A coming of age cannibal drama, Raw has quickly garnered a sickening reputation after multiple reports of audience members passing out during various screenings. A dark and disturbing metaphor for the journey to womanhood, it follows 16 year old veterinary student Justine. French director Julia Ducournau splashes the screen with dramatic imagery and disorientating visuals, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that culminates with Justine’s increasingly confronting cravings. As a horror movie it isn’t particularly thrilling, but Ducournau opts for a different tact, replacing the usual scares and screams with stomach churning shocks and hallucinogenic symbolism. Part dreamlike surrealism, part feminist gorefest, but never fully fleshed out.
