Ex Drummer (2007)

Ex Drummer (2007)
Director: Koen Mortier
Writers: Herman Brusselmans (novel), Koen Mortier
Three drug-addled, misfit punk rock musicians are looking for a drummer. They approach Dries, a well known writer whose arrogant self assurance and yuppie lifestyle make him an unlikely candidate, but the fact that he can't play the drums appeals to the band's punk sensibility. Fascinated by these dysfunctional characters, Dries joins the group. His arrival awakens the personal disputes and family feuds latent in the band. A shocking, hardcore, blood-spattered depiction of small time rock musicians losing the plot rather than living the dream. The most violent film to come out of Belgium since Man Bites Dog.
'Hehe where to start with this film its as filthy and nilistic as cinema gets, think Irreversible or Naked then add more grime. The film centers on the four characters whom form a punk rock band called The Feminists, alongside their twisted family, friends and fellow bands musicians. Three original band members whom all have some disability are female beating lead singer with a lisp Koen de Geyter, deaf 40 plus year old lead guitar player Ivan van Dorpe and homosexual bass guitarist who as an arm he can't bend Jan Verbeek. They are joined by new drummer famous intellectual writer Dries who's not got a disability though is very arrogant & hedonistic. The band think by having Dries onboard they'll become instantly successful specially after winning a local band competition, Dries on the other hand is happy to join as in his own words its a way of him safely escaping his happy mundane life for a little period for one full of real gritty ugliness, and boy have the band got that in bucket loads. The raw earthy punk settings are wonderful as the backdrop to the 4 central characters daily life’s, all thanks to writer Herman Brusselmans they’re each interesting enough to fill a film themselves. The direction is wickedly inventive from the opening 5 or so minutes all being played backwards right to the final thrilling end of the film which plays out like an MTV rock video all be it a very bloody one. Its packed with so many moments that'll play in your for mind hours, days I'm sure even weeks after viewing, like the sad moment Ivan van Dorpe is told that his toddler daughter as died only to be sent into a 12 Monkeys style mental institute, to the scene one of the bands roadie's takes a little more than he bargained for from opposition band front man Big Dick Harry hmmm name may give this one away a little. Anyhow its been a corking few weeks for me film wise, but all the recent great ones I’ve seen like Tropa De Elite, American Gangster & P2 are but a faint memory after viewing Ex Drummer. Quite possibly the film of the year, off hand right now I can't think of one that’s hit my like it. Headfuck cinema is alive and well, ask yourself do you want instant forgettable junk or something that hits you like a sledge hammer if you want the later get this gem from Belgium.'

(9 out of 10)