Enter the Void
Overview
This psychedelic tour of life after death is seen entirely from the point of view of Oscar, a young American drug dealer and addict living in Tokyo with his prostitute sister, Linda. When Oscar is killed by police during a bust gone bad, his spirit journeys from the past -- where he sees his parents before their deaths -- to the present -- where he witnesses his own autopsy -- and then to the future, where he looks out for his sister from beyond the grave.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Enter the Void draws heavily from Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan Book of the Dead, exploring the bardo state, the transitional period between death and rebirth. Gaspar Noé aimed to create a film that would simulate a drug experience and explore the themes of consciousness beyond physical existence, offering a cinematic interpretation of spiritual and existential concepts.
- Its unique and immersive first-person perspective that puts the viewer directly into the protagonist's psychedelic experience.
- The exploration of themes such as death, reincarnation, and the nature of consciousness.
- The visually stunning and often disturbing imagery, creating a truly unforgettable cinematic experience.
- The complex and non-linear narrative structure that challenges conventional storytelling.
Fun Facts
- The film features explicit and prolonged scenes of drug use and sex, leading to its controversial reception and censorship in some regions.
- The actor who played Alex (Paz de la Huerta) was unaware of the true nature of some of the scenes she was filming until she saw the final cut.
- Gaspar Noé experimented with brainwave synchronization during post-production, adding specific frequencies to the soundtrack intended to enhance the film's hallucinatory effect.