MadS

One of the most overused horror tropes in movies is that of twitching and neck cracking. It isn't scary anymore. Was it ever? It's just pure cringe. If that's your thing, you'll find plenty of it here. So I guess this was a zombie movie?? The acting at times was so over the top that I literally laughed out loud. I found the first half hour or so to be pretty great. Unfortunately it starts to drag and becomes very repetitive and redundant. I started to get bored and wanted it to end. But I stuck it through. It feels a bit like a wannabe 28 Days Later, which is a far better film and one of the best zombie flicks ever!

"[Julia:] Tell me none of this is happening . . . [Unnamed:] Listen to me. This life no longer exists." The exchange, between the "Julia" and another (unnamed) character does as well as anything to highlight the predicament of "MadS." The insanity of a drug-induced night of partying has leveled-off to the insanity of the "new reality" that unfolds over the course of "MadS's" 1:29 "single-shot" running time.

To accomplish this feat, the director utilizes a technique found in such anthologies as "Southbound" (2015), which weave related stories together through the use of a succession of single characters that intersect at the periphery of each story. Thus, in succession, "MadS" has the viewer follow (and then leave) "Romain," "Anais" and, finally, "Julia." Our journey is through the course of a single night that begins at twilight with Romain scoring drugs for a birthday celebration with his girlfriend, Anais, and ends with Julia returning home for the evening.

In terms of the film's subject matter, comparison might be made to "Night of the Living Dead" (1968), "REC" (2005)or "28 Days Later" (2002), with the aforementioned caveat that "MadS" simulates a found-footage style "real time" telling in which the viewer is privy only to the experiences of one character at a time. For two-thirds of the running time, this directorial strategy does place us in the driver's seat as we, like Romain, and then Anais, are trying to separate the "high" from what is "really" happening.

Here, the cinematography and audio choices assist in reflecting the sheer craziness of what transpires (there is a wonderful scene where Romain, in an attempt to escape the noise and chaos of a party, puts on a Halloween-style rubber head mask. The audio suddenly muffles, as though we are now hearing the party through his (covered) ears.)

By the time we get to Julia's segment, however, we in a sense know as much or more than the characters and are simply waiting to see how things will end. In that sense, the conclusion of "MadS" is hardly innovative. I will avoid spoilers and simply note that the ending feels familiar to the genre.

Having said that, I will also say that "MadS" is the type of film you want to go into knowing as little as possible. Much of the ride does indeed feel "fresh."

Note: For those sensitive to strobe settings, there is a scene at the 34:00 minute mark that utilizes heavy strobe lighting.

I'm American so this french film with subtitles going to the top of my horror list for 2024 independent films is a pretty big feat. It wastes no time which is spectacular and seriously warranted with all these drawn out tv halfway horrors. It's very well filmed even with the handheld steady run & gun style Cinematography, I loved every scene. Definitely a film you can have fun watching with other people. Hearing them scream in french "s'ilvous plait" over and over was like music to my ears. It was choreographed to be chaotic and yet it was incredibly smooth and sharp. It didn't beat around the bush with dumb responses or poor acting it seemed very logical and crazy all at the same time. The dialogue had just enough info without being extra wordy while reading subs. From start to finish I have no complaints. The last scene was hell-fully picturesque. I see the similarities of all young people no matter where your from trying to figure out life getting dealt some life changing anguish 😧 and having nowhere to turn no where to hide and only thing u can do is lose your mind and scream. I love artful simplicity even the movie cover was a good clue to all who watch will be in for a disturbing fun ride.

MadS seemingly came out of nowhere, and as soon as I saw it was a French zombie movie, I was intrigued. The first thing to mention is that the entire film is shot in one continuous take. A remarkable achievement that few filmmakers dare to attempt. There are, however, a few moments where it's clear that if the movie had been shot with multiple takes, certain scenes might have been redone due to minor flaws. But none of these issues are so distracting or problematic that they significantly harm the movie.

This isn't your typical zombie movie; the behavior of the infected is unusual, yet interesting. It brings a fresh take to the genre, which is always appreciated. The characters aren't particularly likable, but they're not bad people either, and the lead actors deliver solid performances. What I enjoyed most about the movie is its realistic feel. The single-take approach contributes to this realism, as does the fact that nothing overly fantastical happens. The characters generally behave in a believable manner, though some of their decisions are a bit foolish and irrational.

Despite that, the film manages to convey a grounded, realistic tone, and even the small dramatic moments worked well for me. Overall, MadS is a decent and unique zombie movie with some flaws, but it still succeeds in the end. [5.6/10]

I'll be the first to admit, Shudder has a habit of dumping a lot of questionable content on their platform, but MadS is a real gem. The French director David Moreau brings a fresh take on the zombie genre with his frenetic, one-take style that plunges you straight into the madness. The only thing better than a single-take film is a single-take horror, and MadS uses this technique to perfection, creating a claustrophobic and tense experience that feels both chaotic and masterfully controlled.

David Moreau's take on the zombie genre is frenetic and totally refreshing. The French just know how to make horrors that get under your skin, and MadS does exactly that with its claustrophobic atmosphere and tense pacing. If you're into inventive, pulse-pounding horror, this is definitely worth checking out.