Knife + Heart 2019

In the sultry summer of 1979, Parisian nightlife pulses with vibrant energy as a young man, Karl (actor’s name), loses himself in a nightclub dance, his steps weaving through a sea of strangers. Amidst the revelry, he catches sight of a figure clad in a leather mask and is drawn into a private room where their nocturnal tryst takes an ominous turn. As the masked stranger binds Karl to a bed, a sinister fate awaits him - a dildo with a blade hidden within serves as the instrument of his demise.

Back at the film studio, Anne (actor’s name), a stalwart producer and director of gay pornography, is reeling from the sudden abandonment by her girlfriend and editor, Loïs. As she struggles to maintain a sense of normalcy on set, her best friend and actor Archibald works tirelessly to create a harmonious environment for their cast. When the police arrive, bearing questions about Karl’s murder, it becomes apparent that this is not just any ordinary tragedy - Karl had starred in numerous films under Anne’s direction.

The brutal slaying forces Anne to seek out an alternative lead actor, leading her to Nans, a young miner with a straight sexual orientation, yet willing to take on the role. As the film’s narrative shifts to revolve around Karl’s murder, Anne decides to title it Anal Fury V, a bold move that seems to mock the darkness unfolding around her.

The masked killer strikes again, claiming Thierry’s life while he indulges in heroin. Fears of police ineptitude and vulnerability spread through the studio like wildfire. Undeterred, Anne continues to assemble a new cast for Homocidal, convinced that the show must go on. Amidst the chaos, the crew manages to complete filming, culminating in a celebratory picnic amidst the forest’s tranquility.

As Loïs reappears, attempting to mend their fractured relationship, they are interrupted by an ominous storm. Meanwhile, Misia, another actor, becomes separated from the group and falls prey to the killer’s mercyless wrath. Anne’s grip on reality begins to slip as she chases after Loïs, her actions devolving into a frenzied display of desperation.

The death toll mounts, with three more victims claiming their final curtain call. In a state of heightened anxiety, Anne implores the authorities for protection, only to be dismissed. However, an astute officer provides a cryptic clue: in each crime scene, a crow feather has been found nestled beside the lifeless bodies. This enigmatic detail sets Anne on a path to uncover more about the feather’s significance.

She contacts a local pet store, seeking insight into this mystifying phenomenon. The proprietor reveals that the feathers belong to a rare species of blind crows, their habitat located in a remote forest town.

As Anne ventures deeper into the forest, she stumbles upon a somber cemetery where a grief-stricken woman is mourning the loss of her son, Guy Favre. The tormented mother shares the tragic tale of Guy’s secret affair with his friend Hicham, whose illicit passion was brutally extinguished by Guy’s father. The patriarch caught the lovers in flagrante delicto and exacted a horrific revenge: murdering Hicham, mutilating Guy, and incinerating the barn with Guy still trapped inside. Miraculously, Guy survived, but his body bore the scars of that fateful night.

That evening, as Anne reviews the day’s events, she receives a chilling package containing newspaper clippings detailing Guy’s gruesome murder. Her investigative instincts kick in, and she realizes with a jolt of fear that Guy is the very same killer responsible for the carnage on screen. Determined to outsmart him, she convinces her crew to capture another scene featuring Archibald as the lead actor.

Meanwhile, Loïs is meticulously editing their latest film when she stumbles upon an unsettling revelation: Guy’s disfigured visage appears in the footage. Back at the shooting location, the production stalls due to a series of inexplicable mini-blackouts. As these mysterious events unfold, Guy materializes and strikes down Luis, a member of the cast. Anne narrowly escapes his clutches as Loïs intervenes, only to fall prey to Guy’s merciless attack. In her final moments, she cradles Loïs’ lifeless body in her arms as Guy slips away into the shadows.

The story takes a dark turn when Anne and Nans attend the premiere of Homocidal at an adult movie theater. Unbeknownst to them, Guy is also in attendance, lurking mere feet from Nans. The film’s credits roll, and another of Anne’s films begins screening; she’s shocked to realize that all the murdered actors had starred in a scene reenacting Guy’s tragic tale – a gruesome reminder that he’s hell-bent on exacting revenge by slaughtering everyone involved, including Anne herself.

In a desperate bid to stop him, Anne confronts Guy in a dimly lit room where he’s attempting to eliminate Nans. But his plan is foiled when he’s interrupted by the uncanny resemblance between Nans and Hicham. Seizing another opportunity, Guy takes a hostage and flees to a nearby film screening, only to be met with a violent backlash from an audience of outraged gay men who’ve had enough of his terror. As Guy meets his maker, a haunting flashback unfolds, revealing the poignant love story between Guy and Hicham, accompanied by the symbolic presence of a blind crow that revives the disfigured Guy after the inferno.

The narrative concludes with Anne wrapping up her latest film and finding solace in reconciling with Loïs’ ethereal spirit.