Stéphane (2023) Arrow Player Review
Stéphane (2023) Arrow Player Review
Deftly blending elements of Mark Duplass’ CREEP with MAN BITES DOG and mismatched buddy movies such as THE CABLE GUY Cable Guy, STÉPHANE, written and directed by Timothée Hochet and Lucas Pastor, is part found-footage, part sinister horror thriller and part self-reflexive black comedy – punk filmmaking at its finest and “a real rollercoaster ride” (Eye For Film) that will “keep you squirming on the edge of your seat” (Splatter Punk Reviews), right until the final, chilling, post-credits scene.
When Tim (Bastien Garcia), an ambitious and aspiring filmmaker out making his latest short film, encounters the eccentric Stéphane (played by the film’s co-director, Lucas Pastor), it seems like a match made in heaven. Stéphane claims to be an experienced special effect supervisor and stuntman and, after impressing Tim with his home-made pyrotechnics, the two embark on a journey to Stéphane’s private island to set about making a World War II epic, along with Stephane’s friend, a strange and mostly mute refugee actress named Bianca (Eva Gregorieff). But as their filmmaking odyssey continues, it soon becomes apparent that neither men may be what they claim, and tensions quickly escalate…
Less grating, more plausible and less self-indulgent than the Mark Duplass headlining CREEP but less compelling than MAN BITES DOG, both films with which French comedy/thriller STÉPHANE can be compared to, this is one found-footage flick that proves to be both watchable and believable.
The way in which our central twosome Tim and Stéphane first get to know each other and then bond feels natural and you can understand why Tim is prepared to hang around this bumbling oath of a man before matters take a turn for the weird, frightening and bizarre later. Much of what happens was made up on the spot, but it does not show as being improvised, it feels natural and for the most part bright and breezy and often very funny. The ‘shock’ ending made little sense given what preceded it and throws the rest of the film into question and thus leaving one scratching their head in bemusement, otherwise this proved to be a fun, chaotic watch.
STÉPHANE is now available exclusively on ARROW.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
