Product Details

• Actors: Eline Kuppen
• Directors: Pieter Van Hees
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: Dutch
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: October 13, 2009
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002IRYYD2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,787 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

LEFT BANK - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Subtle, moody, "indie" Horror done with a dash of the mainstream., October 20, 2011

By 

Saint Thomas (Kent, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Left Bank (DVD)

When my Dad first showed me ROSEMARY'S BABY back in the day, I knew that I was dealing with a whole different type of Horror film all together. I already cut my teeth on the standard classics like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13TH, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and HALLOWEEN. Even more so, I wasn't unaccustomed to the shocking and explicit in the wide world of cinema. Movies like TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and DAY OF THE DEAD kinda' kicked that door down for me long ago. In terms of all out "shock", TROMA films gave me a helping hand in that department. Still, I remember sitting with my Dad, watching ROSEMARY'S BABY on TV and getting drawn into the story moment by moment. There wasn't any zombies, vampire's, werewolves, aliens or undying psychotic stalkers in the movie, fun as those things are. It was just Rosemary alone in her apartment building, and a creeping sense of dread and unease until the very end.

If you've never seen ROSEMARY'S BABY, then you should probably start with that movie. It might not be the first of it's kind (the early 1960's Christopher Lee film HORROR HOTEL could be considered a part of this Horror genre) but it sure does leave it's mark! So far, in my opinion, it's the best in terms of "Supernatural" Horror. Some people also consider this genre as "Devil Worship" or "Cult" Horror, which was started in the 60's and 70's. Films like THE OMEN, THE EXORCIST and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR all could be considered a part of this "Supernatural" Horror scene.

The movie LEFT BANK falls into this category and gets a lot of the classic elements right, while also being totally original itself. Also, it's a foreign movie (Belgian I believe) so if subtitles bother you, look elsewhere for your entertainment. The film starts off with a girl named Marie, who is an aspiring young athlete. It seems like she's training as a long distance runner and pushing herself beyond the physical limit while doing so. Health wise, she's tearing herself apart. Her Doctor thinks that she needs to take some time off from the constant running and let her body heal. Outside of this problem, we get the impression that she's a bit of a reclusive person who doesn't get out much. Not to mention she has an over protective Mother.

One day after exercising, she meets a guy at the track and they hit it off almost immediately. He takes Marie to his apartment complex, which is three huge buildings seemingly out in the middle of nowhere, called "Left Bank." After getting to know this guy a little more, Marie starts to think about her deteriorating health and lack of a social life. Partially under her Doctor's orders and a personal need to break the mold, she decides move in with her new boyfriend for some recuperation time.

As the days go on, Marie comes to realize that "Left Bank" is a rather strange place to live. On one hand, the three buildings seem expensive and highly sought after by the locals. On the other hand, it seems to have a rather dark and sleazy side to it, giving the buildings a over all low rent vibe. Some of the tenants are kinda' creepy and the surrounding landscape is dead, muddy and gloomy. It seems like there is always an over cast above "Left Bank" too. To make the situation all the more unsettling, a girl went missing from the very same apartment she's now living at.

After a couple more days, she starts to experience some pretty strange dreams. One of which has her finding an abandoned baby in the local woods. Meanwhile, her new boyfriend seems clueless about her building sense of dread and the strange things happening all around them. Even Marie herself brushes off these strange feelings of doom as nothing but her imagination, choosing to ignore it.

One day, while jogging in the woods, Marie trips and falls, busting the cartilage in her knee. After going to her Doctor, it becomes obvious she won't be doing anymore running in her near future. Life seems to be slowly changing and falling apart for Marie. Her Mother thinks there is something negative about "Left Bank" and urges her to come home to get better. Thinking she's over reacting, Marie returns to the apartment complex with her boyfriend and tries to really focus on getting well.

While her boyfriend is at work all day, she decides to investigate the missing girl from her apartment complex. This leads to her meeting the girls boyfriend, who had given up hope on ever finding her again. Together they research the history of the apartment complex and come to find some pretty grim news about the land it was built on and the people who founded it. They also discover a strange black pool of mud in the basement of the building, which has a dark and sinister past within itself.

All the while, Marie's health seems to be getting worse. The wound on her knee turns black, oozes dark blood and grows long black hairs out of it. Her Doctor doesn't understand whats happening to her and decides to do some blood tests. By this point, Marie is starting to get paranoid about the people around her and the apartment complex called "Left Bank." Little does she know about the darkness that lies ahead for her.

Does this plot sound familiar guys? 'Yup! It's pretty close to ROSEMARY'S BABY alright! Which isn't a bad thing if you ask me. We need to see more Horror films like this. LEFT BANK is dark, intriguing, creepy and well acted. The cinematography is excellent and the over all production is handled with a sense of maturity. You could say this is the modern equivalent to ROSEMARY'S BABY or THE SENTINEL, although it doesn't top any of those two movies. In the long list of "Supernatural" Horror films, it's hard to put LEFT BANK before or after any other movie. It's not the best and it's not the worst. It's just a good and entertaining film, and if you ask me, that says a lot. Another thing I liked about this movie was the ending. I'm not going to say much but I will say this. It left a lasting impression on me! So much in fact that it made me want to write this here review. Truly effective Horror always has a good ending!

Most Hollywood Horror movies are over bloated and don't come across as honest efforts. The past two Wes Craven films (MY SOUL TO TAKE and SCREAM 4) were lackluster (not to mention the awful CURSED and RED EYE) and most of the recent Horror "remakes" are totally unnecessary. Yes FRIGHT NIGHT, I'm talking about you! LEFT BANK literally elbow drops the last five films I just listed! If you think about it, when was the last time you saw a really good and effective Horror movie in the theater? Probably not for a while. It seems like a lot of these modern Horror films are lame PG-13 ghost stories that play it safe, and remakes that nobody asked for! All of which have actors in them who are far too young to be taken seriously.

Anyways, gore wise LEFT BANK has got nothing. Which isn't a problem, considering everything else in this movie is so good! It's more about the mood, pacing and atmosphere than it is about blood and guts. The general sense of dread is worth the price alone if you ask me. Sorry Gore Hounds but if you're looking for your next Saturday night splatter fest, this 'aint it! Better luck next time.

In the end, LEFT BANK is a pretty good little Horror film. It might not be anything new and it may have a few small faults (some of the plot details don't flesh out clearly enough) but over all, it's a breath of fresh air! I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you want good Horror movies (not the Hollywood, Wes Craven, PG-13 garbage) then look into the "direct to DVD" ones. Movie studios such as IFC, Magnolia Pictures (Magnet films to some), Dimension Extreme, Ghosthouse Pictures and After Dark Horror Fest are the only ones who seem to be doing it right!

Well, thats my two cents!

Hopefully I've been insightful.

Over and out.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great movie, November 13, 2009

By 

Bruce Symansky - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Left Bank (DVD)

Great acting,good story,fantastic ending,beautiful female lead,sex lots of nudity.EVRTYTHING a forgien horror movie should have.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting concept, December 23, 2009

By 

Emily - See all my reviews

This review is from: Left Bank (DVD)

I absolutely love the concept of this movie. I also like how they focused more on character development and symbolism rather than in-your-face shocks or gore. The slow burn to the payoff is definitely worth it!