Teddy

While Julia Ducournau copies herself with Titane and takes Palme d'Or at Cannes, this movie does the same, but it only take 6/10 on IMDB. Life is unjust!!!

In rural southern France a high school drop-out is shunned by the other boys in his town, he doesn't care cause he has a girlfriend. They have a ball until he gets bitten. When he does he loses time. His uncle can tell something is up just by the smell. We go through the usual gross-out-instead-of-suspense while he watches himself change, over time instead of during the full moon only. This movie is just ok with a good ending. Teddy and even his girl don't react in believable ways, nobody does. What's worse is the story isn't interesting. It's a werewolf movie with no fear, no suspense, and no tale.

For the most part, the performances are well done and subdued while the rising action has a decent pace. For me, I had more of an issue with the logistics of the film in terms of the body horror and the climax scene of the film. I do think it's worth a watch and the performance of the lead is laudable.

To be honest I was a little bit underwhelmed by the movie. Our main character Teddy is your typical loner that does not have many friends and probably doesn't know which direction his life should go and then one day he gets attacked by an unknown creature. From there on he starts to change in his behavior and his physicality. It's pretty obvious that this is a werewolf movie and I absolutely love those. I think there are not enough good werewolf movies out there but sadly this one could not contribute. It's not a bad movie don't get me wrong, the characterization and the drama are pretty good and the humor is decent, but I was expecting something different and I feel like this movie was a let down overall. The last act is where the movie starts to pick up some pace but even that can't save it because you are left with the feeling that you haven't seen that much. It's a decent werewolf movie but don't expect much horror, but instead prepare for a teen drama. [5,2/10]

The French have produced a good number of horror movies such as Haute Tension, Raw, L'Interieur, Martyrs or Frontiers. They manage to shock and transgress horror fans whoblike myself are used to the usual Hollywood horror tropes. Sadly Teddy doesn't belong in that list of good horror movies. They try to tackle the lycanthrope theme with mundane and nonsensical results. The move has a few comedic moments and the end is probably the best part. In a rural French village, a douchy bald-headed big-eared kid with glasses and heavy metal t-shirts who for some reason doesn't get along with the authorities, somehow gets bitten by a mysterious creature in the woods. From then on not only does he start to change but his life starts falling apart too, especially with his family and equally odd blonde girlfriend. The plot sounds good but alas it is showered with silly drama, nonsensical typical French dialogues, a few gross scenes and one of the most unlikable kids in horror cinema. If you like French horror movies with a bit of weirdness, give it a shot but be warned, award-winning it ain't.