[Fantasia ’23] ‘Vincent Must Die (Vincent doit mourir)’ review: Great premise never hits its stride

Vincent Must Die can be described as a social anxiety thriller. Vincent (Karim Leklou) is a graphic designer who is suddenly being attacked by people for no apparent reason. He goes into seclusion in an attempt to remain safe while also trying to figure out what has happened.

There is excellent tension in the first act. The initial attacks come out of nowhere and are brutal and violent. As Vincent tries to navigate a word he still does not understand, literally everyone becomes a potential attacker. It is a great job of creating an uncomfortable tone. Unfortunately, it dissipates as the plot progresses.

It is not long before Vincent realizes that making eye contact is what drives others into a rage. The problem is quickly demonstrated. He is able to look people in the eye constantly with no repercussions When he later gets involved in a romantic relationship with a waitress named Margaux (Vimala Pons) things become even more confusing. There are many moments where the two stare deeply into each other’s eyes as if mocking one of the key points of Vincent Must Die. 

This would not be a huge problem if there was any sort of consistency. Though it is never stated outright, it is clear not everyone will be overcome with murderous rage. The issue with Margaux is she alternates between not being affected and violently attacking. This plays into the mystery of Vincent Must Die, but it also works against the suspense. Instead of feeling like anything can happen at any time, audiences will just be left asking “why?”

Vincent Must Die is at its best when it moves away from being a character study and focuses more on the horror of the situation. The romance moves too quickly and is not really grounded in anything. There is nothing to make the audience care about the coupling. Conversely, the same can be said for the assaults, but it is also what makes them so effective. The randomness of the violence (at least when it comes to strangers) provides the story an edge.

There is a dark sense of humor that runs throughout the movie. From extremely angry children to life or death battles in large ponds of waste, there always seems to be something silly. It is over the top, but never played for laughs. For many, it will be the biggest takeaway from Vincent Must Die.

The Fantasia International Film Festival takes place from July 20 – August 9. Fantasia, news, tickets, and films can be found HERE