Titane must truly be seen to believe. That adage may seem corny, but no other film shows vehicular intercourse, a raw sensuality, and a visceral style quite like it. A critical darling at the Cannes Film Festival (its director won the coveted Palme D’Or), Titane is a true visual spectacle. This strange title would be suitable for developing French and horror film collections.
As a youth, Alexia (Agathe Rousselle) suffers a head injury during a car crash. She has a titanium plate inserted into her head. Post-accident, Alexia develops a fond relationship with…the car, not her parents. As a grownup, Alexia works as a provocative showgirl at a motor show. One night, a spectator makes an advance on her.
Alexia murders him. After this murder, she enters the car she modeled with nude and climaxes inside of it. It gets weirder! It is then revealed she is a serial killer. She still lives with her parents, who have no idea about her role in the killings. After a series of murders, she sets her house on fire (with her parents locked inside! This is a real feel-good flick!) and starts out life anew with a new identity.
She is taken in by firefighter Vincent (Vincent Lindon), under the new, androgynous identity of Adrien. However, Alexia soon discovers she is pregnant, and her body begins breaking down and secreting…motor oil. Vincent helps her give birth as her body, revealing more titanium plates, breaks down.
Again, this film must be seen to be believed. It’s a bizarre mishmash of Cronenbergian horror with NASCAR elements, but even that doesn’t do its justice. You’re in for the ride of your life with this one. This title would work well for a film series on body horror.