THE RAVENOUS aka RAVENOUS (2017) Reviews and overview

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The Ravenous – aka Ravenous and original title: Les affamés – is a 2017 Canadian/French zombie horror film written and directed by Robin Aubert. It stars Marc-André Grondin, Monia Chokri and Charlotte St-Martin.

In a small, remote village in upstate Quebec, things have changed. Locals are not the same anymore – their bodies are breaking down and they have turned against their loved ones. A handful of survivors goes hiding in the woods, looking for others like them…

Reviews:

” …notable for what it doesn’t do: there’s no symbolism to speak of; the walking dead are not a stand-in for any global ill or displaced population. They just are, and you don’t want to get bitten by them. Likewise, the zombies eventually offer hints that they might be semi-sentient. But the film never explores this question, preferring to leave it as strange and inexplicable…” Michael Sicinski, Cinema Scope

“Stylish, surreal, tense Québécois zombie flick. De-glamourises genre, but offers little allegory.” Hemanth Kissoon, Filmaluation

” …the constant aimlessness becomes a little oppressive, and it’s clear, too, that the movie’s final stretch doesn’t really work (eg why’d they leave the safety of that place?) Still, Ravenous is an impressive attempt to bring something new to a well-worn genre…” David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

“Aubert also has a wicked sense of humour and a knack for the surreal that he experiments with, most notably with a supporting character named Demers […] If you’re familiar with zombie movies, you’ll know where the plot of Les Affamés is ultimately headed but by the time we get to the delirious, blood-soaked climax, we’re too invested in this off-kilter journey to mind.” Mark Hanson, Toronto Film Scene

“I’m not sure Les Affames does enough to distinguish itself from other zombie stories, but it’s effective and moving, because it’s so lean, efficient, and at times eerie, and the fact that it wastes no time on backstory means there’s more time for on-screen character development.” Tasha Robinson, The Verge

” …this is a fair emotional rollercoaster, as the audience joins the characters in their chock and vulnerability. Les Affamés is a welcome addition to the zombie movie canon, one that takes the zombie trope in a new and interesting direction, using it to examine issues of rural isolation and neglect, human connection, sentimental attachment, the necessities of survival and sacrifice.” Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Screen Anarchy

Main cast:

  • Marc-André Grondin
  • Monia Chokri
  • Charlotte St-Martin
  • Micheline Lanctôt
  • Marie-Ginette Guay
  • Brigitte Poupart
  • Édouard Tremblay-Grenier
  • Luc Proulx, Didier Lucien
  • Robert Brouillette
  • Martin Héroux
  • Patrick Hivon

Filming locations:

Ham-Nord, Saint-Adrien and Wotton, Québec, Canada

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