Fantasia International Film Festival 2023 – We all remember those early days of COVID. Even going to the grocery store felt dangerous, especially if someone nearby sneezed. While Vincent Must Die isn’t a film about COVID, it resonates so much because of its portrayal of loneliness and isolation. Since we all lived through lockdowns, we can relate to the protagonist’s plight.

The French film was directed by Stéphan Castang and written by Mathieu Naert. Karim Leklou stars as Vincent, a graphic designer who is kind of a jerk. One day, at work, intern Hugo (Ulysse Genevrey) whacks Vincent repeatedly in the face with a laptop. Then, another co-worker, Yves (Emmanuel Vérité), stabs Vincent repeatedly in the arm with a pen. This sort of rage pandemic occurs when people look Vincent in the eyes. The film never really explains what causes this, but as the runtime progresses, it worsens, forcing Vincent to live alone in the countryside with an adorable dog named Sultan. He eventually meets a man at a gas station who understands what Vincent endures because he’s also a victim. The man goes by the online moniker of Joachim DB (Michaël Perez). For a while, the only connection Vincent has is behind a screen, until he becomes romantically involved with a diner waitress named Margaux (Vimala Pons). However, their future is uncertain because Margaux also attacks Vincent and to protect himself, he often handcuffs her until she snaps out of it.

This feature is especially character driven. Vincent transforms from a jerk who tells the intern to fetch his coffee to someone struggling with isolation, fearing he’ll never have meaningful connection again. In that regard, Leklou gives a performance that warrants the audience’s empathy. His character undergoes quite the change, humbled by his situation. Likewise, Pons delivers a memorable performance too, giving her character a kind of pathos and desire for connection that matches Vincent’s. At one point, Margaux asks Vincent if he thinks they’ll make it. After spending so much time with these leads, you really, really hope they’ll endure, even as the violence spreads.

Yet, despite the film’s creative premise, it’s not all that gory or excessive, compared to say, films of the New French Extremity movement. In fact, it feels restrained, and it’s better for it, allowing the focus to remain on the characters. That said, there are plenty of memorable, nail-biting sequences, including one moment when Margaux, Vincent, and Sultan try to drive as far away as possible, only to encounter dozens of cars piled up on the road as drivers attack each other. There are just enough of these movements to show the impact of the pandemic, or whatever you want to call it. It’s never excessive, but it’s always there, a constant threat.

Vincent Must Die is a gripping and creative thriller. Its portrayal of isolation and that dire need for human interaction is all too relatable. Castang is a young director to watch.

8 Out of 10