I used to watch a lot of French films in my 20s and Oranges sanguines is nothing unusual for their cinematic culture, though it is particularly well-made. I have no idea why this movie is on Shudder. I would have watched it much sooner had I known it's more of a black comedy and political drama; I was apprehensive that it would seem tame but quickly become exceedingly violent or wildly disturbing. That's not really the case here - the first half of the film is building the story and the characters with a lot of sly, dark humor and even when the film starts to get twisted it's not really "scary." The first act of violence is in truth a comical symbol of political retribution to a very deserving and corrupt political figure. It does get darker from that point forward, yet has something of a bittersweet and life-affirming though not "happy" ending.
It's very French. Nothing here will shock someone who has read Sartre's No Exit or Camus' The Stranger earlier in life, especially if they're going into Oranges sanguines as a horror fan.
It's very French. Nothing here will shock someone who has read Sartre's No Exit or Camus' The Stranger earlier in life, especially if they're going into Oranges sanguines as a horror fan.