The Take
Polytechnique lands a 22 Slop Score. Villeneuve's 2009 docudrama recreates the real 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in cold, precise detail without CGI crutches or revenge fantasy.
The film treats violence as raw horror rather than product, yet its moral thesis collapses into unrelieved despair with no counterweight or insight beyond the atrocity itself.
The Verdict
Polytechnique signals status as serious cinema through its unflinching subject but delivers only clinical despair. The 22 Slop Score reflects a technically precise film that mistakes emptiness for depth.
Skip it.
Common Questions
Is Polytechnique based on a true story?
Yes. It directly recreates the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal.
Why is Polytechnique controversial?
Its graphic, real-time depiction of the shootings divided viewers on exploitation versus necessary remembrance.
How accurate is Polytechnique to the real events?
It sticks closely to known timeline and victim focus while avoiding the shooter's manifesto.
