All the Gods in the Sky

After last week's delightful encounter with the work of Quarxx, I figured it was as good a time as any to commit and watch his first feature film. Traveling backwards in a director's oeuvre is always a little tricky, so I kept my expectations in check. Turns out I didn't have to worry one single bit. All the Gods in the Sky [Tous les Dieux du Ciel] is on the same level as Pandemonium, though there are notable differences between the two. I am a little astounded I missed both films even though I have feelers out for genre work like this, but I'm glad I was finally able to catch up.

The work of Quarxx reminds me a little of the films of Caye Casas. It's core genre cinema, but there's also a darker and more uncomfortable edge present. And there's a minor streak of pitch-black humor that further adds to the discomfort. All the Gods in the Sky certainly delivers on its genre premise, but there's also that something extra, something that vaguely reminded me of the early work of Gaspar Noe (although not to those extremes). Just to say that if you're looking for simple genre entertainment, this film probably shouldn't be your first choice.

All the Gods in the Sky is set in a small rural community. It's the perfect location when you need your characters to be a little off, without them standing out too much or drawing too much attention to themselves (they're basically the French equivalent of the US hillbilly). The lead is guilt-ridden, he has an unhealthy relationship with his disabled sister, and he believes that aliens are coming for him. The rest of the town has enough troubles of their own to take too much of an interest. It's the perfect cocktail for things to spin out of control, and that's exactly what you can expect to happen.

Simon is a small-town factory worker who struggles in life. He has been diagnosed with psychosis, he has forced himself to take on the care of his disabled sister even though he is unfit to do so, and he doesn't have the budget to maintain the house his parents left him. He also believes firmly that aliens are planning to abduct him and his sister, but as he prepares for their visit, the authorities try their hardest to intervene. Simon is afraid they'll take his sister away from him, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to protect her. Slowly his grip on reality starts to slip.

Quarxx pays attention to the visuals, a big plus for a film that can't just lean on its budget to impress. The camera work and framing are precise, the intentional use of color and light adds to the atmosphere and the editing is on point. All the Gods in the Sky may not go out of its way to make a lasting visual impression, but Quarxx makes sure every shot is polished and consistent with the mood he is trying to establish. No shot is wasted, and that's commendable. It's precisely the kind of thing I love to see from a genre film and what I believe a film like this needs to set itself apart.

The music is on the same level. Not the most original choices here for a horror film, but the score and sound design are often leading and crucial in determining the mood(switches) of scenes. And it's done competently and proficiently. It's not often that a score actively improves a film, but Quarxx managed it twice now so this is not a coincidence. Again, a great example of how smart use of music can have a big impact on the overall quality of a film. I'd love to see him take a few more chances with the style of music, but that's just nitpicking when so many other films fail at the mere basics.

The cast is very solid. Jean-Luc Couchard is splendid as the mentally unstable lead and offers a fine take on a type of character popularised by Philippe Nahon. For the part of Estella, Quarxx decided to forgo prosthetics and managed to cast Melanie Gaydos, a model famous for challenging conventional beauty standards. Her role is a bit limited, but she handles it well, especially when her character flips around as the film is working up to the finale. The rest of the cast is good, but the secondary roles are mostly functional. Only Zelie Rixhon deserves an extra mention, Quarxx also has a knack for working with kid actors.

The film does an excellent job of keeping the mystery alive, it isn't until late in the film that things become more concrete, but by then Quarxx throws in another twist that pulls the film in a different direction. It's a rather ballsy move that might not sit well with everyone, but I appreciated how he dared to stray from the beaten path. With genre films in particular, this is a welcome diversion and something that helps to set the film apart from all the others. The ending could've been a bit tighter, it keeps on going for a smidgen too long, but that's just a minor inconvenience.

All the Gods in the Sky is a great film for those who grew up loving the French Extremity, but don't mind when the most grotesque elements are a bit more toned down. It's not an easy watch though, some scenes that are tough to sit through, fueled by a feeling of increasing dread and escalating drama, while presented with an appropriate level of polish. Quarxx is an asset to French genre cinema, someone who deserves more exposure than he's been getting so far. If you're looking for a horror film with a little spice and a bit more depth than your average slasher, this one comes highly recommended.