Megalomaniac (2023) Proves that French Extremity Horror is Alive and Well

Title: Megalomaniac

First Non-Festival Release: February 9, 2023 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)

Director: Karim Ouelhaj

Writer: Karim Ouelhaj

Runtime: 118 Minutes

Starring: Eline Schumacher, Benjamin Ramon, Hélène Moor

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

After their community was terrorized by “The Butcher of Mons,” the murders begin decades later. The children of the Butcher, Martha (Eline Schumacher) and Félix (Benjamin Ramon) live a quiet life continuing his work in the foulest of ways. Martha, the more reserved of the two, works shifts at a factory while Félix stalks the streets, taking his own spin on his father’s work. The delicate balance that they have achieved is threatened when Félix agrees to allow Martha to own a pet.

A tempestuous spectacle of violence and trauma, Megalomaniac is a brutal examination of thirsting for power after enduring trauma.

Taking inspiration from the early 2000s French Extremity movement, Megalomaniac revels in its grimy, fully realized world. Our present-day introduction to Martha and Félix would seem innocuous enough if it weren’t for the intense prologue showcasing Martha’s birth. The hollow and dark house makes for a somber realization that the horrors of their childhood follow the pair well into adulthood. Félix has taken on the role of his domineering father who terrorized their community for years before becoming distracted with raising his children. Martha, curiously, ebbs between her submissive sisterly role to Félix while clearly yearning for more autonomy. What manifests freely in her brother lies in wait for her, allowing the audience insight into the fermenting chaos of her mind.

Martha’s passive acceptance and undertaking of violence echoes on the stranglehold that patriarchal values have on vulnerable women. From a young age, we can deduce that Martha has been subjected to cruelty from her father and brother, even if it is disguised as tough love. When she works her overnight shifts at a local factory, her uncharacteristic freeze towards male sexual violence is in sharp contrast to what she inflicts upon her future victim. All too eager to exert the same type of control forced upon her, Martha’s relationship with Julie (Hélène Moor) shows the sinister nature of her desires. Showing no compassion for Julie’s terror and reluctance to her treatment, Martha relishes in her power, the power she has never had in her home and the power she lost at work when she became a target. A victim who becomes victimizer, Martha is a nuanced take on the ways sexual violence can lead to perpetuating more harm beyond its initial horror.

Powerful lead performances from Eline Schumacher and Benjamin Ramon allow the twisted world of the siblings to take hold. Much of the emotional weight of Megalomaniac falls on Schumacher’s shoulders. Tasked with making the complex Martha a shy shut-in struggling to interact in a callous world, sympathetic victim of patriarchal violence, and maniacal kidnapper with a heart of stone, she has her work cut out for her. Schumacher glides between and in-between these versions of Martha while never losing focus on her core identities, making her performance riveting. Ramon benefits from the more one-note Félix but plays him with bone-chilling precision. His ice-cold demeanor demands both attention and terror, making him an easy-to-fear villain.

Rough around the edges, Megalomaniac gets muddled in its grandiose storytelling. The inclusion of the supernatural elements confuses the otherwise tight plot. Martha’s mental health is obviously called into question throughout the film, but outside of offering some truly unsettling moments, takes away from the realism that makes Megalomaniac so uncomfortable.  Perhaps its biggest pitfall, however, is the strange editing choices that make the film feel disjointed and chaotic. Possibly an intentional choice to pair with its partially supernatural themes, it nevertheless distracts from the film’s core terror.

Not for everyone, Megalomaniac is a dark, disturbing, and depressing experience that is best reserved for horror fans that seek out that exact type of thrill. Raw performances and memorable characters elevate the film’s nihilistic script to greater heights, favoring complex takes on the serial killer’s spawn. An undeniable rebuke of deep-seated misogyny and the hate that it breeds, Megalomaniac refuses to coddle its viewers. Watch Megalomaniac and never question the lengths man will go to control their fellow man.

Overall Score? 7/10