The Soul Eater (2024) User Reviews

The Soul Eater

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 9 March 2024]

"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.

Intense and compelling French folklore/mystery

[Coventry · 7/10 · 19 April 2024]

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.

Pretty standard, slow, dark and gritty police story

[rverdonschot · 6/10 · 27 January 2024]

I saw this at the world premiere at the IFFR in Rotterdam. Unfortunately, I was pretty underwhelmed. I found the movie to be slow and even a little boring at points. The supposed supernatural part of the story is only touched upon briefly, I was expecting more of this. It's pretty clear early in the story there is no real supernatural element. I would have liked to have seen more of the kills instead of just the after math, esp. That guy with the band saw. In the end it's just a gritty, dark but pretty standard police investigation movie with few surprises. The cinematography is ok, but doesn't make enough use of the beautiful french locale. I guess I just expected more of the story and the atmosphere. By no means a bad movie, but nothing remarkable.

After Inside comes ...

[kosmasp · 9/10 · 21 April 2024]

... Insane! No pun intended - also soul Eater could be seen as a pun ... works in many ways. So we have two detectives here, both trying to solve a case of their own ... both not really welcomed in the village they arrive. Now if you have seen a few (crime) thrillers ... I reckon you will be able to see where some of the things the movie considers twists are going or when they will appear.

So there is a bit of predictability that comes into play. What you may not expect: how brutal it is. The two directors of this have done quite violent movies before - Inside being one of the most infamous one. Not sure if they did the US remake - I don't think I watched that ... yet! Will do at one point - but it was really good to watch this. Even if I had some hunches to say the least - still great ride.