FANTASIA 2023: ‘Vincent Must Die’ Is An Action-Packed Genre Blend

Halfway through the stylish and intense Vincent Must Die by director Stéphan Castang, our perennially suffering protagonist is asked whether or not he ever feels “like everyone’s out to get you.” In the case of the titular Vincent (Karim Leklou), he understands this sensation all too well. What is usually a question asked when the world around us refuses to give an inch becomes a literal hellscape for Vincent, as he’s throttled, beaten, stabbed, and victim of an attempted drowning via sewage. The world isn’t out to get him; it’s out to kill him. Such is the basic plot line of Castang’s feature film. Vincent Must Die played at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2023. 

Vincent is ordinary. He works in graphic design, is active on dating apps, and gets along with his coworkers. At least, we presume the latter is the case, as he’s shocked when a laptop comes crashing down on his skull and, later, when he’s stabbed incessantly in the hand with a pen. With no rhyme or reason, Vincent is being attacked by those around him, who forget the moment they’ve been physically subdued to stop the attacks. Rather than receive support from HR, though, Vincent is seen as the linking problem and told to work from home, though that solution only lasts for so long before new problems — neighbors — present themselves. Forced to go on the run, his life changes overnight as he tries to piece together what is causing the attacks, how to stop them, and how best to arm himself if he’s faced with more possessed individuals. 

Part of the immediate strength of Vincent Must Die is how little the script offers by way of explanation. We know as much as Vincent does. So even as he tries to figure out what he’s a target, we, like him, are looking around the screen for any incoming attacker, from children to kindly, elderly women sitting in the car next to him. That those attacking him are possessed, their eyes glazing over as they find themselves violently pursuing him with any tools at their disposal, increases the stakes and makes certain standoffs more stressful. There’s a definite difference between him standing down a man of his stature versus two neighbor children.

The world expands as he runs away for refuge, finding commonality and greater explanations for what’s going on, though the rules of what causes the possession are still kept loose. It would take the steam completely out of the story if we had all the answers, so even as the world develops, we’re kept partially in the dark, especially as violence increases and the body count rises as more and more are afflicted with the disease. 

Written by Mathieu Naert, the film is a genre mash, combining survival, apocalyptic action, and grotesque imagery with romance. It’s a difficult balancing act with many styles and tones. For the most part, Naert is successful, his playful writing working in tandem with Castang’s muscular filmmaking style so that the rhythm of the picture remains light on its feet. There’s a bit of It Follows and The Lobster in the film’s DNA, from the absurdity of the affliction causing calm individuals to incite violence and the quirky, end-of-the-world romance that takes place in the second half of the film. 

The performances are strong, and Leklou sometimes creates such a pitiful figure, transforming the film from its dark comedy and horror roots. With Leklou’s performance as Vincent, the film steeps in the character’s loneliness. It’s an element that soaks the entire film, as the script deals with what happens when someone needs to isolate themselves forcibly and how much of a toll that isolation takes on a person. 

A lot is going on, but the film struggles with its pacing, losing the first half’s momentum and lingering for too long on sequences that needed a fine trim to keep the film lean and fast-paced. The action set pieces are the major highlights, and there needed to be less time spent in between. With such a strong starting pace where the film refuses to hold back on the disturbing imagery it’s gleefully deploying, it’s a shame that the script slows and mutes the energy for the remainder of the film due to it. However, the last 15 minutes are electrifying in their violent implications.

Regardless, Vincent Must Die is sleek and uninhibited by the need to play within genre restrictions. By engaging with multiple styles, the film becomes more engrossing and unpredictable.

Vincent Must Die played at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2023.