#POLISH PREMIERE | fear and terror | horror | after life | Dante | surreal | hell | grotesque | macabre | disturbing | terryfing | condemnation | sin | journey through fears | nightmare | dark side | karma | irony | gloomy | Q&A

PANDEMONIUM

horror | France | 2023
World premiere: Fantasia International Film Festival 2023
Polish premiere: Splat!FilmFest

THE AFTERLIFE, BUT MAKE IT AS HORRIFYING AS IT CAN BE

Two not-the-nicest guys wake up in the middle of a winding road next to what used to be a car. They try to recall the actual course of events: one of them was driving the car, the other a motorcycle, and they had an accident. It looks like they are both dead. But how come? They can still feel the fear and guilt. Is that what the afterlife is like? If so, then who would ever want to get there?

That’s how Pandemonium begins. This French horror, which certainly will give you chills, is distantly inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. It is a surreal and grotesque journey through fear, human evil nature and the actual hell that might make you want to immediately atone for your sins, swear to become a better person, and do whatever it takes in order not to get there.

Watching Pandemonium is also an incredibly aestheatically pleasing experience. From a very raw version of reality at the beginning, it smoothly turns into a true psychodelic nightmare. This film with its suggestive images should definitely make it to the watchlist of any horror fan; however, when it comes to those who are not all for fear and terror — maybe they should give the program a second look.

Pandemonium was written and directed by the enigmatic figure of Quuarxx who might be recognized for such film as All the Gods in the Sky. Despite the picture being so gloomy and in spite of a few scenes that might make you feel sick in the stomach, the film will also provide you with a great dose of irony and sophisticated humour. Besides, 11-year-old Manon Maindivide’s role might just be one of the most terrifying child figures in the modern horror genre.

directed by: Quarxx
screenplay: Quarxx
starring: Arben Bajraktaraj, Hugo Dillon, Manon Maindivide
cinematography: Didier Daubeach, Hugo Poisson, Colin Wandersman
music: Benjamin Leray
editing: Rémi Orth
language: French
subtitles: English, Polish
duration: 1h 35min
recommended age: 18+