Podcast Macabre ‘26
7/52

My first Claire Denis film!

Trouble Every Day is a moody exercise with a dialogue light script that is very show don’t tell. The story feels purposefully obscure, which I admittedly struggled with at points despite enjoying the viewing experience as a whole.

For the first half, it feels like Shane is making a concerted effort to bottle his desires and seek out treatment, which is shown in marked contrast to Coré, who it is implied is incapable of resisting her urges and impulses for lust and consumption, and is consequently locked inside by her husband, seemingly for her own safety as well as that of her potential victims. It isn't until Shane takes Coré's life that he gives in to his own urges which manifest as physical and sexual violence.

This hypnotic cannibal horror seemingly explores addictive urges, the selfishness of desire, and predatory sexuality, with both Coré and Shane satiating their cravings by means of sexual violence. The film puts the viewer in a similar position to Shane’s wife June, leaving us out of his orbit and uncertain about his motives and capacity for cruelty, illustrating how even seemingly normal people can hide their true self or intentions from those closest to them.

#43: Written/directed by a woman