Director David Moreau returns to horror after 2008’s American remake of The Eye and 2017’s Seuls. His new film, MadS, premiered at this year’s Fantastic Fest. It is a continuous-shot horror movie that offers an apocalyptic thrill at high speeds.
Moreau goes back to his roots as a New French Extremity filmmaker who shocked audiences with Them (or Ils in French) in 2006. He takes on the challenging task of making viewers feel they are watching a single, uninterrupted scene.
MadS was filmed in five takes over five days, but you cannot tell at all. Moreau’s control over constant movement shows a descent into madness as an infection spreads. The film highlights strong performances as we see the beginning of humanity’s end unfold in real time.
‘MadS’ Is Chaotic Right From the Start
The story begins with 18-year-old Romain (played by Milton Riche), a cheerful boy who takes a new pill from his dealer. Romain has just graduated, and he wants to celebrate. Then, a bandaged woman suddenly climbs into his parked car. The bleeding hitchhiker is in pain, and Romain panics while trying to help her.
Unfortunately, she dies. Now Romain has a body in his car, his father is calling him from out of town, and his girlfriend Anais (Laurie Pavy) is on her way to his house. This all happens in just a few minutes. Moreau quickly pulls his audience into the chaos, which is just a taste of the wild insanity Romain will face next.
The film feels like a mix of New Life, Climax, and Run Lola Run. Moreau looks at a contagion outbreak closely, focusing on a few characters caught up in what seems to be a worldwide event. Some viewers may feel frustrated because they want more explanations beyond what Romain and his friends experience.
However, there is an organic fear in these personal stories of doom. Typical apocalyptic tales start after civilization has fallen, allowing for exciting moments like zombie battles. In contrast, Moreau prefers intimate nightmares that lack clear answers.
This is where the real horror lies. Normal life quickly changes from enjoying drinks in bathrooms and discussing romantic drama to running from armed soldiers trying to control a mysterious disaster.
Intimacy is a key element in MadS. The kills are more than just bites, torn flesh, and turning into monsters.
Romain’s encounter with the injured woman (who coughs blood on him) leads to unsettling moments, similar to Eduardo Sánchez and Gregg Hale’s segment “A Ride in the Dark” from V/H/S/2.
MadS offers no solutions to the larger issue as we watch Romain get sick and see how it spreads among partygoers, in French suburbs, and in city centers.
The pain, physical suffering, and resulting madness that take over the story create a powerful sense of inevitability. Once the film begins, it is like a runaway train crashing through obstacles with its driver laughing at the chaos.
‘MadS’ Features a Strong Cast of Horror Performers
MadS features a trio of talented young actors who shine throughout the film. Because the film uses a single-shot style with the camera focused on a specific actor, there is a smooth transition between characters that keeps things engaging.
Milton Riche plays Romain, the carefree young man who introduces us to the unfolding chaos, hinting at the hormonal effects of an infection he unknowingly brings to a crowded house party.
He acts as our first guide. On the other side, Lucille Guillaume plays Julia, who struggles to get home as France falls apart.
While Riche shows subtle changes as he begins to show signs of the rage virus, Guillaume is a terrified survivor trying to escape contamination.
Julia’s responses to the world on fire lead to a memorable ending for horror fans. However, the real magic happens in the middle of the film.
Laurie Pavy’s transformation into the ultimate predator in MadS is one of the best horror performances in recent memory. Her work stands alongside Jane Levy in Evil Dead or Toni Collette in Hereditary, fully embodying wild, animal-like traits.
Infected people lose consciousness at times, and her character switches from a scared girl to a possessed monster.
Her every action is done with maximum effort: licking streetlights in a daze, screaming for her mother, skipping towards an innocent biker, showing aggressive behavior, and expressing human emotions amid terrifying outbursts. Pavy’s performance is a perfect fit for the genre.
David Moreau Did Not Need a High Body Count to Make ‘MadS’ Memorable
Moreau fills the film with feelings of dread without needing a high body count. Real scares are mixed with a heavy, demonic character study, while cinematographer Philip Lozano’s moving camera captures everything from running madmen to Romain’s car.
The filmmaking style is varied and powerful for many reasons, even using digital effects to frame scenes creatively. Once Romain starts his car, there is no stopping Moreau’s ambitious and intense take on Day Zero apocalypse stories.
The film is artistic and hungry, honoring the spirit of the New French Extremity movement. MadS is the kind of horror movie that makes you feel like a newcomer to the genre again — and what a wonderful feeling that is.
MadS, directed by David Moreau, is a continuous-shot horror film that follows Romain, an 18-year-old caught in a chaotic, infection-spreading nightmare.
The film showcases intense performances, especially from Laurie Pavy, and highlights personal doomsday scenarios without relying on a high body count. MadS premieres on Shudder October 18.
