The French Extremity: Ten Films to Seek Out
Joshua Macmillan
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Martyrs (2008)
Starring: Morjana Alaoui, Mylene Jampanoi, Catherine Begin, Robert Toupin, Patricia Tulasne, Juliette Gosselin, Xavier Dolan, and Jean-Marie Moncelet.
Directed By: Pascal Laugier
This is another film that has been deeply loved by the horror community. Martyrs is the story of a young woman who seeks revenge against some people who kidnapped and tortured her as a child, leading her and a friend who was also abused as a child on an intense trip that is full of depravity. This film is fairly hard to watch, but I feel like it has earned the love that is has acquired. With the current state of where horror is at this time, I honestly feel that if horror is going to do what it is supposed to do – you know, horrify us – then we need more films like this. There is a very nice blend of different sub-genres peppered into the film so that it plays like something we haven’t seen before even though we have time and time again! There is an American reboot for this film, but I have yet to see it so I cannot honestly comment on it. Just be sure to see the original, though, because I think that this film right here is a shining example of what horror – true horror – is all about!
https://youtu.be/OURQETU9s-0
Livid (2011)
Starring: Chloe Coulloud, Felix Moati, Jeremy Kapone, Catherine Jacob, Beatrice Dalle, Chloe Marcq, Marie-Claude Pietragalla, and loic Berthezene.
Directed By: Alexandre Bustillo, and Julien Maury.
Livid is the follow-up to Bustillo and Maury’s abovmentioned Inside. The film has been compared to the works of directors Guillermo del Toro and Dario Argento but has also had its share of negative reviews. Parts are just silly, but the film is entertaining if this is something that you are in the mood for. Livid follows a young woman named Lucy on her first day in training as an in-home caregiver; she visits Mrs. Jessel, an old woman who is in a cerebral coma all alone in her large house. Lucy learns that Mrs. Jessel is a former dance teacher and supposedly possesses treasure somewhere in her home, which Lucy and her friends decide to go on the hunt for, uncovering a series of supernatural events that Lucy was not prepared to face. The film is enjoyable, but as I said, it is something that you would have to be in the mood for. Even so, it earns a recommendation from me!
In My Skin (2002)
Starring: Marina de Van, Laurent Lucas, Lea Drucker, Thibault de Montalembert, Dominique Reymond, Bernard Alane, and Marc Rioufol.
Directed By: Marina de Van
It has been stated that during screenings of In My Skin, people were reportedly walking out of the theaters and couldn’t handle the imagery. I can understand why; in this day and age we are all so used to seeing people tortured and mutilated, but not very often does this mutilation come in the form of self-mutilation. Sure, this has been depicted in various films before, but it doesn’t happen very often, and more often than not, it’s when a victim is trapped and has to saw his own foot off to escape. In My Skin, however, is slightly more of a drama than a horror film, but it is certainly horrifying nonetheless! The film is definitely thought-provoking and not for the faint of heart.
In Their Sleep (2010)
Starring: Anne Parillaud, Arthur Dupont, Thierry Fremont, Jean-Hugues Anglade, and Leo Moser.
Directed By: Caroline du Potet, and Eric du Potet.
In Their Sleep gives us the story of Sarah and her husband, who have moved to a house in the country. Their son, Loic, is a college student who chafes at the isolation; and shortly after that a tragedy befalls the family. A year later, Sarah is living alone in the house now and is constantly distracted by her grief, leading her to be sent home from her job at the local hospital. On her way home some police officers warn her of burglaries in the area. Sarah gets flagged down by a young man who reminds her of her son, and we learn that he has surprised a burglar at his home and is being chased. Sarah gives him a lift and is being stalked by another vehicle, starting off a night that she won’t soon forget. In Their Sleep is a tense, but fun film. It’s been called disturbing and difficult to watch, but I didn’t find it to be all that disturbing. As a parent I could see some things that were hard to watch, but other than that, I enjoyed the film immensely and recommend it if you’re in the mood for something like this.
