Man Bites Dog

A film very experimental and devoid of meaning, but with some notes of quality.

I didn't like this film. It's a low-budget film, directed by Rémy Belvaux, which basically makes a kind of false documentary around the criminal and violent activities of a cruel and bloodthirsty killer, who accepts being filmed while he kills his victims. A film that looks like an academic work by a film student, and not something made for the public. It will certainly be an interesting film for film students and cinema critics, but it is not something I recommend to the general public.

The film has frankly positive points, starting with the excellent performance of Benoit Poelvoorde, who plays the main character and is the only character worthy of the name here. Everything else is extras or people who simply have to appear there. The realism is impressive and, at times, shocking, and the cinematography, in black and white, is very good and worked with creativity by the director.

The film's biggest problem is the feeling of amateurism and experimentalism that is felt at various moments. It's also one of those extremely violent films where everything happens without there really being a reason, a reason for being. Much of the film is a succession of violent crimes where there is nothing more than purposeless violence. The killer kills because he does, and it seems that the journalists following him are also filming because they have to film something.

One of the most amateur movies I have laid my eyes on.

This entire movie is an agonizing display of the directer/writer's alter ego, over acted and over the top with violence. Everything feels pointless, and the ending really exasperates that.

Also, as a warning there's an entire gang rape scene.