorn.

I was there. I was trapped back in the wonder, the music, the potential. The worries. The misconceptions. The phantom self-doubts.

Writer/director/stylist, Philippe Lesage had me. Cinematographer, Nicolas Canniccioni had me with his interestingly off-centred framing. Whoever pulled the music together, had me. All of them. All of me. I was no longer in the cinema.

And then it all turned. Lesage picks up on one of the childhood boogeymen and makes it real. And while I didn't have as big a problem with as those who opted to walk out, the shift in the film felt a little less than earned.

The jolt in tone too sudden.

The crash of darkness too arbitrary.

I imagine this is the intention but with a little effort the effect could have been exacted without the structural needle-skip.

The Demons still sticks, but in a more disquieted manner. Never meet your fears face to face, I guess.

★★★☆

Trailer:

The Demons screened as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival 2016.

You can check out other films from the festival here.