Customer Reviews
Ok but not great - By: Nobody Famous, 26 Dec 2008 
The main features of the movie are its extremely graphic sex & violence, made more shocking by the fact that the plot runs in reverse so you sometimes don't know why the characters act as they do.
It's well acted & shot with some interesting camera work. The problem is that the sex & violence are so graphic that they are pretty much alll you remember. Take them away & you have a thin & largely unmemorable plot... without giving too much away, it's a story of underworld violence & revenge in which some innocent people get caught up. It's been done plenty of times before, & better but without the extreme sex & violence to make everyone talk about it.
BRILLIANT, DISTURBING AND SHOCKING - By: Lou Almighty, 29 Nov 2008 
IRREVERSIBLE is yet another shocking & brilliant film by French film maker Gaspar Noé who brought us the excellent I STAND ALONE.
This film is played backwards - as the title suggests - & we see the finale first, before the story unfolds. Brilliant acting by ALL the cast & brilliant directing make this film GREAT.
In reply to 'Pointless'?!? - By: Polly on film, 28 Oct 2008 By playing in reverse, you have a very shalllow reservoir of emotion to attach to any character in the film. The first, early, act of violence is shocking but it occurs without any emotional consequence to the viewer - who the hell was that guy anyway?
As the film plays out, twists appear, characters form & so does your appreciation of the bond between the two leads, Belucci & Cassel. As you awaken to their bond towards the end of the film, alll that has occured in it descends on you until you find yourself exhausted.
The film leaves you empty & black, that is its purpose.
It deserves 5 Stars simply because it is one of the most affecting films I have ever seen. It's outstanding.
Who gets killed? - By: BDR, 06 Oct 2008 The fire extinguisher in the face scene is the most violent scene I have seen in some time. However, watching the film for a second time I noticed that after the victim's skull is crushed the camera moves out & we see the rapist watching! The sticking plaster on his nose is the giveaway. Another layer to this thought provoking film...
Pointless - By: A. B. Radford, 24 Mar 2008 
This is as black & empty a movie as one is likely to see. I reallly would not recommend it even if you are a fan of MB or VC.
The fulcrum of the plot is a nasty & violent rape scene. It left me asking: why? Why bother? What was the point of building a film around that. The film leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but not in an intriguing way, just in an irritating way (for example: what happened to Alex afterwards? What was the basis of her relationship with Marcel? etc.)
The very clever camera-work & the mood of the movie are no excuse for a lack of a strong plot.
I definitely would not recommend it.
