Knife + Heart

Not A Sexy Vampire

Rewatched. I remember being disappointed that you don't see a penis onscreen, particularly as this is set in the world of gay porn. But there's so much else to see in this delicious goody. Described it to my partner as switchblade dildo queer giallo, this is a treasure trove of delights. That cast. That score. Those costumes. Loses it's way in the second hour but still... This is everything I want queer cinema to be.

ig_____or

Vanessa Paradis. M83. Gay Porn. 1970s Paris. A switchblade dildo. Very giallo, very arthouse. What's not to love? After watching and hearing the soundtracks of his first two feature films, I'll have whatever Yann Gonzalez (and M83) serves me next.

jjk

cinema!!!!!! If de palma and argento weren’t so aggressively straight. literally a dream film of mine. not to be extra, but the future of french cinema is in the hands of yann gonzalez and bertrand mandico

Joe Bowman

For those of you who have entertained the hypothetical query, "what if Brian De Palma were a fag?"... you now have your answer.

El Biffo

Queer Cinema 4++* I loved the characters in this film (except for the slasher) they are the kinds of people I would be friends with in real life :-)

Rafael Zen

okay, i'm a sucker for yann gonzalez : : this is the way to film a giallo/slasher : : like a gift for horror fans, there's this exercise of imagination for every death scene - going more experimental through the queer theme : : one of the best post-2010 horror films - not afraid of going outrageously campy : : i prefer new authors that free themselves to play & create rather than those who hold & retain

HKFanatic

Gorgeously shot on 35mm and 16mm by director Yann Gonzalez, "Knife + Heart" evokes a young Gregg Araki transported to giallo-era Italy to make a decidedly unpretentious erotic horror film. The dreamy, Cocteau Twins-channeling soundtrack by M83 is the perfect compliment to the neon-drenched visuals (though my favorite track, the one that plays over the credits, is actually "Love's Refrain" by Jefre Cantu-Ledesma).

mpho3

Late 70s gay Paris under the lens of love, mystery, suspense, and porn. Trivial yet ambitious, it succeeds on all levels, especially stylistically. Still, it's ridiculous, which I only hold against it after the extreme displeasure of having watched Gonzalez's short, Islands, afterward. Would that I had not. 3.5 stars