This TV film (first broadcast on the Arte channel) directed by Marion Desseigne-Ravel is an updated adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's classic tale. I enjoyed it, though I felt the story flagged in places and - perhaps inevitably - lapsed into horror cliché at times. It is available on Amazon Prime at the time of writing.
Le Horla begins not with a solitary gentleman but with a young family moving into a new apartment near a river. The river plays a key role in the original story. Here, there is also an implicit link, although nothing is ever stated. One of the film's strengths is that much is left unexplained, but not too much. This does, however, lead to one obvious weakness. Why is it entitled 'Le Horla' in the first place, when the name of the malign entity is never revealed in the movie?
What of the plot? The father, Damien, has opted to work remotely so that his wife, Nadia, can take a prestigious new job. Their little daughter Chloe seems happy with the new apartment, though there is some nice foreshadowing when she can't find her favorite top for her first day at a new school. Damien, working from home, soon finds that the apartment is beset by odd noises.
One detail of the original story is nicely handled. Damien leaves a water bottle by his bedside every night. Every morning it is empty. He has not drunk more than a mouthful from it. Is someone playing mind games? Gradually, the sense of an unseen presence grows, yet only for Damien. Pressure of work and other hassles make him increasingly paranoid and prone to outbursts. Sensible friends recommend a psychiatrist, which leads to a fairly predictable course of events and a marital crisis.
This is not a brilliant movie, but it has a good stab at updating a classic. Reviews are understandably tepid, but a strong central performance by Bastien Bouillon holds things together very well. It's worthy rather than great, but engaging nonetheless.
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