In Vincent Must Die (Vincent Doit Mourir), director Stéphan Castang weaves a tale of a man’s life turned into a paranoid nightmare. Meet Vincent (Karim Leklou), your average guy working in an office, whose uneventful life takes a shocking turn when he becomes the target of sudden and violent attacks from strangers. To survive, he must navigate this bizarre new world filled with mystery and danger, all while trying to understand the reason behind these brutal assaults.
One of the film’s strongest aspects is its playfully dark sense of humor, which lays the foundation for a captivatingly strange world that slowly descends into a more grim and serious tone. Karim Leklou’s (A Prophet) portrayal of Vincent embraces the sheepish “beta male” stereotype, thrusting him into the fringes of society without any apparent cause, and he navigates this role with a convincing performance.
“…delivers a unique and twisted narrative, blending dark humor, mystery, and intense violence.”
The story wastes no time in setting things in motion, diving into the chaos right from the start. And bookending that shotgun opening is an intense 3rd act that would feel just as welcome in a rage-zombie movie. However, as the film progresses, it does hit a bit of a speed bump in that middle chunk. The deliberate shift in gears offers a chance to explore Vincent’s character and his struggles for survival, but right at a time when all I wanted were more scenes of sick & twisted self-defense. Given the violent intensity built up throughout the story I was primed and ready for more, but this is Vincent’s story after all, and Vincent is the furthest thing from a rock-em, sock-em action hero.
At its core, Vincent Must Die is a dark comedy and a gripping mystery, but it never fully unravels all its threads. It’s a surprisingly (and often shockingly) violent tale of survival against unknown forces. It plays with tone in unpredictable ways and creates a weird and wild world where humans are hunted like dogs for no reason other than hive-minded hatred. There’s an unresolved energy to Vincent Must Die that feels more true-to-life than your average apocalyptic movie but call me old fashioned, I like a little resolution in my gloomy thrillers.
Vincent Must Die delivers a unique and twisted narrative, blending dark humor, mystery, and intense violence. Its engaging start, coupled with Karim Leklou’s strong performance, keeps audiences hooked. Though the film falters slightly in the second half, it remains an enthralling watch that explores the depths of survival and human behavior. If you’re looking for a wild and enigmatic ride through a strange world, Vincent Must Die won’t disappoint.
“… a dark comedy and a gripping mystery, but it never fully unravels all its threads.”
Stéphan Castang’s Vincent Must Die (Vincent Doit Mourir) celebrated its North American premiere at the 2023 Fantasia Film Festival. Click HERE to follow our continued coverage of the festival and let us know if you’re excited to see this grim comedy over Twitter, Threads, or in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord! Not a social media fan? Get more horror delivered straight to your inbox by joining the Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter.
