by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What are those movies that take on devastating ideas and concepts and then become too much to take in one film? There are plenty of films that deal with mental illness that are hard to process, including the most recent addition in the form of The Father. There are horror films that take on thrills like Saw and anything that Rob Zombie creates, which are filled to the brim with gore and violence. You also have the quintessential example of a hard-to-watch classic with Schindler’s List. Good for you if you can go and watch that film any day. But sometimes, a film goes too far where it glorifies and is too accurate with things it portrays on screen. Enter… New Order.
Where do I start with this film?
I should probably start with the positives because there certainly are aspects of great merit. The acting, first off, is strong. This film focuses on a high-end party that is the centerpiece for a class-based uprising. With an uprising, there will be plenty of violence. The rebels in the film go to dark places and perform some horrific acts to some of the characters. The actors in the film are able to play these scenes with plenty of emotion and rawness. There is a level of realism in the performances to the point that you can easily empathize with their suffering. Without this human connection, the film wouldn’t even work on the level that it does. The cast is filled with Mexican actors who might not be recognized by American audiences, but this helps with the realism. We do not see movie stars, but instead we see what could be actual people being harmed and tortured.
What do director Michel Franco and cinematographer Yves Cape deliver to bolster the film?
From a technical standpoint, this is a beautifully rendered and engrossing film. Strong camerawork that incorporates tracking shots to bring the audience into the scenes makes the film stand out. How can this kind of film feel even more thrilling? By making the audience feel like they are in the thick of it, the impact of what happens is heightened. The framing is also crisp as the audience sees all in frame. A sense of not being able to blink settles in during the film, which makes what happens onscreen even harder to process. On top of that, this film is around 85 minutes and certainly moves along at an impactful pace. In so many ways, this film capitalizes on pulling in the audience.
But… do we really want that?
A bigger question is “can a film go too far?” This film certainly goes to some places. We have seen uprisings occur in other films like The Godfather Part II and Gangs of New York in which bombings and shootings are portrayed, but we do not see a visceral level of violence and assault. There is one scene that is shocking and uncomfortable in a way that made me want to turn the film off. The scene is sexual in nature and goes too far. The most shocking things in film still leave things to the imagination. The building of tension and suspense are essential. This film bypasses that and goes right for a horribly in-your-face approach for the sake of shock. Did it shock me? Of course! I am a human being who does not see such things. But did the film need to go as far to make the scene so effective that it made me physically ill? I don’t believe so. I have never been able to enjoy a Rob Zombie film or a Saw film because they leave tension and suspense aside for cheap thrills. Unfortunately, I think this film does, too.
But does the film accomplish what it sets out to do?
If it was aiming to unnerve and shock, this film accomplished that in spades. But at what cost? There may be some of you out there that are less affected by the events of this film. But for me, great acting and filmmaking cannot offset the recklessness that drives the narrative and thrills. New Order is a shocking and impactful film in the violence and pain that it portrays. But it makes me wonder, what was the point?
Grade: C-