The Ordeal

The Ordeal is the story of what happens when travelling cabaret singer Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas) finds himself caught in a rain storm while looking for somewhere to rest for the night. He comes across a small house, in the middle of a field, owned by a very strange little man named Mr Bartel (Jackie Berroyer) and decides to stay, leading to the ordeal of the movie's title.

This is definitely one of the sickest and weirdest movies I have seen in a while. Marc is put through hell in order as he tries to escape the clutches of the psychotic Mr Bartel and the rest of the village folk (think the residents of Royston Vasey without the make-up).

The reason for the ordeal is farfetched (apparently Marc reminds Bartel of his wife who left him) and it does take some will power to not just grab your remote and switch off. However, if movies such as Straw Dogs, Deliverance and Last House On The Left are you're cup of tea, then I would recommend this.

Unfortunately this movie has no real ending (the director explains in his interview that he wanted to leave it open...why? Hasn't Marc been put through enough) so you are left with questions.

It's not the gore that makes this movie what it is, it's what happens and what Marc sees that makes this movie shocking. This is definitely not a comedy.

Don't watch this while eating.