Raw

In the 2016 French-Belgian psychological horror film Raw, Justine Voit, a 16-year-old student, has just begun her veterinary studies at a prestigious boarding school. The Voit family is comprised of veterinarians and strict followers of a vegetarian diet. Justine's life is about to take a drastic turn as she navigates through her first year in vet school, where her older sister, Alexandrine Voit, is already a student. The movie opens with Justine arriving at the school, accompanied by her older sister Alexandrine and their parents. Upon arrival, Justine is introduced to her new classmates, who are all preparing for the same veterinary studies she is about to begin. At dinner, Justine is hesitant to eat her usual vegetarian meal, feeling uneasy around the carnivorous lifestyle of her fellow students. The next day at school, Justine and her sister are welcomed to their dorm and meet their roommate, Adèle. However, the initiation process quickly sets in, and the girls are forced to participate in hazing rituals led by senior student, Rosette. As part of the initiation process, Justine is forced to eat raw deer meat, a first in her life. This act sparks a significant change within Justine, but it is initially unknown to her. The school atmosphere is vibrant, filled with camaraderie among the students. Justine, however, feels increasingly isolated as she struggles to adapt to the school's culture. At the beginning of the semester, she is struggling with the rigorous coursework and feeling disconnected from her classmates. Justine's eating the raw meat sets off a chain of unexpected events that alter her perception, personality, and physical appearance, transforming her into someone who is no longer the same. Justine's change begins with a growing fascination with carnivory. She starts noticing the beauty in raw meat, feeling a connection to the flesh she once found repulsive. At the same time, she starts experiencing intense changes within her body. Justine becomes increasingly obsessed with raw meat, sneaking out of the dorm at night to eat it secretly. This development has both an emotional and physical impact, affecting her social relationships with her sister, Adèle, and other friends. This film takes on a dark, atmospheric tone, gradually revealing Justine's descent into a disturbing world of cannibalism and raw meat obsession. Director Julia Ducournau masterfully navigates through the themes of eating, self-discovery, and bodily transformation. Throughout, Justine finds herself torn between her desire to maintain her vegetarian ways and the intense, animalistic connection she develops towards raw meat. Ultimately, the film raises complex questions regarding self-acceptance, the nature of self, identity, and societal expectations. The movie leaves the audience questioning whether Justine's metamorphosis is a reflection of her true nature or an act of rebellion against the societal norms she grew up in.