Girls with Balls
A volleyball team faces a dangerous game in a remote bar.
Girls with Balls is a 2018 comedy horror film co-written and directed by Olivier Afonso alongside Jean-Luc Cano. The story centers on the Falcons, a champion volleyball squad, who take a detour along unfamiliar back roads while heading home. They stumble into a bar, where they are forced into a deadly game.
The cast includes Guillaume Canet, Denis Lavant as the Barman, Dany Verissimo-Petit as Dany, Tiphaine Daviot as Jeanne, Manon Azem as Morgane, Camille Razat as Lise, Orelsan as Cow-Boy, Anne-Solenne Hatte as Hazuki, Tony Corvillo as Borgne, Louise Blachère as M.A., Victor Artus Solaro as Coach, Alex Moreu Garriga as Moustachu, Mathieu Madenian, and Margot Dufrene as Tatiana.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 42% approval rating from 12 critics, with an average score of 4.9/10. The site’s consensus notes that while it has occasional humor and relentless gore, it fails to deliver strong cheap thrills or stand out in the trash horror genre. Scott Tobias of *Variety* wrote that Afonso does not push the cartoonish appeal far enough into shocks or titillation, and lacks the inventiveness to compensate. Jordan Mintzer of *The Hollywood Reporter* commented that the film scores points for its Z-movie ideas but could have used stronger writing and direction. Kimber Myers of the *Los Angeles Times* described it as a deranged nightmare of wildness, full of laughs and arterial sprays.
- Director
- Olivier Afonso
- Writers
- Olivier Afonso, Jean-Luc Cano
- Release year
- 2018
- Genre
- comedy horror
- Cast members
- Guillaume Canet, Denis Lavant, Dany Verissimo-Petit, Tiphaine Daviot, Manon Azem, Camille Razat, Orelsan, Anne-Solenne Hatte, Tony Corvillo, Louise Blachère, Victor Artus Solaro, Alex Moreu Garriga, M
- Rotten tomatoes approval
- 42% based on 12 critics
Lore & Background
Girls with Balls was directed by Olivier Afonso, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jean-Luc Cano. The film's cast includes Guillaume Canet, Denis Lavant as Barman, Dany Verissimo-Petit as Dany, Tiphaine Daviot as Jeanne, Manon Azem as Morgane, Camille Razat as Lise, Orelsan as Cow-Boy, Anne-Solenne Hatte as Hazuki, Tony Corvillo as Borgne, Louise Blachère as M.A., Victor Artus Solaro as Coach (credited as Artus), Alex Moreu Garriga as Moustachu, Mathieu Madenian, and Margot Dufrene as Tatiana. The plot centers on the Falcons, a championship volleyball team, who follow a detour home through remote, unknown roads and come across a bar where they are challenged with a most dangerous game.
Reader's Guide
Girls with Balls received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 42% based on 12 critics, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The site's consensus states: 'While occasionally funny and relentlessly gory, Girls With Balls is neither particularly strong on cheap thrills nor a very remarkable entry to the trash horror genre.' Scott Tobias of Variety wrote that Afonso 'doesn't push the cartoonish allure far enough into shocks or titillation, and he's not inventive enough to make up for the absence of cheap thrills.' Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter commented that the film 'scores some points for its Z-movie conceits but could have benefited from stronger writing and direction.' Kimber Myers of the Los Angeles Times described it as 'a deranged nightmare of wildness, as full of laughs as it is arterial sprays.' The film's significance lies in its attempt to blend comedy and horror within a trash-horror framework, though critical consensus suggests it falls short of its potential.
Did You Know?
- The film was directed by Olivier Afonso and co-written by Olivier Afonso and Jean-Luc Cano.
- The plot follows the Falcons, a championship volleyball team, who take a detour home through remote roads.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 42% based on 12 critics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Girls with Balls?
Girls with Balls is a 2018 French comedy-horror film in which a champion volleyball team becomes trapped in a deadly contest at an isolated bar. It was co-written and directed by Olivier Afonso and Jean-Luc Cano.
What sport does Girls with Balls revolve around?
The film centers on volleyball, following the Falcons, a championship squad whose journey home goes awry when they take a wrong turn onto unfamiliar back roads.
What is the main conflict in Girls with Balls?
After the Falcons stumble into a remote bar, the players are coerced into playing a lethal game against their will, turning a simple detour into a life-or-death situation.
Who are some notable cast members in Girls with Balls?
The ensemble includes Guillaume Canet, Denis Lavant as the Barman, Dany Verissimo-Petit, Tiphaine Daviot, Manon Azem, Camille Razat, and Orelsan among others.
How did critics receive Girls with Balls?
The film holds a 42% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes based on twelve critic reviews, reflecting a mixed critical reception.
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