Trouble Every Day

If nastiness was a flower, Trouble Every Day would be a bunch. It is one of those movies that leaves you shuddering. Does sex have to be so messy? What's wrong with the moon in June? Other than Meg Ryan.

Vincent Gallo calls himself Mr Brown. He's married to Mrs Brown (Tricia Vessey). Sounds phoney already. They are on their honeymoon. You can tell, because he looks haunted and she's all gooey with touch-touch.

They fly to Paris. He wears a ridiculous moustache, a terrible jacket and a permanent frown. There's something wrong with him. He can't have sex with Mrs Brown, but can by himself in the bathroom. Also, he looks at the maid in a funny way.

Meanwhile, somewhere else, Beatrice (Betty Blue) Dalle is seducing a lorry driver at the side of the road. What is she? A hooker? A nympho? She behaves in an odd fashion. Will she and Gallo get together? They're both nutters by the looks of it.

And then there's the black guy (Alex Descas) on the motorbike, who might be a famous scientist, possibly married to Dalle. Mrs Brown takes a bath (view of pubes through scummy water). Mr Brown takes a shower (view of blood on the curtain). The maid takes off her uniform (she's naked underneath - surprise!).

Eventually, these disparate characters come together - sort of. The plot has been built to confuse; words are irrelevant; questions remain unanswered.

Is Dalle a cannibal, or a vampire? Is Mrs Brown meant to be boring? Does Mr Brown do what he does because she's driving him crazy? Is director Claire (Beau Travail) Denis obsessed with the hunger of spiders after insectcourse?

Needless to say, despite a wobbly camera, the film has a devilish fascination. Weird would be too polite a word. Sick sounds better.