Peur(s) du noir (2007)

Directors:

Blutch
Marie Caillou

Writers:

Blutch (writer)
Charles Burns (writer)

Release Date:

13 February 2008 (Belgium)

Genre:

Animation | Mystery

Plot:

Several scary black-and-white animated segments in different styles appeal to our fear(s) of the dark.

Plot Keywords:

Crocodile | Directed By Several Directors | Metamorphosis | Spider | Movie Theater

Cast

Aure Atika	...	Sheila
Guillaume Depardieu	...	Carl
Nicole Garcia	...	Narrator

Also Known As:

Fear(s) of the Dark (USA) (festival title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Company:

Prima Linéa Productions

black and white and shades of grey

Peur(s) du Noir is essentially 5 short black and white animations interspersed by segments of a woman droning on about her fears, illustrated with interesting animated black and white shapes (I should note, I watched the film in French, and as my French is not perfect, I did not catch everything she said, but got the general impression that she was your typical anxious overachieving yuppie).

The five shorts all used different animation techniques, but were overall pleasingly creepy. There was a cruel aristocrat and his dogs, an Italian village ravaged by a mysterious beast, a budding scientist and his insect specimens, a Japanese girl bullied by classmates/ghosts, and a refugee from a snowstorm shacked up in a Victorian house. This final short was, I thought, the most effective. It was done in pure black and white, and the only light shed in the house (with wonderfully Goreyesque wallpaper) came from a candle the traveller carried with him in his explorations. This allowed for some great reveal moments, and additionally built up the tension extremely well.

Overall, a must see for fans of art-house animation. If it comes to a cinema near you, take the opportunity to see it, because I suspect it will be difficult to find on DVD.