There is an undeniable silliness in Netflix’s latest offering, “Banger” (2025). Starring Vincent Cassel and directed by the multifaceted French artist So-Me, the French crime comedy set in the world of DJs and drugs revels in that silliness. And no one celebrates the intended frivolity more than the film’s lead character, played by Cassel. It is primarily due to the enigmatic French actor’s energetically humorous turn that the film rises above its middlingly trope-laden plot to become something memorable.
Banger (2025) Netflix Movie Synopsis and Plot Summary:
Luis (Vincent Cassel), who likes to go by his DJ Name ‘Scorpex,’ is raging against the dying light shining on his deejaying career. He has not produced a noteworthy track in a long time. Refusing to hear the bell tolling for him, Luis hangs around concerts for brief opportunities to play a set. One such opportunity comes. Luis gets to play his hit song for a bit before getting cut off unceremoniously by the showstopper Vestax (Mister V). Vestax is all the rage now. But Luis has no doubt Vestax has been modeled after his Scorpex.
As Luis finds his records are pushed to the one-euro priced bottom tier in the local music store, he gets an unexpected lifeline. Enter Rose (Laura Felpin), a Narcotics Intelligence Officer from the French Police. Rose’s investigation has revealed that Vestax’s success is funded by the drug mafia she has been tracking for a long time. The crime family’s second-in-command, a guy named Molotov (a fantastic Alexis Manenti), is quite the chum of Vestax. Rose plans to place a mole inside that ring through Vestax. Luis seems to be the perfect guy. He will need to befriend Vestax and see where it takes him.
The promise of eradicating his tax troubles swayed Luis’s initial reluctance. So, it begins. As it happens, Vestax does respect Luis’ deejaying career. The name ‘Vestax’ is indeed inspired by Luis’ Scorpex. The two hit it off quite well as Luis becomes the young DJ’s friend. Vestax’s friendship takes Luis right into the lairs of Molotov. Luis’ restrained mastery at the DJ set, coupled with the fact that their brains are drug-addled, impresses Molotov’s gang immediately. With a few more wild activities, Luis places himself in the right position. With Vestax already trusting him, Luis gains Molotov’s trust, too. So much so that Luis, as Scorpex, can make an appearance with Vestax for the upcoming Van Straat fashion show.
The Van Straat show is an exhibition of the famous fashionista, Tabitha Jenkins. Luis has previously met Tabitha and her assistant, Capitani. Both have snubbed him while expressing a mild interest in Luis’ daughter Toni’s works. Apart from helping the police, Luis could not help but notice the opportunity for him to finally make a comeback. For now, all he has to do is come up with a song for the upcoming Van Straat show. Of course, in collaboration with Vestax.
Banger (2025) ‘Netflix’ Movie Ending Explained:
How Did Scorpex Get the Van Straat Gig?
As Rose keeps on reminding Luis, their primary task is to take the main man down. It is not Vestax or Molotov. The head of the syndicate is an elusive man named Dricus. Dricus has had facial reconstructive surgery done on him. So, very few can recognize him. Acting on Rose’s information about Dricus being at a party, Luis jumps the gun, assuming he has found the man. However, that appears to be a false alert. So, when Luis makes an appearance in front of Molotov next time, he goes through a rigorous process. Molotov strips everyone naked as his lackeys go through the phones of the members. Luis barely passes the test.
However, the next test becomes too difficult for both Luis and Vestax. Molotov does not like any of their song. With each passing day, the Van Straat event comes nearer as the right song proves to be farther. Luis gets the idea to use the multi-talented Tabitha herself as a singer. However, none of Luis’ beat seems to impress Tabitha. Seeing both his life and music career hanging by a thread, Luis resorts to stealing his daughter’s composition. Tabitha instantly likes it. Luis gets the gig.
How Did Luis Find Dricus?
Luis learns that Dricus always makes an appearance for the Van Straat show. He passes the same information to Rose. The tough task is to find the man. While getting ready for his show, Luis notices Tabitha’s assistant, Capitani, changing. Capitani has massive burn marks on his back. Luis remembers Rose telling him about Dricus’ burn marks. He becomes sure that the mafia boss has taken the seemingly benevolent appearance of Capitani, a mere assistant.
As Luis passes the information to Rose, all hell breaks loose. Rose and his team have been present in the show awaiting Luis’s confirmation. Capitani, or Dricus, notices the movements of Rose’s team. He realizes his mistake. He tries to scarper away. Meanwhile, an enraged Vestax makes an appearance in Luis’s box. A fight breaks out between the two. At the same time, Luis sees Toni in the show.
Toni is one of Tabitha’s models. She recognizes the tune that is being played and realizes that her father has stolen her song. As Dricus starts to get away, bullets begin to fly. Toni seems to be in the way of Dricus. Luis, noticing the situation, jumps in to save Toni’s life as Rose tackles Dricus down. With the help of the rest of the police officers, Dricus gets caught.
Did Luis and Toni Patch up?
Before the Van Straat event, Luis asked Toni to get away from his studio. Luis wanted to put his daughter out of harm’s way. He told her the truth about being a police spy inside a drug ring. However, she did not believe it. She felt her father lied to keep her away. However, seeing how her father throws himself to save her and how the police worked with him to arrest Dricus, she realizes her mistake. Under the light of some astoundingly new information, it appears Toni has forgiven her father for stealing her music. It helps as Luis immediately apologizes to her. She understands the stakes and the situation that made her father use her song.
Banger (2025) ‘Netflix’ Movie Review:
Bertrand Lagros de Langeronm aka So-Me is a Graphic Designer, Music Producer, Animator, and Art Director. So, film direction appears to be right up his alley. As someone who has produced videos for Kanye West, So-Me is, quite unsurprisingly, adept in capturing the ego and the insecurity associated with top-notch music-making. With “Banger,” So-Me navigates the pitfalls of the continuously changing landscape of modern music. He does not seem to be unaware of the soul-crushing process of searching for a timeless piece of music.
Having said that, outside of the intriguing premise, “Banger” does not particularly rise to the occasion. Once inside the infiltrating-the-mafia structure, the film often meanders through its middling moments. Sporadic humor through mildly tense situations featuring knife-dodgeball and naked billiards does not always cut it. However, there is one thing that is in sync with the titular ‘banger’ quality in the film. It is Vincent Cassel. With the right amount of mischievous grins and panicked screams, Cassel makes the most out of any situation. Banal or Chaotic. Given “Banger” revolves predominantly around Cassel’s Scorpex, the film becomes unmissable due to him alone.
