«Méandre», Mathieu Turi's breathtaking new thriller

Unpublished article - Jonas Follonier

The Swiss premiere at the twentieth edition of the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) On July 3, exactly four years to the day after the world premiere screening of’Hostile as part of the same festival, Meander is the second feature film by French director Mathieu Turi. Presented as a light science-fiction horror film, it follows a young woman—played by Gaia Weiss—who must contend not only with the obstacles of the long tube in which she is trapped but also with the traps of her own mind. The second installment in a series exploring multiple film genres.

Move forward. That’s the only thing Lisa (Gaia Weiss, from the famous series Vikings) in the hope of surviving in the tunnel where she wakes up after a dangerous encounter on the road. She must move forward while avoiding deadly traps and strange presences that threaten her path. Move as fast as possible—a mysterious bracelet serves as a timer for the young woman, and it doesn’t bode well. If the presence of a car serves as the trigger for Meander is a nice nod to director Mathieu Turi’s previous and first feature film, Hostile, this isn't the only reference in the film to a very cohesive universe.

Read also | Mathieu Turi: «Watching Tarantino work was a constant pleasure».»

The most striking connection established by Meander is the one with Cube, the famous Canadian horror film directed by Vincenzo Natali, which also blends elements of science fiction. This connection is so explicit that the difference between the two films ultimately comes down to a single letter: we’re no longer dealing with a cube, but with a tube. That «t» also stands for Turi, because, of course, the film has many other characteristics of its own, and the French director’s signature style plays a major role in this. We find in Meander the same way of making an accessible concept film as in Hostile.

This story of a race for survival in a labyrinthine, nightmarish, closed-off space—not just for those with claustrophobia—weaves a metaphor for moral dilemmas based on a hostile reality. The hostility is both external and internal. The meticulously crafted camera work centered on the character and the technical ingenuity required for the scene effectively convey this. The overemphasis on certain clues provided to both the heroine and the viewer is offset by the film’s effective style. The sense of oppression is thus guaranteed. In terms of the score, Meander would certainly be a hit.

Still to be seen at NIFFF July 5 at 4:15pm, July 7 at 4:00pm and July 10 at 00:30am.

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Photo credit: © Alba Films