A sense of macabre and absurd is a good indicator that you've stepped into Denis Villeneuve's cinema. From Maelström (2000), where the story is told by a fish awaiting its death, to Next Floor (2008), a short film depicting a gourmet feast gradually turning into an experience of greed and abjectness, to the police drama Polytechnique (2009), based on the 1989 Montreal Massacre, and the family drama Incendies (2010), serving as a backdrop for fictionalizing the violent atmosphere in the Middle East, the Canadian art-house director, who has since converted to the Hollywood production system, brings his “monstrous” touch to Dune, highlighting the dark undertones of the literary material. The director showcases a mix of influences ranging from Greek mythology to Jungian psychology, while also paying homage to canonical films such as Triumph of the Will (1935, Leni Riefenstahl) or Lawrence of Arabia (1962, David Lean), which Villeneuve has stated played an essential role in shaping his identity as a filmmaker.

Ramona Aristide

+ posts

Film critic. She graduated from Filmology at UNATC. She writes and sometimes moderates discussions.

This author does not have any more posts.