Un vizio di famiglia

The Origin of Evil; A French and Canadian Noir Black comedy which flirts with the slipstream of Horror. Nathalie (Laura Calamy) is a Ripleyesque character, an identity thief who now attempts to assume the role of Stephane the long lost daughter of a wealthy man, Serge (Jacques Weber). His family are not happy to see her, George (Doria Tillier), her "half sister" is especially suspicious. Serge's wife Louise (Dominique Blanc) is also unwelcoming at first but begins to see Nathalie as a possible companion. Though she works in a fish canning plant on the production line, Nathalie pretends that she owns the factory. It is certainly an odd household, Georges's daughter Jeanne (Celeste Brunnquell) describes it as a madhouse, Louise obsessively buys all sorts of things online, every room in the villa has unopened boxes, Jeanne continuously takes photographs. The family are uncaring towards Serge, bullying him since he had a stroke, not helping him up when he falls, trying to gain power of attorney over his business. The housekeeper Agnes is a spy for Louise and George. Serge sees Nathalie as a potential ally who can be a witness at his competency hearing. But there are many plot twists to come as Nathalie reveals hidden strengths to emerge as a very talented Ms Ripley indeed as her intentions become more refined. But even she has problems as her imprisoned lover ( Suzanne Clement) retains an interest in her. Sharp dialogue, an interesting use of split screen, sometimes up to five different viewpoints simultaneously and the darkest of humour speed this narrative along. Great acting from an ensemble cast. The ghost of Patricia Highsmith is smiling down on this production. Directed and Co-Written by Sebastien Marnier. 8/10.

Sébastien Marnier's French thriller The Origin of Evil tells the tale of Stéphane, a woman on the verge of bankruptcy who tries to get in touch with her wealthy, estranged father and his new family. The film is a slow-burning thriller that keeps the audience on edge with its twists and turns, held together by a stellar ensemble cast. The plot is well-crafted, with a web of lies, secrets, and self-serving schemes that kept me guessing until the end. The theme and tone of the film are dark and twisted, with a touch of black humour that adds to the overall enjoyment of the movie.

The acting and characters are the strongest aspects of the film. Laure Calamy delivers a standout performance as Stéphane, a complex and flawed character who is both sympathetic and unsettling. Dominique Blanc is also wonderful in her role as Louise, Stéphane's evil stepmother, and Jacques Weber is convincing as Serge, the patriarch of the family. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with each actor bringing their own unique flair to their respective roles.

The direction by Marnier is solid, with extensive use of split-screen that conveys the duplicitous and conniving happenings of the story. The score is also noteworthy, with an unusual but effective use of a pipe organ that adds to the film's eerie atmosphere. The cinematography, production design, and use of colour are all well done, with a unique and unconventional approach that sets the film apart from other thrillers.

The film's pacing is slow at times, which did not appeal to me. The editing is also a bit uneven, with some scenes feeling disjointed or unnecessary. However, these minor flaws do not detract from the overall quality of the film.

The Origin of Evil is a deliciously twisted thriller that is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. The film's exceptional cast, solid direction, and unique style make it a standout entry in the thriller genre. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate a slow-burning, character-driven thriller will find much to enjoy here.

The Italian title is absurd. In the original it does "The Origin of Evil"... and then everything changes. It's NOT a comedy, it's the baddest movie of the last ten years. In comparison, the "Parenti Serpenti" of the unforgettable Monicelli... are collegians. Nothing is as it seems nobody is who it seems. The plot unfolds in an absolutely intriguing way, revealing the truths little by little. The split screen in some sequences is even intelligent.

Doria Tiller is charming, colder than ice, she remind me about her opposite performance very heartfelt and warm in "Un amore sopra le righe" (Italian title) The hospital scene is... devilishly terrible... while the final scene... with that fabulous close-up that... For me 8/10.

The Origin of Evil is no such thing, it's a ridiculous title for such a sedate and slow-paced thriller. In fact, L'origine du mal is about a half an hour too long.

Stephane, a factory worker, seeks out the wealthy father who abandoned her mother long ago so that she can get to know him in his old age. Serge is not a good man, he admits to caring about nothing but work and money and to having "a few" women. His wife and daughter, George, can't stand him and seem determined to make his life a living hell - the wife by power shopping constantly for things she does not need (or really even want) to waste his millions, and the daughter has taken control of all of his existing businesses, to his chagrin. Stephane is immediately regarded with suspicion and anger by her spoiled half-sister George but insists on ingratiating herself into her father and step-mother's lives.

Stephane is hiding an awful lot, including a lesbian partner who is confined to jail for a crime she claims she didn't commit. I know all of this sounds really interesting and twisty, and the cinematography is nice, but The Origin of Evil is all-too-common. It's very average as a French thriller, I guess you could say it was done in the classic style of French cinema. Maybe I'm too used to watching Italian Giallos and K-Thrillers but this movie practically put me to sleep. I managed to take a break then stay with it until the end, which was relatively predictable at that point.

The one good thing I can say about this film is that because it is so serious, it's difficult not to empathize with Stephane, no matter how bad of a person she is. I'm often able to distance myself from nasty characters emotionally, but Stephane is played with a complexity that hints at her severe mental instability and emotional scars which encourages a sense of sympathy for her until the bitter end.

I'm beginning to think that Laure Calamy doesn't make rotten films. She's really quite effective in this story of greed and manipulation as "Nathalie" or is that "Stéphane"?. Hmmm! Well initially, she's incarcerated with her lover (Suzanne Clément) but next thing she's writing to her wealthy but estranged father (Jacques Weber). A reconciliation takes place and she is quickly whisked off to his opulent villa where she is introduced to his rather eccentric family. There's the profligate wife "Louise" (Dominique Blanc) who spends fifteen hundred Euros a day shopping on the internet; very sceptical and ambitious daughter "George" (Doria Tillier) and their slightly creepy maid "Agnès" (Véronique Saura). When the family discover that their new arrival has no ID, they begin to suspect she's not quite all she claims. He, on the other hand, is facing court proceedings to cuckold him and give control of his money to his grasping family. He hopes that his new daughter can testify to their love and strong relationship and convince the judge he's not lost the plot. What happens now allows Calamy to get her character under your fingernails. We know what's actually going on from fairly early on, so the plot plays second fiddle to the acting and those characterisations here are engaging. Plaudits also must go to Blanc who pulls off the slightly deranged wife with aplomb. The denouement has a delicious little twist to it that, though probably a bit unrealistic, does add that je ne sais quoi to the proceedings. It's a little too long and maybe takes fifteen minutes more than we need to set the scene and get going; but once we are up and running it's well worth a gander.