Thanatomorphose

Thanatomorphose
Directed by Èric Falardeau
Canada 2012

PLOT

Laura is a girl leading a monotonous life, lacking enthusiasm, and who is bullied and used as a sexual object by her boyfriend. One day, she suddenly notices that something in her body is changing and, convinced it is a passing discomfort, tries to treat herself with only the medication she has at home and without any help. Unfortunately, as time passes, she finds no relief, and her physical appearance slowly begins to change, decay… rot!

THOUGHTS

A debut film, and so far the only one, by Canadian director Falardeau, *Thanatomorphose* is a disturbing body horror that has much more to offer than just a “simple, slow, and inexorable” decomposition of a living body.
The young protagonist is depicted as a solitary, sad, depressed person leading an anonymous and passive life. Without any clear triggering cause and against the laws of nature, her body begins, from one day to the next, an inexplicable process of decay until organic disintegration while she remains conscious and alive.

The external death is merely an exacerbation of the protagonist’s internal death. Her apathy towards life and lack of stimulation turn this frail woman into a decaying meat shell. Laura doesn’t need to ask for help because she accepts her condition, as she has always accepted everything that has come her way without ever reacting. The physical decay shows signs worsening day by day until her body starts releasing bodily fluids, weakening, and becoming food for worms.

Released a few months ahead of its “better-looking” sibling Contracted, Thanatomorphose seems to push in an exaggerated manner precisely where the more famous film by England treads lightly: with a fast and rhythmic narrative, Falardeau delves into the protagonist’s psyche slowly, as he slowly recounts the process of decomposition and equally slowly extends the narrative (the film lasts 100 minutes, which is not short for an extreme horror).

What strikes the most is that despite all this being a story about death, both internal and external, Laura tries to cling to life through sexual instinct, in profoundly surreal and disgusting moments.

Thanatomorphose is a nasty and perverse film that offers no hope: it takes place in a single location (Laura’s house), and the soundtrack is a mix of hypnotic and unhealthy music blended with the buzzing of flies. Despite the low budget, it is very well shot with realistic and convincing special and visual effects. The quality of the project is also evidenced by the various awards received at genre festivals.

However, it must be emphasized that the film is extremely disturbing, with some moments of unique visual heaviness. The rotting flesh, bodily fluids staining the rooms, larvae, flies, worms, vomit, purulence, and physical pain due to the protagonist’s process are shown in their entirety with cynicism and realism, from the beginning to the anguishing and hallucinatory ending.

PANDEMONIC MOMENT

Laura’s friend Julian comes to her house, she welcomes him in, kisses him, and performs oral sex: despite being aware of her condition, he gives in to “pleasure.”
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