Amidst a supernatural outbreak, 'Else' presents a story of love and confinement, reflecting on fear and human connection.
The French horror film 'Else', directed by Thibault Emin, tells the story of Anx, played by Matthieu Sampeur, who has just met Cass, portrayed by Edith Proust, when a mysterious epidemic begins to transform people into monstrous entities, merging them with inanimate objects.
The film unfolds as the couple becomes trapped in their apartment, facing the escalating threat that the epidemic poses to humanity.
'Else' stands out for its original premise, intertwining supernatural elements with themes of confinement and isolation, resonant with experiences from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The film seeks to explore the concept of fear of the 'other' while simultaneously narrating a love story between its central characters.
However, the film's execution has drawn criticism, particularly regarding budget constraints that appear to hinder its artistic ambitions.
Critics have noted that the cinematography often borders on amateurish, limiting the film's overall impact.
While Edith Proust's performance has received positive remarks for its depth and professionalism, Matthieu Sampeur's portrayal has been described as lacking precision.
The film employs a variety of visual style effects, incorporating elements such as red lighting and black-and-white scenes, which some viewers have found distracting.
The special effects have also been criticized as low quality, with certain sequences described as implausible.
Despite these challenges, the film's concept presents potential for deeper exploration in future works by the director.
'Else' features a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes and includes contributions from actors such as Lika Minamoto.
The film, produced in France and Belgium, occupies a unique niche in the current horror genre, positioning itself as a commentary on contemporary societal fears while exploring intimate human connections.