Enter the Void

I simply have to appreciate Gaspar Noé for his innovative approach to filmmaking, presenting viewers with something completely new and not shying away from depicting explicit content, especially sex, although the same goes for violence in his films. Unfortunately, in terms of content, his films just don't resonate with me much. (16/11/2016)

Gaspar Noé tried to make something like “2009: A Life Odyssey” in his typical psychedelic fashion. After the (very) decent start with the key plot twist, however, the film descends into boring, protracted and aimless flicking from one “before and after” episode to another, which doesn’t develop said key event in any way. It’s the same visually and narratively original style he used to spice up and enhance the story in Irréversible, but misused for self-serving pseudo-intellectual masturbation. (02/01/2011)

Without a doubt one of the most original films I've ever seen. An absolutely intense experience and right from the start – the opening credits "alone" are really legit. Plus, Enter the Void is not even completely EMPTY on a psychological level:))) As Oskar's soul wanders and returns to his childhood and recent past, the viewer has the opportunity to get to know his personality better and hopefully understand his future direction. Still, it's not up to full marks with me, because after the excellent first hour (the opening drug bust in perfectly stylized and psycho images is perfect, and the scene of Oskar's death is no less mesmerizing) you start to get the feeling that Noé is repeating himself in some ways, and those insanely long shots of him flying over the city can start to get boring. But of course that doesn't change the fact that it's an unforgettable experience. Plus, despite the aforementioned overlong shots, the cinematography is obtusely beautiful:))) 90% (05/10/2010)

An incredibly smooth film trip. At the end I felt like I was falling into absolute emptiness. Although the 140 minutes are far from flawless and do leave you shaking your head in places, this mixture of hallucinogenic trips, porn and existential hangovers is simply one of the highlights of this year. I agree with those who would rather not see what happens when the first circle closes... but it doesn't change much about the mental crater. (29/04/2010)

I would be hard-pressed to find a more psychedelic, experimental and depressing picture in the world of cinema, and in this respect it is certainly an exceptional achievement. I was most impressed by the last flashback to the traumatic experience of the tragic car accident when both siblings lost their parents. I'll probably have the images of Linda screaming in terror in front of my eyes for a long time. Otherwise, however, it was sometimes a bit too drawn out for my taste and, paradoxically, in some respects a bit cheesy. (65%) (09/05/2022)