The Ordeal (2004)
"Calvaire" (original title)

A singer's car breaks down deep in the woods.

Director:

Fabrice Du Welz

Writers:

Fabrice Du Welz, Romain Protat

Stars:

Laurent Lucas, Brigitte Lahaie, Gigi Coursigny

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurent Lucas	...	Marc Stevens
Brigitte Lahaie	...	Mademoiselle Vicky
Gigi Coursigny	...	Madame Langhoff
Jean-Luc Couchard	...	Boris
Jackie Berroyer	...	Bartel
Philippe Nahon	...	Robert Orton
Philippe Grand'Henry	...	Tomas Orton
Jo Prestia	...	Fermier Mylène
Marc Lefebvre	...	Lucien
Alfred David	...	Roland (as Alfred David-Pingouin)
Alain Delaunois	...	Gáant
Vincent Cahay	...	Stan Le Pianiste
Johan Meys	...	Rosto
Romain Protat	...	Figurant Dans Le Bar
Damien Waselle	...	Figurant Dans Le Bar

Storyline

A few days before Christmas, traveling entertainer Marc Stevens is stuck at nightfall in a remote wood in the swampy Hautes Fagnes region of Liège, his van conked out. An odd chap who's looking for a lost dog leads Marc to a shuttered inn; the owner gives Marc a room for the night. Next day, the innkeeper, Mr. Bartel, promises to fix the van, demands that Marc not visit the nearby village, and goes through Marc's things while the entertainer takes a walk. At dinner that night, Bartel laments his wife's having left him, and by next day, Marc is in a nightmare that may not end.

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Plot Keywords:

van | woods | singer | inn | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Some people would kill for company.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Belgium France Luxembourg

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 March 2005 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

The Ordeal

Filming Locations:

Bullingen, Belgium

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$635 (USA) (6 October 2006)

Gross:

$2,623 (USA) (6 October 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

La Parti Productions, Tarantula, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Marc and Bartel talk over dinner was modeled after the conversation scene between Marion Crane and Norman Bates in Hitchcock's Psycho.

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Goofs

"ELECRTICITE" is spelled during the end credits instead of "ELECTRICITE" (Electricity)

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Crazy Credits

In the "thank you" section: "Balo, Jean Hermann, Denis Closset, morts au montage" ("dead in the editing room").

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Connections

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

User Reviews

psychological horror takes a new turn

there aren't much horror movies made in Belgium and when they are, they make a bad example... i'm still a bit ashamed that something like 'Alias' from Jan Verheyen was made here.

but this is a whole other story. this movie has been promoted as a horror movie and that's a wrong starters point: this is more of a psychological thriller in the line of 'misery'. there are some parallels with 'texas chainsaw' - hence the townspeople, cut-off from socialization and socially incapable - but i feel that it is smarter in a way.

i won't tell much about the story because the lesser you know, the more surprising it will be. but you'll never look at cows and pigs in the same way, i can assure you that.

what strikes me about the movie is the perfect cinematography: this is low budget but the scenes and the camera-moves are well thought. the characters are all portrayed excellent and the director takes an interesting twist: the lead person (the scream-king) is not so likable and you almost love the psychotic(s).

the best scene must be the scene in the bar with the piano (look out for that) and the climax with the 'village people' (i put it cryptic not to spoil...) the director describes it as a hardcore version of 'life of Brian' and when you've seen it, you will agree. brian - or Jesus as was meant - has a pretty difficult time.

i would give it a 9 overall (because every movie has its flaws even when I don't notice them), but i gave it a 10 because this piece of subversive cinema was made in my country...

certainly, this is a must-see for every horror-thriller fanatic but for people who like disturbing movies like 'deliverance': you won't be disappointed, not at all. and for the others, just try this!