Horror Movie Review: Satan (2006)

Are you sitting comfortably? You won’t be once Satan (previously known as Sheitan) gets underway. A French horror film with dark comedy moments that has a Christmas vein running through it. In that it is set around the festive period and utilises the more religious aspects of the holiday. A saviour will be born, it just isn’t going to be the one everyone expects.

Coming from director Kim Chapiron, who co-wrote the story with Christian Chapiron, the madness of Satan unfolds from the very start. Be prepared for weirdness, as the film begins in a lively nightclub on Christmas Eve. Everyone is having a damn fine time, but already, the film goes out of its way to set the viewer on edge with a combo of amplified music, uneasy angles, and closeups that will become a staple of the film going forward. It’s an obnoxious start to say the least, but a single piece of text that appears on the screen speaks volumes for what is about to happen.

Do not forgive them, for they know what they do.

It’s Christmas Eve and Bart (Olivier Bartélémy), Thaï (Nicolas Le Phat Tan) and Ladj (Ladj Ly) are in the club getting drunk and trying to pick up girls. The trio are obnoxious, but it’s Bart that’s the problem in particular, as he is a bit of a troublemaker. His behaviour results in him getting a bottle over the head, and the group thrown out of the club. What’s a group of boys to do on Christmas Eve? Take the mysterious Eve (Roxane Mesquida) up on her offer to come stay at her house in the country.

Along with a friend, Yasmine (Leïla Bekhti), the group head off into the country where they meet housekeeper and local shepherd, Joseph (Vincent Cassel). An excitable man with a goofiness that the group find off-putting, especially Bart, who Joseph has taken a liking to.

It’s all innocent enough though right? After all, Joseph’s wife, Mary, is pregnant and Christmas is about to arrive. What could possibly go wrong?

You do not want this spoiled for you, even if certain elements are so forward that it’s possible to put two and two together. That being said, Satan is a very unique film with so many moments of insanity and come the end, not everything makes complete sense. That’s just the way this film is though, and the ride is so enjoyable, it doesn’t matter that the plot is all over the place. Especially when a manic performance from Vincent Cassel is on offer. Playing the character of Joseph with a manic glee that is both comedic and sinister.

He’s so good that everyone pales by comparison, but in the case of some of the other leads, they could certainly do with a bit more life regardless.

What really makes Satan a must-see is how unsettling it is though. From the very beginning it creates a tense atmosphere and delivers surrealism that borders on the unreal. Distorted imagery, closeups designed to showcase ugliness, characters worst traits exposed, an underlying sexual identity that crosses into violent territories at times, and the gnashing and wailing of hellish sounds. If there is one thing that Satan does right, it is to make everyone who watches it, uncomfortable.

Does that make it a great film though? That’s up for debate and as unique as some may find this, others may just see it as little more than a nonsensical slice of nastiness. Additionally, while Christmas is an important aspect of it, it’s not utilised in a way to make this feel like a festive horror. Christmas is the backdrop more than anything else.

Who cares though. Satan is a trip and one well worth having at least once. Just be warned, you won’t feel good about it.