Marianne - Television Series Review
What do you get when French filmmakers make an unrated, no holds barred salute to the American masters of horror and the classic folklore of their country? A damn good Television show that was cancelled too soon.
Let’s Discuss.
Marianne is a Netflix exclusive horror show from writer/director Samuel Bodin. That name doesn’t sound familiar to you? You mean you haven’t seen Folles d’Adam or Nuyya?
Yeah, me either.
It’s always amazing when a nobody steps out of the shadows and slaps down a Blue Eyes White Dragon and just blows my mind. That’s exactly what happened when I began watching Marianne. The show focuses on a famous horror writer, Emma Larsimon played by Victoire Du Bois. We catch up with her in the midst of her final book tour for the horror series which made her famous. She has murdered the lead character in her most recent book and has resigned herself to crawling inside a bottle. She deflected the angry comments from her publisher and reading audience with a thermos full of vodka and a devil may care attitude. Writing for Emma isn’t an enjoyable experience. A dark secret brought her to the printed page, a secret which she remembers when a childhood friend tells her that she’s needed back home and then subsequently hangs herself from the staircase in the hotel lobby. The witch has found her and no one is safe.
I don’t want to say anymore, because the show is incredible. The twists and turns are so unexpected and brutal that I actually screamed at multiple points. When I say no one is safe. I mean it. This show plays for keeps. Being raised on American television which is extremely censored. Seeing something like Marianne is even more of a shock. Nudity, violence, substance abuse, and questions of faith are all in play. This is not a show to watch with children or the weak stomached.
This is one of the few shows that is perfect. Unlike hit shows like Stranger Things, Marianne doesn’t have filler or episode you could skip. (I’m looking at you Chicago, ruiner of an entire season of ST) Every episode is its own beast that reveals more secrets and leads to more mysteries. Sounds like LOST, right? Kinda, except Marianne actually wraps everything up in a nice package.
Victoire Du Bois, who you may recognize from Call Me By Your Name, was the perfect choice as Emma. The way they’ve styled her is actually non-binary. You would think a ham-fisted writer would step in and make the character a lesbian to be more appealing to the Western audience. I have to admit, my buddy Manny and I assumed she was a lesbian and that the show would give us a love story between her and her adorable assistant Camile played by Lucie Boujenah. This was further evident when Emma forces Camile to go out to dinner and drinks with her. However, to my welcome surprise, this was all a gag. It’s revealed at dinner that Emma is actually in a committed relationship with a man. A relationship that’s quickly disintegrated. She’s forced Camile to join her because she’s lonely. She doesn’t have anyone else to talk to. It was such a great rug pull moment that really set the mood for the cleverness upcoming. The back and forth between Du Bois and Boujenah engage in reminds me of Gilmore Girls, if Gilmore Girls was in French. Their chemistry is palpable and in many cases, the investment these amazing actresses pull out of the viewer is what leads to the sheer terror involved in the series.
Although Victoire Du Bois is incredible in her role. There’s nothing she could do to stop Mireille Herbstmeyer from stealing every single scene. Herbstmeyer plays the initial villain of the story, Madame Daugeron. Imagine Nurse Ratchet mixed with Hannibal Lector, but with the facial expression range of Jim Carey. She is a vicious monster that is equal parts creepy and believable. In a lesser actress’ hands, the character would have been a clown or a stereotypical boogeyman. What Herbstmeyer brings to the role is pure malice. The way she delivers her lines in sharp, barking French is the thing of nightmares.
The special effects are mostly practical with some CGI enhancements. There is some extreme gore, but this is not a French Extreme project. The gore in this show is not emphasized, but its used as a folklore accurate accent to layer danger into the creepy atmosphere. The show feels like a dream. Some of the horrible set pieces are framed and shot with such care that you can’t look away. It’s just too beautiful.
One Caveat for viewing this show is that you MUST watch it in the original French. If you don’t speak French, turn on the subtitles. The show loses all of its luster when dubbed. The original performance and vocal delivery are so immaculate that it’s a shame other language options were even offered.
Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after the incredible first season. On the plus side, that means the show runner doesn’t have a chance to ruin in the second season—I’m looking at you HEROES.
Watch Marianne, it’s the perfect show for Halloween season.
