Thriller

Review: Romain Gavras Goes All-Out with His ‘Sacrifice’ Eco Thriller

by Alex Billington
September 12, 2025

Screening at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival. What does it take to really change the world? And who must make a sacrifice if that is ultimately what it takes? These are the foundational questions at the core of this bonkers new eco-thriller film titled Sacrifice, a world premiere at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival playing as a Special Presentation. By the time I watched the film and started writing this review, it has already been lambasted and torn apart by many critics at the festival, some even calling it one of the worst films at TIFF. I couldn’t disagree more. I can say it’s certainly not the best film of TIFF 2025, as it is a bit crass & obnoxious, though that’s on purpose. Yes there are tons of eco-thrillers being made these days, tons of new films about climate change and saving the planet and caring for nature, though few of them are actually making a real difference (unfortunately). What makes Sacrifice unique is it fully leans into the fantastical side of its story, a totally made-up, unrealistic tale of rebellion that is somehow still engaging and entertaining – even if it is ridiculous. But this is a refreshingly different vibe compared to all the more depressing, realistic eco cinema.

Sacrifice is co-written by Will Arbery and Romain Gavras, directed by French filmmaker Romain Gavras. It’s Gavras’ 4th feature film (following Our Day Will Come, The World Is Yours, and Athena) so far and his first in English. Like many filmmakers, he’s clearly pissed about climate change and the state of the world, he’s clearly upset about how little change is happening, though this film also shows he’s clearly tired of all the performative activism that doesn’t result in much of anything except clips “going viral” on social media. Sacrifice starts out with an disquieting premise: a bunch of other wealthy people go to an uber-wealthy tech idiot’s special charity event / party being hosted inside of a marble mine somewhere in Greece. One of the invited guests is Mike Tyler, a washed-out, falling-apart movie star played by Chris Evans. The uninvited guests are a group of eco warriors from a nearby island where a volcano is located, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy as their leader Joan. They take over the event and demand 3 people to be used as a sacrifice to stop the volcano from erupting and killing off all life. Damn, okay. Scary. Similar to Bugonia’s premise, these people seem totally nuts and their claims can’t be real – but maybe they are right? After another breakdown at the event, Mike gets mixed up with them and becomes their sort-of-spokesperson as they carry on with the plan.

This film rocks. It’s bold, wild, and brash yet still highly entertaining and all-out ambitious in its concept. I dig it. I dig what Gavras is going for here, even if it doesn’t all work. I really dig the way he sticks to the wild & crazy vision of a tribe of volcano warriors abducting people then bringing them to the volcano in order to fulfill their prophecy of saving the world from this volcano. This is not how it starts out – the first act feels like something closer to The Menu. But at some point their work there is done, it’s time to move on. And so Gavras keeps going, onward following Sam & Frodo & Gollum towards Mt Doom. It’s stylish & visually bold with an eye for wide angle, open lens cinematography to capture the grandeur of the doomsday story. Some of the negative reviews I’ve read claim Gavras’ execution is “muddled”, but I don’t know where that’s coming from. If anything, his execution & willingness to follow through is one the best parts about this. He doesn’t cut corners or stray or decide that maybe nah things will just end at this party. Perhaps there’s something to be said about how loud & annoying it often is, but this is often why many viewers do not connect with most eco cinema these days – they dislike all the preachiness. The good thing is this one is not actually preachy, because the point of the script is to mock the very people being so preachy (e.g. the character of Mike Tyler).

There is a meaningful point to this story, and I do think it’s a strong message that we should consider in the real world. Yes, it hits all the usual cliches about how rich people are the worst, how eco warriors are usually jerks, how the craziest people are often the most sane in this crazy world we live in. However, it takes us on a wild ride in the meantime. It’s not meant to be realistic. There isn’t really a volcano threatening the planet (🌋 or is there?) and this tribe of eco warriors isn’t an accurate presentation of any activist movement. It’s cinema. It’s purposefully brash, this is what Gavras enjoys when he makes films. Sacrifice is very clear and specific in its execution and premise, especially with regards to the volcano as the centerpiece. But it’s also big and loud and crazy in a way that I not everyone will be into – as evident with the polarizing reviews at TIFF. Anya Taylor-Joy is just having fun playing this more kooky role (she’s always good). Evans, though, is the best performance in this. He’s playing a complex character who is dealing with a boatload of emotions weighing on him at once. And he’s the one we’re meant to consider, to think about in relation to our actions and what we’re doing – or not – in hopes of helping solve the very real, very bad problem of climate change.

Alex’s TIFF 2025 Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Follow Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing

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