A group of young French Arabs in Paris wind up on the wrong side of the law during riots after the election of a right-wing minister. The group flee and end up at an inn run by neo-Nazis who aren't exactly as welcoming as one may think.I first saw this film sometime in 2007 when it was released in the United States, and recalled it being very gritty and troubling to the senses. Upon revisiting, I've found this still to be true, though now the context in which the film emerged is more clear. "Frontier(s)" is a prime example of the hard-edged French new wave horror cinema that gained traction in the early 2000s with films like "Irreversible," "High Tension," "Inside," "Martyrs," and the like. "Frontier(s)" falls in line with these films in that it creates a palpable sense of dread—it's almost unbearable to sit through, not only because of the violence, but also because the entire thing is shrouded in hopelessness. Where it differs is its overt political themes and irony. What better place for a group of young French Arabs to end up during a right-wing election than an inn owned by neo-Nazis? The cast here is strong all around, and are a large part of what keeps the tension and pathos at such a heightened level. The film spirals down out of control in the second half, with a final act that is as gratifying as it is disturbing. Bleak, pallid cinematography and compositions, along with a brooding musical score also contribute to the film's unnerving demeanor.All in all, I found that while I understood "Frontier(s)" more clearly on a cerebral level a decade later, it still retains the sense of hopelessness that made it an discomforting viewing experience in the first place. It's a well-made film with effective performances and cinematography. The narrative is fairly simple but not self-conscious about it, and doesn't overreach for the sake of overreaching. Overall, a bleak horror film that is commendable but somewhat of a chore to get through. 8/10.

If you're a fan of over the top blood,gore and violence,then Frontier(s) is most definitely the film for you. I was hesitant before I watched this,mainly because of the reviews I had seen prior to watching the film.But,I had to take all of that out of my head,and watch this film going in with an open mind.I have to admit,though the film was not an absolute masterpiece,I was pleasantly surprised. The film itself was decent.The story wasn't exactly strong,and was not exactly original.You literally know after 20 minutes of the film what is going to happen.It is far too predictable,but it is still an entertaining watch! The problem is,this film has too many elements of other well known horror films,that most horror fans will have seen and will notice these similarities.I would say this film is like a French version of a mix between The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,Saw 2,Hostel and The Hills Have Eyes,maybe. Due to the fact it is basically about a group of young Europeans,that go to a hostel,which is occupied by some f*cked up cannibalistic Neo-Nazi family,which they hunt down in a maze and torture and kill them,but the main character of the film escapes in the end.Basically the same old,same old. It's a good film,very entertaining.I would recommend renting/streaming this,but don't waste money on buying this on DVD.

Frontier(s) is a very interesting movie, in a good way and in a bad way. Xavier Gens does not shy away from gore but he also favors symbolism and some very dramatic shots. It's clear that he's torn between these styles as sometimes the scenes seem to be shot by completely different people. Both are fantastic on their own, but together there's a strange mix. There's a shot with the main character getting her hair cut that is beautiful and clear. Just a few minutes before there was gritty, hand-held, night-vision camera action. I think he was pressured to make this into more of a classic horror (Wrong Turn). All in all, it's worth a watch. It's very good actually, I really hope that he gets some focus and a bit more freedom because I think this movie could have been fantastic. He directed perhaps the best segment in the ABC's of death, definitely the most memorable and symbolic (XXL). He has some fantastic shots in this movie, and the actors were way above average for a horror film, specifically Karina Testa and Maud Farget. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoy's horror movies really, and for people who want to see something different.

Trying to escape a local revolution, a group of thieves escape the city and arrive at a secluded motel in the countryside to regroup, only to stumble upon the sinister truth about the owners there and try to get out of the area alive.Overall, this was a very interesting if flawed effort as there's some great stuff here and some really troubling stuff. The troubling stuff isn't all that damaging yet features prominently in the film, mainly the fact that the film's several big action scenes are edited with the ultra-annoying and jarring quick-cut editing that renders the whole scene nearly impossible to make out, as if it had a chance with all the camera-jerking and shaking going on. This one, then, features both tactics during these scenes, and they're the big action chases so those are supposed to be the sequences you want to see, so it knocks itself down a bit for that. However, the rest of the film is highly entertaining and utterly enjoyable starting off with the introduction of the Nazi family which is pretty chilling given the relationship with the group, and their series of chases and confrontations are quite fun. As a bloodbath, it's got a lot to like as this one really lets it flow numerous times with it's graphic depictions of bodies getting torn open, dismemberments, decapitations and more, which are pretty realistic at times and generate a lot of fun. As well, there's some nice suspense at times included within, with one stand-out sequence where several victims crawl through an increasingly narrower tunnel guided only by a cigarette lighter and see they're being chased through by something or someone, and they're mixed nicely with the dirty, depraved goings-on to create a rather fun entry that happily stands among the good new French splatter-fests.Rated Unrated/R: Extreme Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Nudity and a clothed sex scene.