Le Mangeur d'âmes

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.

Rarely before in the history of horror cinema, one director (or a directors duo in this case) made such an impressive debut than Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury with "À L'intérieur" (aka "Inside"). That film is - hands down - one of the most forceful, shocking, astounding, and nightmarish horror flicks ever made. It is also why I have been and will continue following these directors in whatever they do, even though thus far they were never able to repeat the brilliance of their debut. "Aux Yeux des Vivants" (aka "Among the Living") is another authentically raw and disturbing effort, and their Hollywood ventures "Leatherface" and "The Deep House" are more than adequate, but the true genius of "À L'intérieur" has yet to be equaled.

"Le Mangeur d'Âmes" (aka "The Soul Eater") certainly isn't a masterpiece, neither, but nevertheless another professionally made, compelling, suspenseful, and frequently unsettling thriller worth seeking out. The main difference between this movie and Bustillo & Maury's previous films (except "Leatherface") is that they are not working from a screenplay they wrote themselves, but from a novel adaptation. It's also more of a murder mystery and thriller instead of a genuine shock-horror film, but rest assured there still a handful of nauseating moments to enjoy.

When the gruesome death of a married couple in a remote little French mountain town seems somehow connected to a series of unsolved children's disappearance cases, two different police superiors are sent in to investigate. The embittered Elizabeth Guardiano must try and understand the couple's bizarre death, while gendarme Franck de Roland is obsessively searching for answers regarding the missing children. In the creepy town, where nobody really wants to cooperate and where more strange things have happened lately, there exists an old folklore tale about a horned creature that feeds on children's souls. But, surely, two mature police officers can't believe local legends, right?

"The Soul Eater" is not highly original, but the story contains a couple of unforeseen twists (one of which funnily reminded me of the recent "Cocaine Bear") and there are many vile supportive characters to keep the suspense at a high level. Bustillo & Maury once again prove themselves masters in using the ominous French landscapes and old buildings to keep you fascinated, and the excellent cast (particularly the amazing Virginie Ledoyen) give away dedicated performances. I can understand why some people refer to "The Soul Eater" as a standard and forgettable type of thriller, but I think there are plenty of reasons to enjoy it.

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!

Le Manguer D'ames (The Soul Eater) is probably one of the interesting movies of this year. The story takes place in a spooky little town which is located around a region where, strangely, small children are disappearing. Franck (Paul Hamy) and Elisabeth (Virginie Ledoyen) arrive at this little town where gruesome murders take place. The story is really cool, and it reminds me of the atmosphere of Les Rivieres Pourpes (Crimson Rivers). At the same time, the local folklore and legends remind Der Pass (Pagan Peak). There is a surprising ending, and it is not easy to guess it. I advise everyone to watch this movie. I wish they made a TV series based on this movie. I would definitely watch it. I give 8 over 10.

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]