You might not have stumbled upon Gaspar Noé’s Love, a film that really stretches the boundaries, focusing on a couple, their captivating neighbor, and the explicit encounters they share.
It’s not exactly what you’d call a “great” film, nor will it leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
Yet, like every project Noé dives into — from the intense crime drama I Stand Alone and the emotionally heavy Irreversible to the trippy Enter the Void — Love offers up some pretty spellbinding visuals, to put it mildly.
Credit: Netflix
Now that you can stream it on-demand, there are a couple of things you might want to think about before you settle in to watch it, especially if you’re thinking of viewing it with your other half.
Here’s the scoop: the film, with its broad title, trails Murphy (played by Karl Glusman), an American filmmaker in Paris who falls for Electra (Aomi Muyock in her first acting gig), an unpredictable artist who loves the nightlife.
Right from the start to the very end, we’re pulled into the intimacy of these lovers who are on a mission to explore every desire, leading them to bring Omi (Klara Kristin) into their adventures.
Although the storyline revolves around the fallout of their threesome, it’s through Murphy’s scattered recollections we see his stormy relationship with Electra had fizzled out way before Omi entered the picture.
Heads-up, if you’re watching this with your partner, brace yourself for the “threesome talk” afterward.
That is unless you’re already exploring or you’re game to get really high and chuckle at the fact that Murphy is pretty much a disaster.
In that case, you both might actually find Love quite the ride. And to that, I tip my hat to you.
Since it’s a film that doesn’t shy away from pushing limits, it tosses up plenty of questions about monogamy, fidelity, and trust.
So, unless you and your sweetheart are totally aligned in what you’re comfortable exploring, maybe watch Love on your own time. Honestly, it’s not worth an argument.
Setting potential relationship landmines aside, if you’re both cinephiles, then you’ll likely appreciate that Love is visually stunning.
It showcases Noé in his most unfiltered form, perfectly mirroring his main character’s endless narcissism.
Some parts are tough to sit through, especially when Murphy and Electra’s interactions turn aggressive.
On the flip side, Noé’s twisted humor shines through, ensuring that even in its most melodramatic moments, you might just find yourself laughing out loud.
