The Soul Eater

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.

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.

Rarely before in the history of horror cinema, one director (or a directors duo in this case) made such an impressive debut than Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury with "À L'intérieur" (aka "Inside"). That film is - hands down - one of the most forceful, shocking, astounding, and nightmarish horror flicks ever made. It is also why I have been and will continue following these directors in whatever they do, even though thus far they were never able to repeat the brilliance of their debut. "Aux Yeux des Vivants" (aka "Among the Living") is another authentically raw and disturbing effort, and their Hollywood ventures "Leatherface" and "The Deep House" are more than adequate, but the true genius of "À L'intérieur" has yet to be equaled.

"Le Mangeur d'Âmes" (aka "The Soul Eater") certainly isn't a masterpiece, neither, but nevertheless another professionally made, compelling, suspenseful, and frequently unsettling thriller worth seeking out. The main difference between this movie and Bustillo & Maury's previous films (except "Leatherface") is that they are not working from a screenplay they wrote themselves, but from a novel adaptation. It's also more of a murder mystery and thriller instead of a genuine shock-horror film, but rest assured there still a handful of nauseating moments to enjoy.

When the gruesome death of a married couple in a remote little French mountain town seems somehow connected to a series of unsolved children's disappearance cases, two different police superiors are sent in to investigate. The embittered Elizabeth Guardiano must try and understand the couple's bizarre death, while gendarme Franck de Roland is obsessively searching for answers regarding the missing children. In the creepy town, where nobody really wants to cooperate and where more strange things have happened lately, there exists an old folklore tale about a horned creature that feeds on children's souls. But, surely, two mature police officers can't believe local legends, right?

"The Soul Eater" is not highly original, but the story contains a couple of unforeseen twists (one of which funnily reminded me of the recent "Cocaine Bear") and there are many vile supportive characters to keep the suspense at a high level. Bustillo & Maury once again prove themselves masters in using the ominous French landscapes and old buildings to keep you fascinated, and the excellent cast (particularly the amazing Virginie Ledoyen) give away dedicated performances. I can understand why some people refer to "The Soul Eater" as a standard and forgettable type of thriller, but I think there are plenty of reasons to enjoy it.

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.

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]