Las desapariciones

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.

You can't watch this film and not think of the classic French crime thriller Crimson Rivers.

It has a lot of similarities to that film, only with more of a folk horror twist.

Not that it's nearly as good as it...more like a budget version.

It's got that vibe though.

Which is why I wanted to love this more than I actually did.

Because I was a huge fan of that film when I was younger.

Unfortnately, there's something about this that just doesn't do it for me.

Perhaps it's the acting (the duo here are no Reno & Cassels).

Perhaps it's the manufactured feel of the whole thing.

Or, perhaps it's the way the mystery is dumbed down "for the sake of the viewers".

Either way...it sits somewhere in the middle ground of being entertaining enough, and kind of lame, at the same time.

That's not to say it's overtly horrible.

Just that it could have, and should have, been better than it is.

It's major downfall, in my opinion, is that the ending is way too predictable.

And, even though they attempted to throw in a few twists, and a little ultraviolence, towards the end...it just wasn't enough to make the film good.

So I can't help but leave feeling a little disappointed by it all.

But I think it is enjoyable enough for most mainstream viewers to appreciate.

So there's that, at least.

But it wasn't for me.

4 out of 10.

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.

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!

"Franck" (Paul Hamy) is hitching his way to a small French village when he is picked up by "Elisabeth" (Virginie Ledoyen). It turns out that she is a police officer send to lead an investigation of double murder and that he is a captain in the national gendarmerie on a continuing mission to track down missing children - a trail that led him to this ostensibly sleepy hamlet. Reminiscent a little of "Doctor Sleep" (2019), the place is overlooked by a sanatorium and quickly the two, initially suspicious of each other, start to realise that their mysterious cases might well be linked. What doesn't really help is a local folklore about the eponymous monster who feeds off the souls of the deceased townsfolk - and as the film gathers pace it seems to be heading for quite a brutal and bloody feast. There might be one really important clue. "Evan" (Cameron Bain) who is the survivor of the apparent self-killings of his parents. What did he see? What does he know? Anything? His psychiatrist "Marbas" (Sandrine Bonnaire) is determined that her charge be left to recuperate, but "Franck" knows he is the link... At times, this is a tensely directed murder mystery but as the plot develops it also rather thins out and neither of the lead characters really offer us much by way of chemistry as serendipity plays just a bit too much of an hand in a denouement that does have quite a fitting twist, but also has something too much of the "Scooby Do" about it. It does just about work in a cinema, the wooded landscapes and the eeriness help it out quite a lot, but on television it will be pretty ordinary.