Knife + Heart (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Knife + Heart is a 2019 drama thriller directed by Yann Gonzalez, starring Vanessa Paradis as Anne Parèze, Kate Moran and Nicolas Maury. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $341,847 worldwide on a $3.4 million budget. Critics gave it 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Yann Gonzalez
- Original language
-
French - Budget
- $3.4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Knife + Heart About?
The premise of Knife + Heart without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1979 Paris, a film producer named Anne, along with her editor and lover Lois, ventures into the city’s underground gay porn industry. Driven by ambition and a desire to create her most provocative film yet, she works with the eccentric Archibald. However, a shocking murder disrupts her professional and personal life, plunging her into a disturbing mystery filled with danger and unexpected connections that threaten to unravel everything.
Knife + Heart Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gay pornography
- gay pornography filmmaking
- male nudity
- male frontal nudity
- homosexual
- male rear nudity
- year 1979
- film in film
- film producer
- split screen
- fluffer
- forced sexual contact
+38 more Show fewer
- based on true story
- lesbian obsessed with her ex
- lesbian sexual assault
- crow
- oral sex
- nightmare
- gay porn director
- hardcore
- giallo
- reference to kiss
- lgbt horror
- tooth gap
- black crow
- homophobia
- gay character
- blow job
- fellatio
- brief male frontal nudity
- pornography
- film projection
- filmmaking
- film shoot
- film shooting
- knife
- stabbing
- telephone call
- police inspector
- drugs
- sex scene
- stabbed in the chest
- stabbed in the heart
- movie theater
- voice over
- voice over narration
- nudity
- scene during end credits
- female female kiss
- toxic love
Knife + Heart Cast & Characters
Vanessa Paradis leads the cast as Anne Parèze, with Kate Moran as Loïs McKenna and Nicolas Maury as Archibald Langevin. Directed by Yann Gonzalez; 15 actors are credited in all.
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Director Yann Gonzalez
-
Vanessa Paradis as Anne Parèze -
Kate Moran as Loïs McKenna -
Nicolas Maury as Archibald Langevin - Bastien Waultier as Jean-Marie Duvernet, dit Karl
Also Starring in Knife + Heart
· 11 more- Félix Maritaud Thierry
- Thibault Servière Misia
- Jonathan Genet Guy
- Noé Hernández José
- Bertrand Mandico François Tabou
- Khaled Alouach Nans, Fouad
- Pierre Emö Valentin
- Pierre Pirol Bouche d'or
- Salim Torki
- Jeremy Flaum
- Naelle Dariya
More from Yann Gonzalez
More films directed by Yann Gonzalez: Hideous, Fou de Bassan, A Gothic Video Introduction by Pierre Emö and De sperme et d’eau fraîche.
Knife + Heart Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Knife + Heart 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in story & flow (55).
Knife + Heart Echo Score Breakdown
Knife + Heart excels in visual and sensory design but its narrative elements hold it back. The film’s lurid colour palette and neon-inflected cinematography create a distinctive 1970s homage, while M83’s pulsing electronic score sustains a charged atmosphere. However, reviewers frequently note repetitive plot developments, uneven pacing, and underdeveloped character motivations that undermine the momentum. Overall, the movie delivers striking style but struggles to maintain consistent engagement.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
In terms of art and craft, Knife + Heart showcases exceptionally vivid production design and precise editing. Its lurid colour palette and neon aesthetics underscore the director’s queered homage to giallo, while the measured framing pays tribute to cinematic influences from Mario Bava and De Palma. Ultimately, the film confirms a strong visual identity built on bold stylistic choices.
- Character & Emotion 72
When it comes to character and emotion, Knife + Heart delivers moderately engaging performances hindered by uneven development. Viewers praise the authentic energy and chemistry among key players, but some critics highlight broad humor and unexplained motives that dilute emotional depth. While the acting often feels sincere, sporadic lapses in character motivation prevent full immersion in the interpersonal dynamics.
- Story & Flow 55
In terms of story and flow, Knife + Heart balances inventive premise with recurrent pacing issues. The central whodunit structure and occasional narrative cohesion earn praise for maintaining clarity, yet numerous reviewers lament repetitive porno-movie sequences and intermittent momentum loss. Although the lively climax rekindles interest, the uneven rhythm and episodic pattern often distract from sustained engagement.
- Sensory Experience 88
When it comes to sensory experience, Knife + Heart offers a compelling audiovisual tapestry. M83’s electronic score provides a pulsing undercurrent that complements the disco-tinged soundtrack, while the twinkling sound design heightens erotic tension. Visually, the film’s neon-infused color corrections and gauzy cinematography create an immersive nocturnal atmosphere. Overall, the sensory elements richly engage the viewer’s perception.
- Rewatch Factor 65
In terms of rewatch factor, Knife + Heart presents an alluring style that may appeal to genre aficionados but offers limited narrative depth for repeat viewings. The vivid homage to 1970s giallo and striking audiovisual flourishes invite second impressions, yet the episodic structure and uneven pacing diminish long-term replay value. Consequently, the film achieves moderate lasting appeal.
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IMDb 6.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 81% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 72%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 70 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 59% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
275 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Knife + Heart Plot Summary
What happens in Knife + Heart from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A young man is seen grooving in a nightclub when he catches sight of a man donning a leather mask. He follows the masked figure to a secluded room, where an unsettling encounter unfolds, culminating in his brutal murder by a concealed weapon. Fast forward to the summer of 1979 in Paris, Anne Parèze, a producer and director immersed in the world of gay pornography, finds herself grappling with the emotional fallout of being deserted by her girlfriend and editor, Loïs McKenna. In the midst of the turmoil, Anne’s close friend and fellow actor, Archibald Langevin, endeavors to keep the atmosphere on set conducive for the filming of Anne’s upcoming project.
Full summary
The whole story of Knife + Heart, scene by scene
Knife + Heart Box Office & Budget
Knife + Heart grossed $341,847 worldwide on a $3.4 million budget, 10% of what it cost. $32,516 came from the US and Canada and $309,331 (90%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$341.8K
10% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $32.5K
- International
- $309.3K
- Budget
- $3.4M
Knife + Heart Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 3 trailers.
- Trailer Official UK Trailer
- Trailer Official UK Trailer #2
How Well Do You Know Knife + Heart?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year is the film Knife + Heart set in?
Knife + Heart Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “Knife and Heart” and “La daga en el corazón”.
- Also known as
-
- Knife and Heart
- La daga en el corazón
- En kniv i hjertet
- Nóż + serce
- Cuchillo y corazón
- 插心之刀
- Нож в сердце
- 칼 + 심장
- En kniv i hjärtat
- Kalpteki Bıçak
- Faca no Coração
- 刺心
+4 more Show fewer
- Messer im Herz
- Coração Aberto
- چاقویی در قلب
- Ніж в серце
Seen Knife + Heart?
Movies Like Knife + Heart
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Knife Under the Throat, Next Time I'll Aim for the Heart and Kissed.
Knife + Heart FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Knife + Heart, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Knife + Heart?
Knife + Heart runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).
When was Knife + Heart released?
Knife + Heart was released on March 15, 2019.
Who directed Knife + Heart?
Knife + Heart was directed by Yann Gonzalez.
More films by Yann Gonzalez Who is in the cast of Knife + Heart?
Knife + Heart stars Vanessa Paradis as Anne Parèze, Kate Moran as Loïs McKenna and Nicolas Maury as Archibald Langevin, among 15 credited actors.
How much did Knife + Heart make at the box office?
Knife + Heart grossed $341,847 worldwide ($32,516 domestic, $309,331 international) on a budget of $3.4 million.
How is Knife + Heart rated?
Knife + Heart has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.
Does Knife + Heart have a post-credit scene?
No. Knife + Heart has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Knife + Heart in?
The original language of Knife + Heart is French.
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