Inside Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier travels mainly on the run, his office in his backpack, on the lookout for fascinating subjects and people. He speaks to everyone and is interested in all walks of life in this urban chronicle.
Unlike you and me, Remy Couture could murder someone in his home and dispose of the body easily.
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He could enclose the body of his victim in a body bag and drag it to the trunk of his car, without subtlety, in broad daylight, and this, without arousing suspicion.
Because this specialist in macabre special effects must frequently deliver himself realistic corpses made of silicone that TV series or films order from him.
Photo Louis-Philippe Messier
Artist provides number of legs for zombie movies
His neighborhood knows his unusual trade and is no longer moved.
“Often, I don’t have help, I have to transport the dead alone, and it makes my neighbors laugh to see me forcing it, pulling by the chest while my feet drag on the ground… they’re used to it!” he laughs.
“I once left a disemboweled corpse mannequin on my balcony. People were like, “Whoa! it’s at Rémy, it’s normal”.
The 45-year-old artist shot to fame 13 years ago when he was arrested and charged with producing obscene material with bloody photos and films that were too realistic for the Crown’s taste.
He was acquitted in December 2012, so it will soon be 10 years.
Last week, in Montreal, a Halloween decoration deemed “realistic” representing a hanged man caused controversy.
Who else but Rémy Couture was I going to ask to comment on this case?
Unsurprisingly, the artist ranks among those who do not understand why we make such a big deal out of this model.
“If a realistic Hangman appeared in July, I’m not saying…but we’re two weeks away from Halloween!”
“It’s the time of the year when the macabre has the right of citizenship and where plastic skeletons multiply on the grounds.”
Not a Halloween fan
Ironically, he says he has no particular love for Halloween, as it evolves into the macabre all year round.
“If I was decorating for Halloween, I’d do something with zombies coming out of the ground…but the kids wouldn’t want to know about coming.”
Remy Couture’s workshop is overflowing with severed limbs, severed heads, mummies, etc.
Photo Louis-Philippe Messier
The workshop is full of macabre objects.
Due to the proximity of a creamery, during the summer, curious children stare at its window, wide-eyed.
“Parents ask me if they can visit my workshop with their child. It explains to them the difference between reality and fiction, to let them touch my silicone creations, which are scary, but are not true!”
According to him, Halloween is an auspicious time to symbolically tame the gloomy realities of existence.
“Like the children who visit my workshop, in front of a realistic decoration, it can be the moment to talk about what is false and true.”
The limit not to be exceeded, according to him?
“Obscenity,” he says.
“Macabre Halloween decorations displayed in the street must not have any sexual connotation.”