Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Megalomaniac

  • 2022
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Eline Schumacher in Megalomaniac (2022)
Questions the invisible line between victim and executioner and how it is crossed. A film about the weight of patriarchy and the illusion of Manichaeism
Play trailer1:37
2 Videos
5 Photos
Body HorrorPsychological HorrorHorror

Megalomaniac questions the invisible line between victim and executioner and how it is crossed. A film about the weight of patriarchy and the illusion of Manichaeism.Megalomaniac questions the invisible line between victim and executioner and how it is crossed. A film about the weight of patriarchy and the illusion of Manichaeism.Megalomaniac questions the invisible line between victim and executioner and how it is crossed. A film about the weight of patriarchy and the illusion of Manichaeism.

  • Director
    • Karim Ouelhaj
  • Writer
    • Karim Ouelhaj
  • Stars
    • Eline Schumacher
    • Benjamin Ramon
    • Hélène Moor
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Karim Ouelhaj
    • Writer
      • Karim Ouelhaj
    • Stars
      • Eline Schumacher
      • Benjamin Ramon
      • Hélène Moor
    • 16User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:37
    Trailer
    Megalomaniac
    Trailer 1:42
    Megalomaniac
    Megalomaniac
    Trailer 1:42
    Megalomaniac

    Photos4

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast10

    Edit
    Eline Schumacher
    • Martha
    Benjamin Ramon
    • Félix
    Hélène Moor
    • Julie
    Wim Willaert
    Wim Willaert
    • Jérôme
    Raphaële Bruneau
    • Madame Connecci
    • (as Raphaëlle Bruneau)
    Pierre Nisse
    Pierre Nisse
    • Luc
    Olivier Picard
    • Iblis
    Quentin Lasbazeilles
    • L'ouvrier
    Julie Carroll
    • Martha's Mother
    Catherine Jandrain
    Catherine Jandrain
    • Femme cathédrâle
    • Director
      • Karim Ouelhaj
    • Writer
      • Karim Ouelhaj
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    5.51.4K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9steve-s-2001

    Incredibly intense, one of the best horror films of the year.

    "Megalomaniac" is one of the most disturbing and powerful horror films I've seen in a while. This French-language Belgium production fits comfortably in the European Extreme horror film genre -- like "Martyrs" and "Frontier(s)" among others. You'll feel like you were punched in the gut after you're done watching it. And although it's not for everyone, it's one of the best horror films of 2023.

    As the film begins, we are told the story of "The Butcher," who killed 15 women over the course of six months. We then fast forward to meet his two grown children, Felix and Martha. They live in the family home, and Martha works as a janitor, where she is treated awfully, to support them. Felix appears to be continuing his father's work, and Martha seems to know about it. She also appears to be trying to get help for her clear mental issues by having a social worker visit her occasionally.

    Martha's treatment at work becomes truly horrible, and we think that we are going to see her embrace the madness that runs through her family and lash out. But "Megalomaniac" is far too clever for that. Martha's descent into madness is far more horrifying than we could ever expect and you will never get me to spoil what happens, other than to say it becomes one of the most disturbing and nihilistic films I've seen in a long time. And the movie becomes even more powerful when every now and then, it hints that things may not be completely as they seem... but never takes any shortcuts or gives easy answers.

    The acting is absolutely spectacular. Eline Schumacher as Martha and Benjamin Ramon as Felix command the screen every time they are on it. The film doesn't shy away from graphic violence but also doesn't revel in it and that makes it even more intense. And intense it is, "Megalomaniac" does not let up for the entirety of its running time, there is not a single light moment or laugh in it.

    To be honest, I am a little surprised this film actually got a wide, mainstream release. You will feel this movie as you watch it and after it's done. It will generate long discussions, including what the title refers to. It's a pleasure to give a rave review and hopefully get it some more viewers, so if you're a fan of these types of intense horror films "Megalomaniac" is recommended without reservation.
    3billcr12

    Slow and Brutal

    I read a review which compared this film to the Canadian version of Martyrs and so I took a shot at it.

    I gave Martyrs a 9/10 and it is my #1 horror movie of all time. Megalomaniac does not come close. I was bored throughout the silliness of the story and the lack of clarity with flashbacks that made no sense to this viewer.

    Felix and his sister Martha are the offspring of a notorious serial killer and the siblings carry on in the family tradition. Felix abducts women and murders them and then leaves them at the side of the road. His sister lives with him in their gothic house and works at a factory where she is harassed by her co-workers.

    A social worker pays monthly visits to the home for unexplained reasons while a young woman is chained to a wall in a nearby room.

    The ending is a bloody mess and I do not recommend this film.
    4PedroPires90

    Not enough

    It's not terrible, but a film about serial killers shouldn't be this boring for such a long period of time. It's also uncomfortable and keeps that line for the entire duration of the film which turns out to be repetitive and very single-note. I also need to mention the stupidity of some characters (I wouldn't see someone chained and stay in that place for even 5 seconds; I can't understand the mind of rapists but it's difficult to think they would accept that invitation too...).

    I like some technical aspects of it. I like how artsy some shots and directional choices look. Great score too and good acting. It's just not enough in terms of storytelling, engagement, or what it is trying to say (besides trauma and influence).
    8jeheis

    Beautifully Done, Tragic

    Wow. This movie is definitely not for everyone, but it is for me. Well acted, beautifully shot, and I could really feel what she was feeling. Looking at them both, I can understand how they got where they were in life, and partly, it shows nature and nurture coming together. I did not find it in anyway pointless or the violence glorified. More like a character study. No matter how much she tried, everything and everyone was against her so ultimately she found herself beside the rest of her family. I feel that the last 5 seconds of the film are quite symbolic.

    If you like films that delve deep into the darkest depths of the human soul, don't mind a slow pace (which I think is deliberate) graphic violence, and are not adverse to a story that is utterly bleak, then give it a watch!
    4Schneekardinal

    Starts and ends strong, wastes ~90 minutes inbetween.

    Beautiful surreal imagery, gruesome violence and dark atmosphere dominate the first and last ~5 minutes of the film.

    I will not go into detail as to what happens inbetween but it would make your skin crawl in a different movie. Here, it is neither staged in gruesome detail nor cleverly implied, nor is the protagonist's emotional reaction to her mistreatment of particular interest to the film maker. The normalcy of it all and her overall numbness could in themselves be horrifying, but a thin plot about human pets, off-screen mass-murder and familial conflict keeps us from really getting to know Martha.

    For the most part this was a disappointment and yet my interest in the work of Karim Ouelhaj is piqued. Those few minutes of genius bookending the film speak to a strong personal sense of style, the mark of a horror auteur.

    On an overwhelmingly positive note: the noisy industrial soundtrack, especially the piece that plays during the end credits, is excellent. I do hope Karim embraces his more poetic tendencies and collaborates with Gary Moonboots on another film.

    More like this

    You'll Never Find Me
    5.8
    You'll Never Find Me
    Beaten to Death
    4.9
    Beaten to Death
    Stopmotion
    5.6
    Stopmotion
    Infested
    6.2
    Infested
    MadS
    6.4
    MadS
    Who's Watching Oliver
    5.0
    Who's Watching Oliver
    Satanic Hispanics
    5.8
    Satanic Hispanics
    Birth/Rebirth
    6.2
    Birth/Rebirth
    Megalomaniac
    Megalomaniac
    The Elderly
    5.3
    The Elderly
    The Devil's Bath
    6.6
    The Devil's Bath
    Family Dinner
    5.7
    Family Dinner

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in Horrible Reviews: The Most DISTURBING Movies | Part 34: Megalomaniac, Girl Hell 1999 and more... (2024)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is Megalomaniac?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 2022 (Belgium)
    • Country of origin
      • Belgium
    • Official site
      • Director website page for that film
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • 메걸로메이니애크
    • Production companies
      • Les Films du Carré
      • Okayss Prod.
      • Umedia
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,028
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.