Le mangeur d'âmes

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.

Yeah, this is definitely not my kind of 'Horror' film. I tend to like the more 'Entertaining' type of Horror stories. But, I must admit that this one is indeed very well made, and if you are one who likes the darker, more 'Reality' based Horror movies, ones that are more involved with the 'Evil that men do', then you may find this one interesting.

I don't want to give away the major 'Misdirection' in this film (as others have stupidly done here in some reviews) but, although it may not be quite what you are expecting as to the real key of what is going on, still, the way it is made and the way it is well directed is very effective in building a very strong Mystery/Thriller and a definite sense of unease...

Like I say, when you get to the end depending on your sensitivities, you might feel like, 'Oh... that is rather unpleasant', but at least the way it is done does not overly dwell on this aspect once it is revealed.

So, what you have here is a very well crafted, rather Dark, Mystery/Thriller that effectively packs a punch. Just don't expect to feel particularly uplifted afterwards.

The movie itself is quite good if you love similar movies. For instance, Long Legs.

First, the script here is good, not the most original but storyline is quite acceptable without big plot holes. Entertaining.

Second, acting here is superb. I think the main actor does a great and real acting masterclass.

Third, settings are perfect for a suspense-horror story. I love the rainy greenery that is shown here.

Fourth, music and camera work again are extremely good. Love the mysterious vibe during the whole thing. To add, gore doesn't look cheap and they didn't use cheap CGI. Good for them.

Anyway, if you're looking for an interesting horror-suspense- a bit gory movie, this one is for you.

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.

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]