Les Revenants

Slow in a good way, of course, because it's all about suspense. People start coming back from the dead - some are better remembered than others, some are more aware of what's going on, some just want to start again. This makes the narrative layered, the characters' stories only slowly become clear, the whole situation gradually starts to make sense. There's no hurry, plenty of atmosphere, and a lot is left to the imagination (or at least not explained properly, which I suppose amounts to the same). Family drama overlaps with the fantasy element, so one minute it's really sad and moving, the next weird or horrifying, and all wrapped up in a melancholy soundtrack and lovely mountain scenery. Unsettling, sometimes baffling, but strangely addictive viewing.

Much credit is deserved here, to find such a fresh field amongst the hordes of undead programming assaulting our screens just now is a real achievement.

The setting is also a nice change adding bags of atmosphere. The acting is excellent with almost all the players showing just the right level of reluctance to accept the mind breaking reality of what is happening around them. The characters are diverse enough to give a real sense of the effect the events are having on the community and not just the individuals.

It's hard to criticise a show that makes such an effort to do things differently, and I wouldn't dream of being harsh to this one. The plot is that of a teasingly slowly unravelling mystery, and I would say this can naturally be just a little frustrating at times. One or two scenes are perhaps a little tough to accept as the genuine reaction of the character.

Little (almost petty) criticisms aside, I really enjoyed this show. It always left me eager for the next episode and I recommend it heartily to anyone looking for a smart new approach to an increasingly tired category.

Great series. I'm watching the English-language version of it now with French subtitles and it's great. I can't remember when I watched something that passionately last, waiting for each Sunday installment on British TV. The beauty of it is, it's very realistic and human, spooky in a very believable way. How would you feel if your child or lover came back from the dead and you had to deal with all the problems of hiding them from all the friends and neighbors who were present at their funeral AND have to avoid the truth as the poor souls apparently don't realize they've been dead for years or decades!

I did knock off one point for the dialogue. I'm just not a big lover of "suspenseful" evasiveness when people just don't tell each other things because if they do, the mystery will end after just one episode! Sometimes I was on the verge of hurling something at the TV, so annoyed I was with the characters' constant ambiguities. I don't think I've heard one line of plain honest information in the whole film, it's all understatements, or alternatively something happens just when someone was about to say something important. To me, it's not suspense, it's sloppy manipulative dialogue. So one point off for that.

Otherwise, the actors are very good, the story is well-developed and the atmosphere is beautifully spooky. If realistic horror is your thing, this is definitely a film to watch.

Two episodes in to this French mystery/horror/drama, I'm totally hooked. Everything about it is little short of excellent - great scenery, performances, suspense-building, pacing, story-telling, soundtrack. Another reviewer bitched about C4's chopping it up with adverts, for whom I have news; only the BBC channels could've broadcast this in the UK without them! Perhaps you'd like every programme you might like to only appear on one of these? Please.. I won't elaborate on the plot, as it was summed up perfectly elsewhere, but episode 2 ended on a fantastic question-raiser. It may struggle to maintain the quality of the first few episodes, but I sincerely hope not, because I don't know what else I'd do with my Sunday evenings.

Just finished watching the last episode of Series 1. Last time I was this gripped was in the 90's with Twin Peaks, not usually a TV fan unless something out of the ordinary is on. It takes it slow, gives you red herrings, plays down major plot parts, builds up tension, then BANG, you can't wait till next time. It is set in a small French town, where 35 years previous a dam broke causing many deaths, but "they will have their revenge". Don't want to give too much away, so will just tell you that every part of each characters life is given to you in fine detail, some things will make sense while bits of the plot are left open. However it flows like a full string orchestra playing the Blue Danube, and on that er,note, the music by Mogwai only makes it more enjoyable. The acting is terrific, characters believable, storyline as tight as a ducks hole, I cannot think of one thing to gripe about, which is unusual! Series 2 is on next year, need to keep my diary open. Unmissable, off to buy the series one box-set!