Climax (2013 film)

Climax is a 2018 French psychological horror dance film written, co-edited, and directed by Gaspar Noé. It stars Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, and Souheila Yacoub, along with a cast of primarily non-professional dancers.

The film is set in 1996 and centers on a French dance troupe who, after rehearsing in an isolated school building, have their after-party spiked with LSD, leading to a night of madness and descent into primal chaos. Climax is notable for its single-take cinematography, particularly in the extended dance sequences, and its overall unsettling and disturbing atmosphere.

The film explores themes of group dynamics, societal breakdown, drug-induced psychosis, and the loss of control. It received generally positive reviews for its visual style, soundtrack, and visceral impact, but also drew criticism for its graphic content and nihilistic outlook. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Directors' Fortnight award.