During the 70's some of the most wellknown films in the subgenre commonly referred to as rape & revenge were made. Films like I Spit on Your Grave(1978), Thriller - en grym film (1974), The Last House on the Left (1972)and countless others.
The genre is still alive and well thanks to some bigbudget remakes of above mentioned films.
La traque (1975)however is rape & revenge that is above genre standard and separates itself by using some very dark reflections on society and social criticism.
The story is simple, about a group men from all walks of life, one is a politician, another is a former captain in the army, scrap dealers etc. Basically this group of men becomes a sort of microcosmos of the world in general and society.
But when one of them during the hunt while intoxicated, rapes an English girl who is just a tourist, things go from bad to even worse...
There are some sad truths being said about men, sexism, misogyny and also what group pressure can do to people. Having the Milgram experiment in the back of your mind while watching this film is important.
But the film also exposes some of the dark secrets these men have. How they stab each other in the back, use various secrets against each other in order to preserve control over a situation that is quickly spiraling out of control.
The film also poses an interesting question to the viewers watching this film, what would you do? And how would your friends react?
And the fact that some of these men are on the outside well respected, ordinary, men but during these circumstances chooses to be more brutal then the animals they are hunting, makes this film with a very dark look on humanity.
Director Serge Leroy have chosen a very good cast, with people like Michael Lonsdale, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Jean-Luc Bideau as some of the members of the hunting party.
They look and feel very genuine in their roles, their acting flawless.
Biggest flaw in this film is Mimsy Farmers role, she is simple the prey, but plays this part with anger, ear and passion in the right amount.
So future viewers who want a darker more complex, rape & revenge film with sharp stab at society, gender etc should seek this one out.
