The weirdest movie you'll ever see just landed on Tubi — stream it now for free now before it's gone

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'Lux Aeterna' is a fever dream on film that you won't forget

Lux Aeterna
(Image credit: UFO Distribution)

What happens when a movie set completely goes off the rails? How much control can a director keep once the crew, the budget and the schedule stop cooperating? Gaspar Noé's polarizing hidden gem, "Lux Aeterna," dives headfirst into the chaotic meltdown of a film production — and you can stream it for free right now on Tubi.

“Lux Aeterna” puts Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg, playing fictional versions of themselves, in a production about witch trials that steadily unravels. Calls from producers interrupt takes, department heads argue, and a technical demo turns into a blinding strobe that halts the shoot. You know, just normal production snafus that definitely don't take a detour into the surreal.

What's 'Lux Aeterna' about?

Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg play themselves on the set of "God’s Craft," a film about witches being burned at the stake. They start their day discussing depictions of witches and the treatment of women on set. Then, Dalle handles directing duties, and Gainsbourg heads to makeup and wardrobe.

LUX AETERNA - Official Trailer (2022) - YouTube LUX AETERNA - Official Trailer (2022) - YouTube
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Behind the scenes, producers monitor Dalle with the intent to replace her, and the director of photography, who's been promised the job, refuses to cooperate. When the team finally stages the witch-burning scene, a projection and sound malfunction triggers red-green-blue strobing and an overwhelming drone in the audio. The DP orders cameras to keep rolling while the actresses are instructed to remain tied.

Two performers free themselves and leave. Gainsbourg remains bound as Dalle tries to restore control. And things go off the rails from there in such a spectacular way that you're not sure where the movie ends and dreams begin. Throughout, split-screen images and title cards appear with remarks from a variety of filmmakers as you start to wonder if there might have been something in your drink when you sat down to watch. Because this is no normal "documentary."

Why you should stream 'Lux Aeterna' on Tubi

This bizarre psychedelic mockumentary is a cool 51 minutes, so even though it'll feel a lot longer once you get going, it's a relatively short watch that'll have you questioning everything. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or you're just curious about what might go wrong behind the scenes, "Lux Aeterna" is an intriguing lens through which to view the industry.

Seeing actors playing themselves is always a treat, and you get that in droves here, specifically with Dalle and Gainsbourg. You watch them as they start out at their most professional, then unravel. The strobing light and audio warping don't help matters much and turn the whole thing into an endurance test.

Lux Aeterna

(Image credit: UFO Distribution)

While this is a movie you'll get a lot out of, whether it's to satisfy your morbid curiosity or to just watch a trainwreck of a production unfold, it's safe to say "Lux Aeterna" might be a tough watch. But you'll be glad you did so once you're on the other side of it.

Gaspar Noé's filmography is one of unflinching strangeness, but this is one of his best and one that gives you a look at the other side of filmmaking. Catch it before it leaves Tubi, because it'll likely be harder to find once it's gone from the free streamer.

Watch "Lux Aeterna" free on Tubi

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Brittany Vincent
Brittany Vincent

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom's Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more. She's also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.

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