I’ve been wanting to write about Livid (Livide) for a while. This film was written and directed by Julien Maury and Alexander Bustillo, the creative duo who shot to fame with their debut film Inside (a film Bloody Disgusting called “The Crown Jewel of New French Extremity“). Livid began generating buzz months before its North American premier at Sreamfest in Los Angeles. So why did I wait so long to blog about this movie? I was waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the trailer to drop. Well, it finally arrived this weekend—and it looks awesome (even if you don’t speak French)!
Recently acquired by Dimension Films, Livid stars: Marie-Claude Pietragalla, Catherine Jacob, Beatrice Dalle, Chloe Coulloud, Felix Moati, and Jeremy Kapone
See the trailer and read the synopsis after the jump…
It’s young Lucy’s first day as a trainee in-house caregiver. She visits Mrs Jessel, an old woman who lies in cerebral coma, by herself, in her large desolate house. Learning by accident that Mrs Jessel, a former dance teacher of repute, supposedly possesses a treasure somewhere in the house, Lucy and friends William and Ben decide to search the house in the hope of finding it. At night, they get into the house, which reveals itself to be increasingly peculiar. Their hunt for Mrs Jessel’s treasure leads them into a horrifying supernatural series of events that will change Lucy forever…
The trailer overflows moodiness and mystery with visually stunning effects. I especially like the slightly mummified female ghosts dressed in all-white lace.
As good as this looks, I’ve heard concerns that hardcore fans of Inside might be disappointed by Livid. Not because Livid isn’t an incredible film, but because it lacks the terrifying sense of reality Inside induced. Indeed, Inside is a no-nonsense Horror thriller with excruciating suspense and a deep sense of human sorrow. Livid on the other hand, is based more in the realm of fantasy and has even drawn comparisons one of Grimm’s fairy tales.
I’m personally not worried. Yes, I agree that Inside is an amazing film, but who wants the filmmakers to conquer the same topic twice? Good for them for trying something new. And besides, it’s not like Maury and Bustillo have made a romantic comedy. It’s still Horror!
If I’ve learned one thing in my first year as a Horror critic it’s that French genre films are truly original and amazing. Some of the best Horror of the last decade has come from France. Look for Livid when it hits select theaters in 2012.
Saucy Josh writes a blog for intelligent Horror Movie aficionados called Blood and Guts for Grown Ups: https://bloodandgutsforgrownups.wordpress.com/