The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is once again showcasing some excellent features this year, especially in the horror genre.
Alongside the glorious, hard-edged, rape revenge film, Revenge, comes the debut directorial feature from Dominique Rocher, The Night Eats The World.
The film embodies Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend with its token male protagonist, struggling with isolation in a post-apocalyptic world over run by zombies, but there the similarities lie.
Set primarily within the confines of a Parisian apartment block, our lone figure Sam (played by Anders Danielson Lie, who is simply divine in this movie in creating his character with charm, charisma, coupled with this awkward mix of inept social skills) wakes up in an apartment room, after seeking refuge from a house party, only to find the afore-mentioned apocalypse has hit and it would appear that there are no other survivors… at least not human ones.
Whilst The Night Eats The World is a bit of a slow burn, audiences are rewarded with the attention to Sam’s character and as the film plays out we warm to his quirks. Sam is clearly a guy who struggles at the best of times to mix with people and would prefer to be holed up on his own, without the company of others. So it’s with some sense of irony that his wish comes true with the zombie outbreak, but through it all, his sense of isolation is heightened and he realizes that even he seeks companionship, which at one point he finds in a zombie trapped in the lift.
Despite his growing agoraphobia, Sam must break down his barriers and leap out into this strange new horizon, if he has any chance to survive in the ‘new world’.
It’s Sam’s anxiety about what may lay beyond the comforts of his four walls that makes this such a refreshing film to watch.
It also contains a feeling of warmth and humour, which juxtaposes the climate that Sam is faced with. This too provides a rich attraction to the movie that allows The Night That Ate The World to stand out and claim its own identity in a crowded sub-genre.
The Diagnosis:
Director Dominique Rocher offers a quirky and delightful take on the zombie genre, by offering a slice of humanity, whilst shining a spotlight on how crippling anxiety can be.
It is a beautifully paced movie providing ample time for the main protagonist to shine, with dramatic moments to pulsate and keep the audience entertained.
– Saul Muerte
Catch the screening of The Night Eats The World at the Alliance Francoise French Film Festival.
Screening times below:
| Sun 10 Mar | 8:10 PM | Palace Norton St. |
| Tue 12 Mar | 8:45 PM | Palace Central |
| Wed 13 Mar | 8:30 PM | Palace Central |
| Thu 14 Mar | 8:40 PM | Palace Norton St. |
| Sat 16 Mar | 9:00 PM | Palace Central |
| Wed 20 Mar | 8:50 PM | Palace Norton St. |
| Fri 22 Mar | 7:30 PM | Chauvel Cinema |
| Sat 23 Mar | 8:40 PM | Palace Central |
| Sun 24 Mar | 8:30 PM | Palace Verona |
| Mon 25 Mar | 8:30 PM | Palace Central |
| Thu 28 Mar | 8:40 PM | Chauvel Cinema |
| Sat 30 Mar | 8:45 PM | Chauvel Cinema |
| Sun 31 Mar | 8:20 PM | Palace Central |
| Mon 1 Apr | 8:50 PM | Palace Verona |
| Tue 2 Apr | 8:50 PM | Palace Central |
| Wed 3 Apr | 9:45 PM | Palace Norton St. |
| Thu 4 Apr | 8:45 PM | Chauvel Cinema |
| Fri 5 Apr | 8:30 PM | Hayden Orpheum Cremorne |
| Fri 5 Apr | 8:40 PM | Palace Norton St. |
