At first, let me just introduce this review by saying that I'm definitely not fond of French cinema, especially because NOTHING ELSE than (mostly) stupid comedies and putrid dramas of the "how Lola's last broken relationship ended in cries and despair" kind are produced under the hype brand mark "Qualité Française" for a couple of years now (30 years almost: WOW!). That's LIFE folks, but for sure NOT why I'm going to see a MOVIE in a movie theatre. For sure not, I love to be ENTERTAINED/EXPERIENCE something else, and even if it's just an allegory of our own reality!
Whatsoever, sometimes movies as Haute Tension, Calvaire, Le Pacte des Loups, Doberman, 36.15 Code Père-Noël, Baxter etc... makes me keep faith in the fact that French Genre-Cinema (as they did it so well 'til the 80'!) is still alive and may, from time to time, generously offer people like me a little Treat!
And here comes now Ogre from promising director Arnaud Malherbe. As a matter of fact, as soon as the movie begins, it's already noticeable that the audience is going to experience something else.
Indeed, Pénélope Pouriat (Director of Photography) did a great job, using marvellously well the beautiful contrasts nature offers and describing in very gloomy and adequate tones the landscapes in which the story is going to take place.
Actress Ana Girardot and young Giovanni Pucci are perfectly well portraying as Mother and son, both just going to live in a small rural village lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere: As a matter of fact, she is a teacher and has been assigned to work there. But other reasons are driving her away from her/their former lifestyle...
They soon meet the only Doctor there, a good looking & seducing but also odd/dark/independant character which Chloé falls in love with. What are his secrets? And Why is a child missing since a couple of days? What is really going on in this strange dying village? And what kind of menace does little Jules fearing when night comes? Or is the village simply cursed and the bogeyman waitin' in the dark?
Arnaud Malherbe wrote a very engaging, believable horror-fairy-tale with psychological undertone and depicts perfectly well as much as accurately what life looks like in these places time seems to have forgotten by now.
But what counts most for me: this movie stays still a true (...) horror-fantasy movie WITH A CREATURE and assume it's real identity until the end, something that The Swarm (La Nuée) wasn't sadly able to do (lack of faith and courage? French film-politics? Who knows...).
So, yes: Finally, finally, something good from France. Thank you Arnaud Malherbe! Go and check this one out, you won't regret it. Official Selection Gérarmer 2022.
