Movie Review - Simon Killer

Simon Killer (2013)

Starring Brady Corbet and Mati Diop

Directed by Antonio Campos

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

Simon Killer had so much potential as a film -- and then it went and did the whole indie flick thing where its ending proves to be a huge letdown after all this build-up simply for the sake of naturalism. It's a tease, really.  Fortunately, despite the disappointing final act, the first two-thirds of Simon Killer is a rather stunning character study with some compellingly fresh directorial choices (both visually and aurally) that add to the flick's appeal...and make it all the more upsetting that it can't deliver the goods in the end.

Recent college graduate Simon (Brady Corbet) has just broken up with his girlfriend of five years and is visiting Paris to try and get his mind off his longtime lady.  Unable to kick the depression, Simon is persuaded into taking his mopish self into a brothel one evening where he meets prostitute Noura (Mati Diop).  When Noura agrees to see Simon outside of work (still for money, mind you), Simon begins to become infatuated simply with the fact that he's made a connection with someone -- it could've been anyone, but it just so happened to be an incredibly attractive French hooker.  The paid dates eventually fade away and a real relationship begins and Simon comes up with a plan to blackmail Noura's rich clients out of lots of dough by videotaping their sexual escapades and threatening to show their indiscretions to their wives.  The ripple effect of this on Simon and Noura's relationship is a bit more profound than either of them could imagine.

Simon Killer is raw and doesn't mince on being overtly sexualized (it wasn't rated by the MPAA) which adds to director-screenwriter Antonio Campos' voyeuristic take on young lust.  Campos utilizes long takes and somewhat odd, off-putting camera placement to aid with this creepy, constantly lingering feel.  (One take, for instance, plants Campos' camera squarely at the level of his characters' torsos and we only get glimpses of their faces when they sit down.  Of course, this "torso focus" also sexualizes the characters a bit as well.)  A pulsing soundtrack helps to create a vivid world for his two main cast members.

Brady Corbet is frightening here.  At first, we feel for his Simon as we view him as a guy who's having a tough time getting over a break-up.  Soon, however, we see that he's become a bit warped, a bit unsteady, and a bit off his rocker.  It's not that he ever becomes possessive of Noura, it's just that she becomes his life.  I realize that sounds oxymoronic, but she never really becomes his puppet on a string...he's simply is desperate for that human connection.  In fact, their first scene together involves a sexually deviant moment that epitomizes just that -- Simon doesn't need her to physically satisfy him; he just needs to know she's there in order to be satisfied.  (Vague enough, for you?  I just don't want to spoil things.)  Corbet does an excellent job of giving Simon layers that he slowly peels back, becoming a bit more menacing as the film progresses.

Unfortunately, the film fails to present a satisfying payoff.  While it's likely the most realistic way for the film to end, Simon Killer concludes with what feels like a middle finger to the audience.  Still, everything leading up to that is so good, that I can't not recommend it.  It's certainly not for everyone due to its graphic nature, but it's an impressive directorial job from Antonio Campos that makes me want to seek out his prior flick.

The RyMickey Rating:  B