"5150, Rue des Ormes" is a strong and compulsory thriller, but it's not exactly the type of film I would recommend in case you're searching for a relaxing late-night movie or something fun to watch together with a group of drunken friends. This is a seriously intense and harsh film that manages to make you feel genuinely uncomfortable and this in spite of the use of familiar themes, derivative plot twists and predictable character developments. How does director Eric Tessier pull that off? Quite simply, by maintaining a continuously monotonous, almost unbearably calm even, narrative and unnecessarily stretching the emotionally painful sequences. There's absolutely nothing in "5150, Rue Des Ormes" that you haven't seen a dozen of times before (including a serial killer who exclusively targets victims that deserve punishment, the "apprentice" killer and a prisoner who gradually grows psychopathic as well) but the atmosphere is grim and the tone of the film is overall extremely unpleasant, like a thriller ought to be. Film student Yannick Bérubé is so proud about getting accepted at the Quebec university that he shoots a little video about his new neighborhood to show the home front. He has a banal bike accident at the titular address, but when asking the seemingly friendly proprietor Jacques for assistance Yannick witnesses something that he wasn't supposed to witness. For you see, Jacques is a chess-obsessed serial killer who wants to make the world a better place by killing drug dealers, pedophiles and other scum. Obviously he can't allow Yannick to interfere with his divine mission, or with the training of his adolescent daughter, and thus Jacques locks him up in the house. As weeks pass by and Yannick's chances to escape are getting slimmer, it becomes clear that Jacques is preparing some kind of masterwork in his basement. The story of "5150, Rue des Ormes" becomes increasingly absorbing and the ambiance more embittering, but the last half hour holds a few surprises in store that are most of all unexpectedly cruel and shocking. Although quite far-fetched and illogical, the climax is truly nightmarish and is guaranteed to leave a sour aftertaste in your stomach. These are "qualities" that I can only applaud. It's like a horror-shocker with dramatic and film-noir allures. The movie also becomes extra peculiar because of the typically Quebecois dialogs - which are practically incomprehensible even if you're fluent in French - and the fantastic performances by relatively unknown but devoted native Canadian actors, like Norman D'Amour in the role of atypical and Mylène St. Sauveur as his luscious but unsympathetic teenage daughter.
18 Reviews
the casting really makes this drama/horror
trashgang6 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I came across this Canadian flick at a sell-out. I remembered it due some interviews and decided to buy it. It came clear really fast that this wasn't going to be a normal flick. After 5 minutes bad things already happens.
Just look at the reviews, there aren't that many for this French spoken flick and that says enough. Due being spoken in French and being made in 2009, the glory days of French ultra gore flicks ( Martyrs, A l'intérieur,frontieres...) it wasn't that much acclaimed because there wasn't any gory shots in it. But still this movie delivers due the perfect casting and excellent performances. This flick doesn't need the red stuff, it's the atmosphere that delivers. No scary moments or jump scenes just straight to your mind this flick goes. I liked it because slowly you go into the characters. There are a few bloody moments and they were done so typically French, everything is shown, especially the brutality.
I liked it, there are a few strange parts in it like the chess dream sequences and the chess board at the end. But the excellent performances makes it worth watching.
Gore 1/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5.
Just look at the reviews, there aren't that many for this French spoken flick and that says enough. Due being spoken in French and being made in 2009, the glory days of French ultra gore flicks ( Martyrs, A l'intérieur,frontieres...) it wasn't that much acclaimed because there wasn't any gory shots in it. But still this movie delivers due the perfect casting and excellent performances. This flick doesn't need the red stuff, it's the atmosphere that delivers. No scary moments or jump scenes just straight to your mind this flick goes. I liked it because slowly you go into the characters. There are a few bloody moments and they were done so typically French, everything is shown, especially the brutality.
I liked it, there are a few strange parts in it like the chess dream sequences and the chess board at the end. But the excellent performances makes it worth watching.
Gore 1/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5.
Film student gets into a little accident on his bicycle
killercharm8 March 2020
Canada - Film student gets into a little accident on his bicycle avoiding a black cat. He goes to a nearby home to ask for assistance. When the resident tells him to wait outside while he calls our man a cab HE DOESN'T. I can't stress this enough. He does not wait outside as requested. Instead he barges right into someone's home and privacy. On top of that when he hears someone upstairs, what does he do but invite himself further into the residence. Once he sees blood all over this guy upstairs it's all over for our hero. Now the guy who lives here and has perpetrated what all has happened herein has no choice but to keep our hero under wraps. The story is about the struggle between the two, and other characters, i.e., the mama of the house and the two daughters who live therein to thicken the plot. I waited and searched for this movie for EVER. I am happy to say it was well worth it. This is such an individual flick, similarities to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and Frailty notwithstanding.
Strong psychological drama
alienworlds15 October 2009
It reminded me of the films of Alfred Hitchcock for some reason-maybe Psycho more than his other films. Maybe a bit strong in places but it is a well done movie that makes the statement that people are often not as ready to deal with a serious situation as they might think they are, which defines the predicament a character in this film faces. Disturbingly possible is maybe another point the film tries to make, and in that sense I think maybe, but not in most places in Quebec. The sub titles didn't always convey the right meaning of the french dialogue but maybe that was just me, but I thought they worked well enough to follow the story and see the characters. True 'nouveau cinema noir', for people who like horror movies, even though it is billed as a drama.
Great horror thriller with a so-so ending
aheaven200527 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A good horror thriller with great performances by Normand d'Amour and Marc-André Grondin. I enjoyed the experience very much but the ending could have been so much better... Probably one of the worst use of a fade to black I've seen ever...
Remind me to stay away from any street with ELM in them...
natashabowiepinky7 January 2014
Picture the scene: There you are cycling along on a random street on your first day as a film student. The birds are chirping. The sky is blue. Life couldn't be any sweeter. Then suddenly. a puddy tat leaps out in front of you, causing you to brake. You're injured, and your vehicle and phone are bust. You head to the first house on your way, and a seemingly nice middle-age man tells you to wait outside while he rings for a taxi for you. He takes a while, so you poke your head round the corner to see what's going on.
Suddenly, a noise from upstairs startles you. Could that be... Someone shouting HELP? You decide, rather stupidly, to investigate... sneaking past the old dude in the process. On the second floor, you enter a bare room... and there in it, is a guy bleeding to death with a stab wound. You panic, and rush to get help... but are stopped by the home owner. Soon, the corpse of the stricken knife victim will be gone, and you'll take his place in those not-too comfortable conditions. Beatings, imprisonment and loud rock music await. Wanna get out of there? You better be good at chess...
The antagonist here is what's known as an 'everyday' psycho... he lives as a respectable citizen with his two daughters and wife, but his spare time is spent as a vigilante, killing those he regards as human trash e.g drug dealers and pedophiles. He is trying to train his oldest child to follow in his footsteps... without much success. His youngest is a mute, and his missus is nothing more than a put-upon doormat. And into their life comes this student. They all react differently to him... the psycho sees him as a potential protégé, the teenage girl sees him as a threat, the put-upon wife sees him as an opportunity to escape and the littlest daughter... well, she just stares blankly into space.
It's a great set-up, and the film captures every moment of our lead's terror and eventual descent into madness as a result of his enforced caging. It's also nice to see a fully fleshed-out enemy who has a legitimate motive for his murderous activities, and his family are well written too. A revelation near the end when we discover what's in his basement is especially horrifying. It's not perfect... there are tedious spots, and you get the feeling if he REALLY wanted to escape early on, he could... the only thing keeping him there is the screenplay. But for unique ideas, and a pretty consistent feeling of dread, this is more than than worth a watch. 6/10
Suddenly, a noise from upstairs startles you. Could that be... Someone shouting HELP? You decide, rather stupidly, to investigate... sneaking past the old dude in the process. On the second floor, you enter a bare room... and there in it, is a guy bleeding to death with a stab wound. You panic, and rush to get help... but are stopped by the home owner. Soon, the corpse of the stricken knife victim will be gone, and you'll take his place in those not-too comfortable conditions. Beatings, imprisonment and loud rock music await. Wanna get out of there? You better be good at chess...
The antagonist here is what's known as an 'everyday' psycho... he lives as a respectable citizen with his two daughters and wife, but his spare time is spent as a vigilante, killing those he regards as human trash e.g drug dealers and pedophiles. He is trying to train his oldest child to follow in his footsteps... without much success. His youngest is a mute, and his missus is nothing more than a put-upon doormat. And into their life comes this student. They all react differently to him... the psycho sees him as a potential protégé, the teenage girl sees him as a threat, the put-upon wife sees him as an opportunity to escape and the littlest daughter... well, she just stares blankly into space.
It's a great set-up, and the film captures every moment of our lead's terror and eventual descent into madness as a result of his enforced caging. It's also nice to see a fully fleshed-out enemy who has a legitimate motive for his murderous activities, and his family are well written too. A revelation near the end when we discover what's in his basement is especially horrifying. It's not perfect... there are tedious spots, and you get the feeling if he REALLY wanted to escape early on, he could... the only thing keeping him there is the screenplay. But for unique ideas, and a pretty consistent feeling of dread, this is more than than worth a watch. 6/10
Can we punish others?
yasananlarim30 September 2023
I enjoyed watching the movie. But I expected this movie to be better.
The story tells the story of a young man and a conservative-obsessed man who leaves his family and goes to a different city to study filmmaking.
The obsessive person has certain principles, habits and obsessions. These are to kill people he finds guilty and bad, to leave an heir like himself, to collect the corpses of good and bad people, and to never lose in chess.
The movie had an interesting story, but it didn't have many interesting scenes. It was good to show how the young man was under psychological influence after the events he experienced. The story was solid!
The story tells the story of a young man and a conservative-obsessed man who leaves his family and goes to a different city to study filmmaking.
The obsessive person has certain principles, habits and obsessions. These are to kill people he finds guilty and bad, to leave an heir like himself, to collect the corpses of good and bad people, and to never lose in chess.
The movie had an interesting story, but it didn't have many interesting scenes. It was good to show how the young man was under psychological influence after the events he experienced. The story was solid!
Unfinished Games may cause Obsessions, but an Unachieved Purpose can Kill.
CihanVercan17 June 2010
Rising like Phoenix from the ashes, the Chess concept began to take over the plot as a plot twist from a claustrophobic drift in such a modest production; that was when the story created its greatest suspense which will never end. I consider the whole as a great and awe-inspiring achievement.
After fell off his bike a film student Yannick needs to stop by a two-story town house to ask for first aid. The father of the family from that house suggests him to make a call. After he goes inside and leaves the door unlocked behind him, Yannick starts his fatal discovery with his first step inside. Very suitable movie poster for this exact moment, when the happenings start to take effect.
First he witnesses the father of the family Jacques Beaulieu committing a murder in front of his eyes, second he's locked up in an unfurnished room, and then he starts having trouble with other family members. Right at this sequence, we see one of the finest achievements in the movie: Excellent-almost perfect- CHARACTERIZATION. What will come out of the blue is all the main characters in this film will have a terrifying destiny. When everything is running organized for Jacques Beaulieu's plans, Yannick turns the outcomes upside down. Like all the other viewers, me too became fond of the CHESSBOARD OF CORPSES. Jacques planned to array the chessmen from the characters he wanted to have, but Yannick's existence also altered the appearances on the chess board.
It's not just unpredictable what's going to happen every other scene, it's also unique in story-telling, too. Deeply detailed PSYCHOLOGICAL LAYOUT, the leading actors(Yannick vs. Jacques) reflect their inner phobias, counter-phobias and behaviour patterns against each other in a very factual way. What's very engaging is the balance of justice which forces us to understand that humankind is not entirely good or evil. The evil character Jacques is only trying to save the public from criminals and sinners, while he's fighting against the evil, he becomes an evil on his own, under a self-built heresy.
Very nicely done adaptation work offers a promising film and it succeeds in production aspects, too. Yannick's psychological trauma moments are served out with nice VISUAL EFFECTS and CINEMATOGRAPHY. It offers an unique style of tension without applying basic horror methods, spooky visuals and sharp shots which forces the viewer to wince.
A few deficiencies on character and story development with possible plot holes: 1/ JACQUES'S ACT OF JUSTICE: Jacques never locks up innocents into the Room Of Sinners. But he kills a sinner in front of Yannick's eyes just because he's there to get aid for his bruises. As a serial killer of the 24 bodies and a thief to steal another 24 corpses, he should've been more careful with Yannick. 2/ MAUDE'S SUICIDE: She never attempted to suicide before suddenly deciding on helping Yannick to escape. 3/ When Yannick started first to see delusions, he sees A FAT MAN WITH GLASSES, and continues seeing the same man every time he sees another delusion. There is no story held for this supporting character. 4/ The story doesn't build the necessary bridge between the happenings and the results for each family member's destiny. Neither the mum or dad ever worried about Michelle, after Anne is sent to the afflicted children's school. When the movie is over, everybody's life will be different. This isn't a suitable premise for a movie in this genre. 5/ Anne's school never made any investigation nor at least a questionnaire about Anne's past.
This film was examining the addiction to murder and the effects of violence in the family in one point. It came to a dead end, finished in a tragedy for everyone, which is idealistically appropriate with its examination. The second point supported the idea of the personal needs to trust the government's justice system to live in safety. Creating a justice other than the current system is only a fantasy. In this case, comparing with SCORSESE'S RAGING BULL, 5150 doesn't make the viewer to feel sad about Jacques the way we felt about Jake La Motta. Both Jacques and Jake seek their own sense of justice, but end up behind the bars. Another reference on Jake La Motta is occurred when Yannick chose to turn back to the Chess-game addiction instead of the choice of freedom, so his paranoia obsession on Chess took over his personal life; just like Jake La Motta happens to become a stage comedian but continue practising his punches and crochets in the backstage of the theater. Unfinished games may cause obsessions, but an unachieved purpose can kill. A Proudly Canadian film. Congrats.
After fell off his bike a film student Yannick needs to stop by a two-story town house to ask for first aid. The father of the family from that house suggests him to make a call. After he goes inside and leaves the door unlocked behind him, Yannick starts his fatal discovery with his first step inside. Very suitable movie poster for this exact moment, when the happenings start to take effect.
First he witnesses the father of the family Jacques Beaulieu committing a murder in front of his eyes, second he's locked up in an unfurnished room, and then he starts having trouble with other family members. Right at this sequence, we see one of the finest achievements in the movie: Excellent-almost perfect- CHARACTERIZATION. What will come out of the blue is all the main characters in this film will have a terrifying destiny. When everything is running organized for Jacques Beaulieu's plans, Yannick turns the outcomes upside down. Like all the other viewers, me too became fond of the CHESSBOARD OF CORPSES. Jacques planned to array the chessmen from the characters he wanted to have, but Yannick's existence also altered the appearances on the chess board.
It's not just unpredictable what's going to happen every other scene, it's also unique in story-telling, too. Deeply detailed PSYCHOLOGICAL LAYOUT, the leading actors(Yannick vs. Jacques) reflect their inner phobias, counter-phobias and behaviour patterns against each other in a very factual way. What's very engaging is the balance of justice which forces us to understand that humankind is not entirely good or evil. The evil character Jacques is only trying to save the public from criminals and sinners, while he's fighting against the evil, he becomes an evil on his own, under a self-built heresy.
Very nicely done adaptation work offers a promising film and it succeeds in production aspects, too. Yannick's psychological trauma moments are served out with nice VISUAL EFFECTS and CINEMATOGRAPHY. It offers an unique style of tension without applying basic horror methods, spooky visuals and sharp shots which forces the viewer to wince.
A few deficiencies on character and story development with possible plot holes: 1/ JACQUES'S ACT OF JUSTICE: Jacques never locks up innocents into the Room Of Sinners. But he kills a sinner in front of Yannick's eyes just because he's there to get aid for his bruises. As a serial killer of the 24 bodies and a thief to steal another 24 corpses, he should've been more careful with Yannick. 2/ MAUDE'S SUICIDE: She never attempted to suicide before suddenly deciding on helping Yannick to escape. 3/ When Yannick started first to see delusions, he sees A FAT MAN WITH GLASSES, and continues seeing the same man every time he sees another delusion. There is no story held for this supporting character. 4/ The story doesn't build the necessary bridge between the happenings and the results for each family member's destiny. Neither the mum or dad ever worried about Michelle, after Anne is sent to the afflicted children's school. When the movie is over, everybody's life will be different. This isn't a suitable premise for a movie in this genre. 5/ Anne's school never made any investigation nor at least a questionnaire about Anne's past.
This film was examining the addiction to murder and the effects of violence in the family in one point. It came to a dead end, finished in a tragedy for everyone, which is idealistically appropriate with its examination. The second point supported the idea of the personal needs to trust the government's justice system to live in safety. Creating a justice other than the current system is only a fantasy. In this case, comparing with SCORSESE'S RAGING BULL, 5150 doesn't make the viewer to feel sad about Jacques the way we felt about Jake La Motta. Both Jacques and Jake seek their own sense of justice, but end up behind the bars. Another reference on Jake La Motta is occurred when Yannick chose to turn back to the Chess-game addiction instead of the choice of freedom, so his paranoia obsession on Chess took over his personal life; just like Jake La Motta happens to become a stage comedian but continue practising his punches and crochets in the backstage of the theater. Unfinished games may cause obsessions, but an unachieved purpose can kill. A Proudly Canadian film. Congrats.
Something is missing with this movie
acnovo17 April 2014
As a big fan of horror movies I try to see everything that is released. When I read the "5150 Rue des Ormes" plot I thought it was going to be a good "different" horror movie but now I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I can picture the whole movie as a short story rather than a movie, some stories are not movie material, this one is a big example. Just because you have a creepy thriller it doesn't mean you can dress it with actors. The whole background story is good, the acting is good, the characters are interesting but all together in this movie are messy. There are many story lines that lead no-where, there were symbolisms bad used and many clichés. I wasn't scared about the story, it's a bad nightmare. Bad script, bad direction, good intention.
Heavy and disturbing: A rare masterpiece!
kluseba21 July 2010
This is one of the best horror or psycho thrillers that I have seen in a while and also one of the best Canadian/Quebecker movies in the last years. The movie is based on the novel by Patrick Senécal, his novels "Evil words" (in french: "Sur le seuil") and "7 days" (in french: "Les 7 jours du talion") have also been adapted for the cinema.
The story seems to be quite classic and simple: A young student has an accident with his bicycle in the new town where he wants to study as he is crossing a black cat. He wants to get help and rings at 5150 on Elm Street - the biggest mistake of his life! When he comes in, he hears somebody screaming in a room upstairs and he discovers that this guy is bleeding and suffering. But before the student can quit the scenery, he is discovered and imprisoned at the same place while the other poor guy doesn't survive. The young student is caught for months and his escape plans don't seem to work. He is filming his life in the small room and becomes somehow a member of the strange family: Jacques Beaulieu, the brutal, but very intelligent and charismatic father and taxi driver who is fighting the "evil one's": He tortures and kills old guys abusing children or young drug dealers. He is also a chess master and creates his "own" chess game in the basement: with dead bodies: his victims representing the black army and the good people (he is taking the bodies of dead social workers etc. from the cemetery) representing the white army. The young student has to prove that he belongs to the good or bad one's and finally Jacques Beaulieu offers a deal to the young guy: If he will beat him in a chess game and win with the black army, Jacques Beaulieu will accept and recognize that he was wrong and that the evil forces are stronger and liberate the student and so the games begin...
Maude Beaulieu, the shy and silent mother who is afraid of her husband but who doesn't have the courage or abilities to stop him. He is suffering every day and her husband has even beaten her when she was pregnant. The young student tries to become somehow her friend and to use her to escape, but Maude takes the right decision way too late.
Michelle Beaulieu, the eldest daughter is a sadistic, emotional and brutal girl and sometimes even more radical as her father, as she is making the young student suffer against the father's will. But when she has to prove that she is able to take the heritage of her father and to continue the battle against the evil persons, she isn't tough enough and becomes more and more disturbed.
Anne Beaulieu, the youngest daughter, is somehow retarded and doesn't speak a single word. She has been beaten by her father in her mother's womb and apart of her mother, no one shows or gives her any love and she doesn't have any friends. She hates her father who is making her mother and herself suffering and even tries to kill him while the father wants to get her out of the house and in an isolated and therapeutic kindergarten.
All those characters have their one personality and are brilliantly played. The movie is very close to reality and the brutal or horrifying scenes are rare, but when they come, they are really heavy and disgusting because they are so real. The movie has a dark atmosphere and every actor gives his best and his soul to this movie. A part of the family members, the main actor also begins to change and becomes more and more a strange freak who doesn't want to escape anymore - but who has found the sense of his life in wanting to beat the father and murderer in the final chess game as the armies of dead will finally be completed in a terrible way.
The end of the movie is really disgusting and disturbing, so expect the worst: Patrick Senécal wants to show the evil, dark sides of the people, the things that lie underneath the surface and he does it in a brutal consequence and nobody gets out of his created nightmare in a good way! That's what makes this movie intense and disturbing - and different from so many other movie of the genre. This one here is really innovating and hardcore and maybe not as easy to watch for everyone because of its strong relation to reality.
As you can read, this movie really surprised me and I think it's a genre highlight. The atmospheric horror grows with every minute of the movie and the grande finale is worth the wait! I just gave nine points because the basic story idea is quite simple and because the novel seems to be even more intense. Even if I told you now a lot about characters and story - the movie will still surprise and touch you! This movie should be more popular outside of Quebec too. So spread the words and have some fun with this movie: Welcome to Senécal's world of nightmares!
Don't read any longer: watch it!
The story seems to be quite classic and simple: A young student has an accident with his bicycle in the new town where he wants to study as he is crossing a black cat. He wants to get help and rings at 5150 on Elm Street - the biggest mistake of his life! When he comes in, he hears somebody screaming in a room upstairs and he discovers that this guy is bleeding and suffering. But before the student can quit the scenery, he is discovered and imprisoned at the same place while the other poor guy doesn't survive. The young student is caught for months and his escape plans don't seem to work. He is filming his life in the small room and becomes somehow a member of the strange family: Jacques Beaulieu, the brutal, but very intelligent and charismatic father and taxi driver who is fighting the "evil one's": He tortures and kills old guys abusing children or young drug dealers. He is also a chess master and creates his "own" chess game in the basement: with dead bodies: his victims representing the black army and the good people (he is taking the bodies of dead social workers etc. from the cemetery) representing the white army. The young student has to prove that he belongs to the good or bad one's and finally Jacques Beaulieu offers a deal to the young guy: If he will beat him in a chess game and win with the black army, Jacques Beaulieu will accept and recognize that he was wrong and that the evil forces are stronger and liberate the student and so the games begin...
Maude Beaulieu, the shy and silent mother who is afraid of her husband but who doesn't have the courage or abilities to stop him. He is suffering every day and her husband has even beaten her when she was pregnant. The young student tries to become somehow her friend and to use her to escape, but Maude takes the right decision way too late.
Michelle Beaulieu, the eldest daughter is a sadistic, emotional and brutal girl and sometimes even more radical as her father, as she is making the young student suffer against the father's will. But when she has to prove that she is able to take the heritage of her father and to continue the battle against the evil persons, she isn't tough enough and becomes more and more disturbed.
Anne Beaulieu, the youngest daughter, is somehow retarded and doesn't speak a single word. She has been beaten by her father in her mother's womb and apart of her mother, no one shows or gives her any love and she doesn't have any friends. She hates her father who is making her mother and herself suffering and even tries to kill him while the father wants to get her out of the house and in an isolated and therapeutic kindergarten.
All those characters have their one personality and are brilliantly played. The movie is very close to reality and the brutal or horrifying scenes are rare, but when they come, they are really heavy and disgusting because they are so real. The movie has a dark atmosphere and every actor gives his best and his soul to this movie. A part of the family members, the main actor also begins to change and becomes more and more a strange freak who doesn't want to escape anymore - but who has found the sense of his life in wanting to beat the father and murderer in the final chess game as the armies of dead will finally be completed in a terrible way.
The end of the movie is really disgusting and disturbing, so expect the worst: Patrick Senécal wants to show the evil, dark sides of the people, the things that lie underneath the surface and he does it in a brutal consequence and nobody gets out of his created nightmare in a good way! That's what makes this movie intense and disturbing - and different from so many other movie of the genre. This one here is really innovating and hardcore and maybe not as easy to watch for everyone because of its strong relation to reality.
As you can read, this movie really surprised me and I think it's a genre highlight. The atmospheric horror grows with every minute of the movie and the grande finale is worth the wait! I just gave nine points because the basic story idea is quite simple and because the novel seems to be even more intense. Even if I told you now a lot about characters and story - the movie will still surprise and touch you! This movie should be more popular outside of Quebec too. So spread the words and have some fun with this movie: Welcome to Senécal's world of nightmares!
Don't read any longer: watch it!
Didn't work for me
arsenico719 December 2016
The basic idea might be OK, even though not very original, but the developing of the story doesn't work at all. The main character is one of the most unbearable, pathetic losers ever met on screen, it's impossible to empathize with him. He loses every single confrontation with all the family members, is totally unable to make a good decision and he only keeps whining all the time. The other characters are rather stereotypical psychopaths.
The main problem with this movie is that, in spite of the gruesome story and the plot twists, it manages to be boring all the same.
If you want to watch a good movie about people taken prisoners and abused, watch An American Crime or Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door (both of them based on the same real events), tension won't be released one single moment. This incomprehensibly spoken bore fest can just be thrown into oblivion for good.
The main problem with this movie is that, in spite of the gruesome story and the plot twists, it manages to be boring all the same.
If you want to watch a good movie about people taken prisoners and abused, watch An American Crime or Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door (both of them based on the same real events), tension won't be released one single moment. This incomprehensibly spoken bore fest can just be thrown into oblivion for good.
CHECK this one out MATE!
asda-man22 January 2012
"5150" certainly does not get enough recognition from what I've just seen, and it's probably because it simply isn't well known! I only happened to stumble across it when it came up on my Amazon recommendations and I actually bothered to click on it, then I read about it and thought it sounded quite good, especially after reading it was French, and I know that nobody does horror better than the French. And then I watched the trailer that blew me away, I knew it was something I'd love and so almost immediately bought it straight after that! "5150 Elm's Way" certainly didn't disappoint much. In fact, if it was more horror heavy than drama heavy, then I would consider it up their with the greatest of French horror. It also surprised me as well, and gave an absolutely compelling and gripping drama/horror.
I don't know why not many people have heard of this, maybe it's because of the rubbish title, I mean come on! "5150 Elm's Way" is a bit of a mouthful isn't it? Maybe if it had something catchier like "51 Elm's Way" or simply just "Elm's Way" it might've appealed to more audiences, but maybe I'm just picking a bit their. The fact is that this film deserves to be seen by a wider audience, I'm sure if people knew about this and gave it the time of day they would love it almost as much as I did! Now maybe it wasn't as dark as the trailer suggested, but it did give much more in the way of plot and screenplay that I anticipated for. Maybe, if "5150 Elm's Way" was glossed over in a brush similar to "Frontier(s)" we might've had a little horror classic on our hands.
But don't let the drama aspect put you off! In some ways it is much more of a positive, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how the film went deeper into the psycho family's character, when usually horror films like to ignore the villain's so we feel zero sympathy for them, here the film quite cleverly takes a different route by showering us with excellent characterisation on both sides, the righteous and the unrighteous both get equal screen time. It also means that instead of getting two dimensional villains, we get very human ones, which is extremely refreshing to see. We get to understand how their family works and why they are like how they are. I felt such sympathy for Maude, the mother and at times felt very teary for the family (don't worry I didn't let go!) Everything did seem like a drama pretending to be a horror film at times, but actually when the game of chess was introduced in the final 40-30 minutes, horrifying things did start to pick up, and its air of realism slightly went out the window, which I actually quite admired in a way. I also wasn't expecting Yannick's psychological torment to be quite as mind-blowing as it was. The directing sometimes looked as if the person changed. Instead of interesting family drama we got psychological horror that was really cleverly expressed. It was absolutely captivating to see Yannick change and become obsessed, and also to see how he's affected their family.
Some scenes such as when Yannick plays chess and when he starts seeing "The Shining" styled blood, are marvellously done and it really helps for the audience to get into his character. "5150 Elm's Way" can often be thrilling as well! The film has you cheering for Yannick to get out all the way, and you do start to notice the complex bonds changing, giving us much, much more than a horror film. The acting was also very good, and very realistic. They looked like a normal family, so it was easy to relate, and Yannick also didn't make too many frustratingly stupid decisions like you see in almost every survival-based horror film.
In the end. "5150 Elm's Way" is more of an extremely dark drama than a horror film, although it does step into horror territory towards the end, and it also isn't afraid to shock like most horror films, it has no boundaries. It is brilliantly written and shows beautifully promising directional flourishes. It's also completely thrilling and captivating to watch, with a very clever ending that makes you wonder who really has won. "5150 Elm's Way" is one of the best psychological films, I've seen and is very nearly a 10/10 masterpiece.
I don't know why not many people have heard of this, maybe it's because of the rubbish title, I mean come on! "5150 Elm's Way" is a bit of a mouthful isn't it? Maybe if it had something catchier like "51 Elm's Way" or simply just "Elm's Way" it might've appealed to more audiences, but maybe I'm just picking a bit their. The fact is that this film deserves to be seen by a wider audience, I'm sure if people knew about this and gave it the time of day they would love it almost as much as I did! Now maybe it wasn't as dark as the trailer suggested, but it did give much more in the way of plot and screenplay that I anticipated for. Maybe, if "5150 Elm's Way" was glossed over in a brush similar to "Frontier(s)" we might've had a little horror classic on our hands.
But don't let the drama aspect put you off! In some ways it is much more of a positive, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how the film went deeper into the psycho family's character, when usually horror films like to ignore the villain's so we feel zero sympathy for them, here the film quite cleverly takes a different route by showering us with excellent characterisation on both sides, the righteous and the unrighteous both get equal screen time. It also means that instead of getting two dimensional villains, we get very human ones, which is extremely refreshing to see. We get to understand how their family works and why they are like how they are. I felt such sympathy for Maude, the mother and at times felt very teary for the family (don't worry I didn't let go!) Everything did seem like a drama pretending to be a horror film at times, but actually when the game of chess was introduced in the final 40-30 minutes, horrifying things did start to pick up, and its air of realism slightly went out the window, which I actually quite admired in a way. I also wasn't expecting Yannick's psychological torment to be quite as mind-blowing as it was. The directing sometimes looked as if the person changed. Instead of interesting family drama we got psychological horror that was really cleverly expressed. It was absolutely captivating to see Yannick change and become obsessed, and also to see how he's affected their family.
Some scenes such as when Yannick plays chess and when he starts seeing "The Shining" styled blood, are marvellously done and it really helps for the audience to get into his character. "5150 Elm's Way" can often be thrilling as well! The film has you cheering for Yannick to get out all the way, and you do start to notice the complex bonds changing, giving us much, much more than a horror film. The acting was also very good, and very realistic. They looked like a normal family, so it was easy to relate, and Yannick also didn't make too many frustratingly stupid decisions like you see in almost every survival-based horror film.
In the end. "5150 Elm's Way" is more of an extremely dark drama than a horror film, although it does step into horror territory towards the end, and it also isn't afraid to shock like most horror films, it has no boundaries. It is brilliantly written and shows beautifully promising directional flourishes. It's also completely thrilling and captivating to watch, with a very clever ending that makes you wonder who really has won. "5150 Elm's Way" is one of the best psychological films, I've seen and is very nearly a 10/10 masterpiece.
Underrated.
oddity9427 February 2010
Patrick Sénécal is Quebec's Stephen King. His stories are so intricate and realistic they really make your brain work. It's a great psychological thriller. Let me point out what's great... 1. The acting is really good. I strongly congratulate Marc-André Grondin and Sonia Vachon. 2. Great character development. 3. Great adaptation. 4. Long but captivating. Never a dull moment. 5. Visually stunning. 6. Realistic dialogue and characters. So basically everything is awesome. The reason why i gave this only 9 stars is because the ending was....not disappointing but unfinished. I strongly suggest you get this movie, but beware of some gag-worthy moments.
Average horror flick
billcr125 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Yannick gets a notice in the mail informing him that he has been accepted to a film school. Well, off he goes on a bicycle ride with his camera in a backpack. He shoots some cute kids playing in a park and then continues his ride. All is well until a black cat runs in his path and over the handle bars goes the young Spielberg, landing badly and disabling the bike.
The young man stops at a house and asks to use the phone. The owner says that he will call a taxi. Yannick sees blood on his hands from the accident and walks through the front door to the kitchen sink to wash up. A scream from upstairs causes mr. Curious to investigate. A guy is in a room, bleeding and the host pushes his prying visitor into another room with sealed windows.
We soon learn that the homeowner is a vigilante who kills the unrighteous. He has a subservient wife and a teenage daughter also under his control. Another child, about six years old, never speaks and is eventually placed in a psychiatric hospital.
Yannick has a very unpleasant stay at the Beaulieu residence, with broken bones and other assorted injuries. The leader of the pack, Jacques, turns out to be a local chess champion, and so he challenges his guest to a match; promising to let him leave if he wins. Ingmar Bergman Seventh Seal retread here. A bleeding wall brings back Kubrick's The Shining.
The acting is o.k. But the story becomes silly, with no real tension and a terrible ending. Also it is easily fifteen minuted too long. 5/10.
The young man stops at a house and asks to use the phone. The owner says that he will call a taxi. Yannick sees blood on his hands from the accident and walks through the front door to the kitchen sink to wash up. A scream from upstairs causes mr. Curious to investigate. A guy is in a room, bleeding and the host pushes his prying visitor into another room with sealed windows.
We soon learn that the homeowner is a vigilante who kills the unrighteous. He has a subservient wife and a teenage daughter also under his control. Another child, about six years old, never speaks and is eventually placed in a psychiatric hospital.
Yannick has a very unpleasant stay at the Beaulieu residence, with broken bones and other assorted injuries. The leader of the pack, Jacques, turns out to be a local chess champion, and so he challenges his guest to a match; promising to let him leave if he wins. Ingmar Bergman Seventh Seal retread here. A bleeding wall brings back Kubrick's The Shining.
The acting is o.k. But the story becomes silly, with no real tension and a terrible ending. Also it is easily fifteen minuted too long. 5/10.
Stay away from the Elm Street
kosmasp28 September 2010
You'd think people would know that since the "Nightmare on ..." movies ... But seriously though, I haven't looked into the origin of the title and this has no "Freddy" in it. Though it has some other interesting characters in it. And it plays in a weird way and goes places you wouldn't expect. While the main character might do things, you wouldn't expect him to do at first, it does all make sense (well as much sense as there can be).
Of course this develops into a very strange little crazy movie, that will either leave you completely confused at the end or satisfied as can be. A movie about violence, but also about (and maybe even more) craziness. It won't give you any easy answers and the end will put quite some people off (I think that the fact, that it isn't as violent as some other genre movies, might be putting people off too).
It is a very weird movie and I can't really tell you to watch it, because it might not be your taste at all.
Of course this develops into a very strange little crazy movie, that will either leave you completely confused at the end or satisfied as can be. A movie about violence, but also about (and maybe even more) craziness. It won't give you any easy answers and the end will put quite some people off (I think that the fact, that it isn't as violent as some other genre movies, might be putting people off too).
It is a very weird movie and I can't really tell you to watch it, because it might not be your taste at all.
Not a horror movie
dusan-2219 October 2010
Must say that even if we consider different comprehension of the word 'horror' this will hardly be a horror movie. Rather a drama of a prisoner in unusual prison, I would say. Movie has a great style, very good color of an appropriate ambient set in a movie and some great acting. Good casting and pretty convincing characters, must say. What I did not like about this movie is too slow plot development. A carefully developed plot followed by the slow rhythm truly serves the idea of a main character transformation implied, but still brings too uniformed pace and if you ask me - the one can become sleepy with repeating patterns of this long film culmination.
Great Canadian QC Horror/best one in 10 y.
oaspag-713187 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Hi!
I know I'm really late late with this one but I dugg it up from the past (2009) and wished to tell you about it. Here we have a film called 5150 Rue des Ormes (5150 Elm's Street/Way), it's a great (one of the best ones and very few ones that were actually made/and that were, actually, great, too) a Canadian QC french Quebecer thriller/suspense with strong horror elements (such as when later on in the film they play Cadaver Chess, literally the young protagonist plays a macabre chess game in the antagonist's father's lair of doom/the basement garage with actual dead cadaver bodies representing each human-sized chess piece on the huge makeshift floor-sized chessboard. We understand all the cadavers are the father's former kills/random people passing by on the Des Ormes street in front of the house that he lured in his cult house/his basement pit of hell) The story is straightforward (spoilers ahead) and revolves around a young man Yannick Bérubé (actor Éric Grondin who excels and is truly an incredible young actor, poignant and very deep/serious/natural in his acting), he is a university student that has a sort of university-essay on photography, and thus he must take pictures as a work-course assignment.
He goes on a bike ride, and a certain point he turns on the street Des Ormes, takes some shots, and goes up in front of the 5150 house... and accident happens and he falls off his bicycle rendering it totalled and useless; he is stranded there and a bit hurt and goes for help at the first house in sight : 5150 des Ormes House... the Wrong house... he should never gone into... An old man (Mr. Beaulieu, Normand d'Amour/Incredible Actor here just as good as Mr. Grondin) a deranged crazed man who very pious and religious/almost a zealot and is house is a religious Cult; and he's the Cult leader) he emerges from the house and sees what happens/the commotion, young Mr. Bérubé asks help from old Mr. Beaulieu whoms decides 'ok' to let him in and to tend to his wound/call for help/ambulance/police... as Mr. Bérubé gets in the house, he knows something is 'weird' and 'off'... this family is many weirdos who though nice for accepting him and helping him - will Capture him/Abduct him, Mr. Beaulieu kidnaps him and in a struggle, totting a 12-gauge shotgun he forces him into a vacant room on the last upper floor... it's a very closed-in room, no windows, evertthing is closed-in... Mr. Bérubé screams in fear and in help! Bangs on the walls... he is captured... days will go will go on like that... he will be fed sporadically and Mr. Bérubé and him will developp a sort love/hate relationship (being that the food he gets is his only way to survive and 'sort of' forgive Mr. Beaulieu for abducting him/sequestering him and torturing him... at certain points in the film Mr. Bérubé tries to escape and fails each time, as Mr. Beaulieu is just too strong, authoritarian... and puts him back in the room/cage-in... trapped forever) Mr. Bérubé feels he will die there... and slowly perishes and goes into comatose/psychosis... it becomes very bloody, a nightmare.) The other actors are great too such as the Mother (just as crazy as Mr. Beaulieu) and the Daughter (Sonia Vachon).. both completely indoctrinated and brain-washed, they defend the Father (Mr. Beaulieu), and punish Mr. Bérubé any chance they get. But a certain point, the Mother gets really overwhelmed and starts to blame the Father, and will feel sad for Mr. Bérubé getting tortured for nothing, she will try to help him escape sort of... Mr. Bérubé is forced to play chess games with Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Beaulieu makes a deal with him : 'if you beat me at a chess game - you will be freed'... and so it becomes a big mind-game between them, back and fort they play chess games and Mr. Bérubé fails each time as Mr. Beaulieu is just so good that each chess game lost enrages Mr. Bérubé - but... with time and losses, he becomes better and Mr. Beaulieu is feeling that he - Might - lose. To a certain point, where it's the last showdown... everyone is dead except Mr. Beaulieu and Mr. Bérubé... Mr. Beaulieu forces Mr. Bérubé totally naked to go down the garage lair to see the cadavers and play a big cadaver chess game - one last one and then kill Mr. Bérubé or himself or both... Mr. Bérubé finally wins the chess game and what ensues is truly scary, he finally evades Mr. Beaulieu's clutch...
In the film, Mr. Beaulieu says a very freaky line : "Les Non-Justes doivent mourir" (Non-Justs must die), basically he is inferring that any person he lures, catches, abducts, trapps-in and then kills... is a 'Non-Juste' someone Un-Righteous deserving to die, someone that is a Sinner (going against God as such an Unrigteous Sinner who must pay for sinning and being Unjust/Unlawful of the Laws of God).. being a Hyper-Religious Pious person he sees Mr. Bérubé like some kid student who deserves to die for the simple fact he is not religious/pious and thus, a sinner/heathen/agnostic/atheist...As such he kills in cold blood a family that goes to and calls them 'Non-Justes...'... is daughter is with him and partakes as complicit murderer...
Well safe to say this horror/thriller/suspense at the best quality and can give you nightmares! Especially you won't look at chess board the same way anymore!
Playing 'meat chess' is quite disconcerting specially if you know that you lose the chess match - you die...A Great Canadian QC horror film, one of the Best ones in the last 10 years with solid production budget, if only there were more of them made.
A give a solid 8 on 10!
I know I'm really late late with this one but I dugg it up from the past (2009) and wished to tell you about it. Here we have a film called 5150 Rue des Ormes (5150 Elm's Street/Way), it's a great (one of the best ones and very few ones that were actually made/and that were, actually, great, too) a Canadian QC french Quebecer thriller/suspense with strong horror elements (such as when later on in the film they play Cadaver Chess, literally the young protagonist plays a macabre chess game in the antagonist's father's lair of doom/the basement garage with actual dead cadaver bodies representing each human-sized chess piece on the huge makeshift floor-sized chessboard. We understand all the cadavers are the father's former kills/random people passing by on the Des Ormes street in front of the house that he lured in his cult house/his basement pit of hell) The story is straightforward (spoilers ahead) and revolves around a young man Yannick Bérubé (actor Éric Grondin who excels and is truly an incredible young actor, poignant and very deep/serious/natural in his acting), he is a university student that has a sort of university-essay on photography, and thus he must take pictures as a work-course assignment.
He goes on a bike ride, and a certain point he turns on the street Des Ormes, takes some shots, and goes up in front of the 5150 house... and accident happens and he falls off his bicycle rendering it totalled and useless; he is stranded there and a bit hurt and goes for help at the first house in sight : 5150 des Ormes House... the Wrong house... he should never gone into... An old man (Mr. Beaulieu, Normand d'Amour/Incredible Actor here just as good as Mr. Grondin) a deranged crazed man who very pious and religious/almost a zealot and is house is a religious Cult; and he's the Cult leader) he emerges from the house and sees what happens/the commotion, young Mr. Bérubé asks help from old Mr. Beaulieu whoms decides 'ok' to let him in and to tend to his wound/call for help/ambulance/police... as Mr. Bérubé gets in the house, he knows something is 'weird' and 'off'... this family is many weirdos who though nice for accepting him and helping him - will Capture him/Abduct him, Mr. Beaulieu kidnaps him and in a struggle, totting a 12-gauge shotgun he forces him into a vacant room on the last upper floor... it's a very closed-in room, no windows, evertthing is closed-in... Mr. Bérubé screams in fear and in help! Bangs on the walls... he is captured... days will go will go on like that... he will be fed sporadically and Mr. Bérubé and him will developp a sort love/hate relationship (being that the food he gets is his only way to survive and 'sort of' forgive Mr. Beaulieu for abducting him/sequestering him and torturing him... at certain points in the film Mr. Bérubé tries to escape and fails each time, as Mr. Beaulieu is just too strong, authoritarian... and puts him back in the room/cage-in... trapped forever) Mr. Bérubé feels he will die there... and slowly perishes and goes into comatose/psychosis... it becomes very bloody, a nightmare.) The other actors are great too such as the Mother (just as crazy as Mr. Beaulieu) and the Daughter (Sonia Vachon).. both completely indoctrinated and brain-washed, they defend the Father (Mr. Beaulieu), and punish Mr. Bérubé any chance they get. But a certain point, the Mother gets really overwhelmed and starts to blame the Father, and will feel sad for Mr. Bérubé getting tortured for nothing, she will try to help him escape sort of... Mr. Bérubé is forced to play chess games with Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Beaulieu makes a deal with him : 'if you beat me at a chess game - you will be freed'... and so it becomes a big mind-game between them, back and fort they play chess games and Mr. Bérubé fails each time as Mr. Beaulieu is just so good that each chess game lost enrages Mr. Bérubé - but... with time and losses, he becomes better and Mr. Beaulieu is feeling that he - Might - lose. To a certain point, where it's the last showdown... everyone is dead except Mr. Beaulieu and Mr. Bérubé... Mr. Beaulieu forces Mr. Bérubé totally naked to go down the garage lair to see the cadavers and play a big cadaver chess game - one last one and then kill Mr. Bérubé or himself or both... Mr. Bérubé finally wins the chess game and what ensues is truly scary, he finally evades Mr. Beaulieu's clutch...
In the film, Mr. Beaulieu says a very freaky line : "Les Non-Justes doivent mourir" (Non-Justs must die), basically he is inferring that any person he lures, catches, abducts, trapps-in and then kills... is a 'Non-Juste' someone Un-Righteous deserving to die, someone that is a Sinner (going against God as such an Unrigteous Sinner who must pay for sinning and being Unjust/Unlawful of the Laws of God).. being a Hyper-Religious Pious person he sees Mr. Bérubé like some kid student who deserves to die for the simple fact he is not religious/pious and thus, a sinner/heathen/agnostic/atheist...As such he kills in cold blood a family that goes to and calls them 'Non-Justes...'... is daughter is with him and partakes as complicit murderer...
Well safe to say this horror/thriller/suspense at the best quality and can give you nightmares! Especially you won't look at chess board the same way anymore!
Playing 'meat chess' is quite disconcerting specially if you know that you lose the chess match - you die...A Great Canadian QC horror film, one of the Best ones in the last 10 years with solid production budget, if only there were more of them made.
A give a solid 8 on 10!
A Psychological Thriller With Talented Actors Play
gg-508073 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A great performance of Marc-André Grondin! Once again I convinced that Marc-André Grondin talented actor, who work out different roles, despite the fact that he is not on everyone's lips in Russia. Well done and a director and screenwriter, as the desire to rewind did not have never, on the contrary tightened so that the entire movie was in suspense for the main character and his mental state, even in the pause did not put to brew coffee. There is no denying how well Marc-André Grondin was able to convey those feelings, state, emotions, desires, who take possession of a person who is held captive at the killer. The movie also shows unwarranted aggression eldest daughter of the killer being in adolescence, and grew up in a family where the father (the murderer) could easily lift a hand on his wife, she (wife of murderer) "by their blindness" made itself hostage to a desperate situation, the cause of which was the only one for her exit just to get away from life. It is a pity that the eldest daughter, which followed in the footsteps of his father remained uncaught and went away from responsibility. And sorry for their youngest daughter, a father (the killer) is considered her abnormal, even though the girl was crisp and clear notion of what is good and what is evil.
In general, I can say one thing: Fans of intelligent psychological thrillers, which heavily feature the characters of heroes - must watch! Enjoy the game of actors and the atmosphere of the film.
In general, I can say one thing: Fans of intelligent psychological thrillers, which heavily feature the characters of heroes - must watch! Enjoy the game of actors and the atmosphere of the film.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
