CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Senteur
As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Arianna Moses
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
Joris
A Canadian slasher movie that resembles films like Cruising, Maniac and Dernière Séance. This serial killer gets crazy upon hearing disco music. As soon as the first tunes reach his eardrums, his eyes turn black and he gets in a killing trance (triggered by some childhood trauma). Although Discopathe is an atmospheric picture with some truly interesting and horrific moments, it couldn't ever grab me by the throat, nor scare me at any time. I suppose this movie hasn't got the intention to shock, but more to generate a dismal vibe like Dernière Séance and 1970s feeling like Cruising. This is definitely something for aficionado's and exactly therein lies its charm. It just didn't work for me this time.
HumanoidOfFlesh
Duane Lewis(Jérémie Earp-Lavergne)is an awkward and very shy man who works in a burger joint.But this soft-spoken and slightly weird guy has murderous dark side:when he hears pulsating disco music he turns into savage and merciless slasher of young women.His first victim roller-skating girl is murdered in New York night club during disco number.Duane catches the first flight to Montreal and begins his next killing spree there.What I especially enjoyed in "Discopathe" is an obvious influence of 70's grindhouse exploitation cinema and low-budget slasher flicks like Joseph Ellison's "Don't Go in the House"(1980).The film is pretty bloody and sleazy,so I can't complain.The direction of Renaud Gauthier is quite good and the cinematography is splendid.There are some silly scenes in "Discopathe",but if you like your slasher movies cheesy and bloody you can't go wrong with this groovy slasher indie.8 discopathic killers out of 10.Lots of fun.
Greg
Music speaks to us all. But when music speaks to Duane Lewis (Jérémie Earp-Lavergne) he transforms into a serial killer whose murderous trail of blood can be found on both sides of the 49th parallel.On the surface, Duane looks like your average young man growing up in the discocentric mid-1970's. But a childhood event (seen later in flashbacks) underline why Duane has psychotic snaps in the presence of disco music leading to his murderous ways. His serial killer instincts are so violent in nature that bodies are dismembered and mutilated beyond recognition.On Duane's trail are both detectives from New York City and Montreal where Duane has taken up residence after fleeing the United States after a brutal slaying at a local Discotheque. Always one step behind, Duane seems unstoppable during his musically engaged rages. That is, until Duane reveals himself to the detectives leading to a climax that is an unpredictable as it is enjoyable.Discopath is directed by Renaud Gauthier who marked his directorial debut with this slick and fun horror film. A toe-tapping soundtrack which includes music from Kiss and KC & the Sunshine Band help lead to the authentic feel of the 70's and the violence goes from the grotesque such as the use of vinyl as a weapon to the graphically conclusion to a car chase during a funeral procession.Discopath switches languages when the action switches to Montreal which may dismay anyone who groans when having to read subtitles. But the effect only personifies the authenticity of the environment and setting that Gauthier has constructed from his own screenplay.A few dialogue lapses and questionable casting choices for a few of the side characters are the only drawbacks in an otherwise highly recommended hidden gem that we bet disco balls many of our readers have not heard of prior to this introduction.Upon a second viewing, we believe strongly that had Discopath been released theatrically in the late 1970's or early 80's it would easily have become kin to other revered Canadian horror films such as Black Christmas, Prom Night and Happy Birthday to Me.As an elder statesman in 2014 I can still confirm that Disco Sucks. But Discopath does everything but.www.killerreviews.com
Coventry
It's truly a joy and relief to know that somewhere in this world (in Canada, apparently) some people are still making refreshing and creative new horror movies! "Discopathe" is a highly original, tongue-in-cheek and clumsy - although I'm sure that's intentional – low budgeted slasher flick that put a giant smile on my face from start to finish. Writer/director Renaud Gauthier (you can also spot him in a delicious cameo appearance as the protagonist's father) thought up a plot that is quite insane and simplistic but the setting, atmosphere and particularly the grotesque make-up effects form a downright terrific homage to the rancid and nasty exploitation horror flicks from the late 70's and early 80's. Duane Lewis is a handsome twenty-something New Yorker, but he has one major problem. The sound of disco music causes him to go out of his mind and turns him into a maniacal killer. Unfortunately for him, disco is something nearly impossible to avoid in the year 1976, especially when sexy Rollerblades-girls practically force him to go out clubbing. After having committed a gruesome murder, Duane flees to Montréal and inconspicuously hides himself as a caretaker in a catholic all-girl boarding school. But even here in this supposedly secure environment, Duane is again confronted with lewd disco-loving girls and his homicidal tendencies rapidly come back to the surface… bigger and nastier than ever! The violence as well as the killer's hateful facial expressions of "Discopathe" will instantly remind genre connoisseurs of all those gloriously controversial misogynic slashers from several decades ago ("Maniac", "Don't go in the House", "New York Ripper"…) but the subject matter here is light-headed and much easier to digest. I realize there might be something seriously wrong with me, but I thought it was brilliantly amusing and nostalgic to witness a crazed killer hack up and mutilate the corpse of a young girl with broken 7 inch records! Renaud Gauthier also included several obligatory but marvelously clichéd sub plots, like lesbian experimenting and perverted priests within the boarding school's walls, obsessive coppers with porno movie mustaches and the ludicrous childhood trauma. And then last but not least, of course, there is the sensational and aptly selected soundtrack. The great, exhilarating music makes the film's relatively short running time fly by even faster and several tunes are guaranteed to remain stuck in your head. "Discopathe" is a more than welcome must-see slasher for real horror freaks.
