The Soul Eater

Le Mangeur D'Âmes (or The Soul Eater for the English title) is a French mystery/thriller of good quality, but not really a horror movie like it's also categorized on here. Sure there is a creepy mask but that's about it concerning horror. The most positive thing about The Soul Eater is that there is a good mysterious vibe to it, which keeps you guessing. It's entertaining and interesting to follow. A well written story. The acting was also more than decent, and that from the entire cast. The Soul Eater is certainly worth watching if you like this genre of movies. A good crime/mystery/thriller.

Sometimes, movies are just appealing because of their story, the cover, the actors, or sometimes it's a mixture of things that you can't quite explain. That is the case for The Soul Eater, or Le Mangeur d'Âmes, for me. I was really curious to see it and was lucky enough to rent it on Prime for 1 euro here in Germany. The movie is adapted from a 2021 novel of the same name and tells the story of a male police captain and a female police commander from out of town investigating a case in a small mountain village where children disappear and gruesome deaths occur. As the title and the cover suggest, there are stories about an evil, malevolent creature said to be responsible for the strange occurrences.

After being introduced to our two lead characters, they arrive at a gruesome crime scene. It's clear that something horrible has happened, and with the great makeup effects and the realistic touch of the whole scenario, my interest was piqued. After that, the movie takes its time, depicting a few more deaths and strange happenings. Multiple characters are introduced, and the mystery deepens as the village's secrets unfold.

If you don't mind the rather slow pacing, the movie will definitely entertain you with its piece-by-piece storytelling and unique narrative, supported by great performances and believable settings throughout. Without spoiling anything, I can say the movie took a direction I didn't expect, creating a unique outcome that people will either love or hate. It felt a little out of place and unexpected, but I thought it was an interesting take that added originality to the story, which I appreciated. The runtime could have been 10-15 minutes shorter, as a few scenes didn't lead anywhere, but that's a minor complaint.

Overall, it's a great and well-produced movie that surprised me with its dark storytelling and gruesome scenes. I would have loved for it to dive deeper into the horror genre, as it leans more towards a mystery-thriller with some crime and horror elements mixed in. Nonetheless, I think it's worth a watch, and I'm curious to see what the directors will do next, as their previous movies were also quite enjoyable. I'd recommend checking them out. I enjoyed this unique French movie more than I anticipated, and if you get the chance, you should give it a try.

[6.2/10]

You can't watch this film and not think of the classic French crime thriller Crimson Rivers.

It has a lot of similarities to that film, only with more of a folk horror twist.

Not that it's nearly as good as it...more like a budget version.

It's got that vibe though.

Which is why I wanted to love this more than I actually did.

Because I was a huge fan of that film when I was younger.

Unfortnately, there's something about this that just doesn't do it for me.

Perhaps it's the acting (the duo here are no Reno & Cassels).

Perhaps it's the manufactured feel of the whole thing.

Or, perhaps it's the way the mystery is dumbed down "for the sake of the viewers".

Either way...it sits somewhere in the middle ground of being entertaining enough, and kind of lame, at the same time.

That's not to say it's overtly horrible.

Just that it could have, and should have, been better than it is.

It's major downfall, in my opinion, is that the ending is way too predictable.

And, even though they attempted to throw in a few twists, and a little ultraviolence, towards the end...it just wasn't enough to make the film good.

So I can't help but leave feeling a little disappointed by it all.

But I think it is enjoyable enough for most mainstream viewers to appreciate.

So there's that, at least.

But it wasn't for me.

4 out of 10.

If you liked the first season of True Detective, I'm sure you'll enjoy this as well. The introduction is similar-it involves missing children, a bit of the deep web and darknet, and some drug-related elements. It also delivers highly satisfying plot twists. While the tension feels a bit weak at times, it picks up around the middle of the second half.

At first, it seems like a paganistic horror-thriller with mystical and detective elements, but it's not. Crime thriller would be a more accurate description.

As the story unfolds, it gradually gains momentum, and towards the end, it hits you with one twist after another, leaving you in awe. However, don't expect a happy ending-because there isn't one. First 48 is very important.

All in all, the given rating is too low; this is an underrated piece. In my opinion, it deserves at least a 7-7.5.

OK there're clichés (the two cops who first do not get on well, but eventually team up when they realize that their affairs are tied ) and enough plot holes to fill the Albert Hall ....

But the excellent cast (Virgine Le Doyen , true to herself ,Paul Hamy, even Sandrine Bonnaire in a supporting part) the splendid (but sometimes maleficent ) landscapes and a threatening atmosphere make up for it ; this self-destructing attitude may remind you of an old American movie ("Impulse " 1984; the reason why they are agressive is more or less the same)

The story of the bogeyman is not new , used in so many films you can't count them all ("Hallowe'en "for instance );and one can wonder why on the rooms in the disused sanitarium the names are written in English (?) ;besides ,the part of Malik Zidi (who was an excellent Jacques Thibault in the "les Thibault " miniseries )should have been more developed ;his final intervention comes at the most awkward moment .

That said ,in spite of too many unlikelihoods , it's a gripping thriller, with enough unexpected twists to satisfy the audience and the final picture is a good idea ,keeping some of the mystery intact.

I do prefer a long-haired Le Doyen!