Vincent Must Die

A simple metaphor for violence in society and the absurdity of conflicts, Vincent Must Die starts out as an adrenaline trip with elements of black humour, but it ultimately runs only at half-throttle and the rather slower narrative pace is given priority. Particularly in the first half, a number of scenes are entertaining, but then the film starts to get bogged down in its own inconsistency and a lot of questions come up that it is unable to answer. Furthermore, the plot shifts over time from being about the necessity of adapting to newly established rules in order to survive in a world in which violence is spreading like the plague to a bizarre romantic storyline, which is an unwelcome diversion from the most interesting part of the film. (10/18/2023)

A dense psychological thriller with an original concept. The story revolves around Vincent, a very ordinary guy who works in an office, but all of a sudden he is attacked by random people who want to murder him and he has to adapt to a new lifestyle. Danger lurks at every turn and he learns that there are more like him. Vincent is literally living a nightmare where no one can be trusted – even small children will want to kill him. It's clever, it's pulled off by the lead actor's performance, it's got quite a disturbing atmosphere, it's entertaining, and the ending builds to a finale of apocalyptic proportions that was pleasantly gritty. A French metaphor for violence in society and I enjoyed it. It's a shame the film leaves questions unanswered, I certainly wouldn't be angry for a twist here. 75% (04/17/2024)

An insanely simple idea from which the filmmakers extract an incredible psychological study of a man in an absurd situation that transitions into a social satire of post-apocalyptic proportions. Without fantasy elements and grand scenes, even though the film plays out predominantly in exterior settings. Some people simply just attack Vincent for no reason. And they do so very aggressively. Escalating danger of incomprehensible origin and reason, rising paranoia, inescapable isolation. Vincent Must Die is a lot of movie made for not a lot of money. [Sitges FF] (10/09/2023)

Vincent Must Die is the story of a middle-aged man in hiding who suddenly begins to fall victim to random brutal attacks by his friends or passers-by. And what begins as a rather comical premise gradually escalates to new and new levels. To reveal more would be a disservice to the story, as it's very entertaining to watch the film take new directions as the minutes pass. (10/21/2023)

The French answer to It Follows, Vincent Must Die serves more as a metaphor for societal violence than a full-throttle horror, though it doesn’t shy away from brutal moments when needed. The meticulously crafted beginning slows down with a sudden change in location, yet it still delivers some memorable scenes along the way. This high-concept film is engaging, though it has its flaws and seems unsure about how to wrap things up. Despite this, it’s a movie that will resonate with me for a while. (10/11/2023)