I definetely agree. IMO the film is much more flawed than many here would aknowledge: sometimes ridiculous (at least for a French viewer), sometimes inconsistent or disapointing (like the fact that we don't know what happens to Yasmine, nor do we understand if Thyson - the dog - was dead or not, etc, etc.)
NEVERTHELESS there's something powerful and appealing in this film — something that apparently got unnoticed so far.
The thing is: it's not only about Joseph and his pact with Satan. From the begining to the end, the director effectively shows us a handful of youth that are quite specifically under the spell of the devil. Indeed, Joseph is by far the less interesting character, maybe due to Cassel's overacting.
Eve is obviously devilish. She is the temptress ("Eve"!), and her role is to bring to Joseph his victims. She deliberately cooperates with him, and in the nightclub she is, so to say, on duty. BTW, the name of the nightclub is "Styxx", a transparent allusion to one of the hell's river. And Eve's only purpose is to drive dumb Barth mad. Remember her smile when the serpent frightens the guys (she is not afraid at all). Remember everything about her that shows that she is pityless, cold, always playing a role.
The same is true, on a lesser lever, with Joseph's niece (red haired, of course, and quite snake-like) — though she is quite useless as a character in the movie (the director seems to have wanted to show as many sexy young girls as possible, regardless of any kind of necessity).
But the trio is — and that's what make the film more that a silly creepy movie — also quite in acquaintance with the devil. Ok, not explicitely so. Not consciously so. But really so. Their behavior. The music they listen to (the scene in the car, when they ride to the countryside, is terrific and horrible, like they are somewhat possessed). They lie, they cheat, they are cruel, stupid, selfish and lecherous.
The only really innocent figure is Yasmine. They abandon her to what they know can only be a tragic fate. She is litteraly sacrified.
My point is not moralistic — nor is the director's point, of course. It's more like "metaphysical sociology" (The major flaw of this film being, apart from a silly script and the overacting of Cassel, the abuse of symbolism). But this depiction of a certain youth obviously points to the presence of evil in many a "accepted" behavior". As is said in the begining, "they know what they are doing" (so, Lord, do not forgive them).
The fact that, for many viewers, the only devilish figure is Joseph is really a shock to me. Like, the rest of the crew are only normal guys! Come on! Focusing on Joseph is missing the only real achievement of this film: showing uncomplacently how parts of "our whole culture", like says howerd, has something to do with Satan. Unconsciously so (because they do not even believe in God, at least the two leads, and Satan is only a laughable superstition). But nonetheless willingly and effectively so.
Sorry for my English being so bad.
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