Netflix has had a fairly good track record with original horror titles. Sure, there are a few duds, but with offerings like Apostle, Gerald’s Game, The Ritual, Hush, Calibre, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Haunting of Hill House, and more, it’s hard to complain. But if you’re like me and you forget to rate what you’ve watched, sometimes the best original horror on Netflix isn’t as easy to spot on the landing page. Moreover, a good portion of Netflix original horror relies on word of mouth because the marketing is marginal at best. All of which to say, Netflix original series Marianne had no real buzz prior to its Friday the 13th drop, but it’s easily the streaming service’s most terrifying title yet.
It’s a lofty claim considering how Mike Flanagan chilled viewers with last October’s The Haunting of Hill House. Flanagan opted for atmosphere and mood, with very few jump scares. The “haunting” in the title accurately sums up the style of horror Flanagan was going for. It’s very different for French series Marianne, though. Marianne wants to scare you silly from the get-go. To leave you sleeping with the lights on and closet doors welded shut.
In the series, mega successful horror author Emma Larsimon (Victoire Du Bois) has written the concluding novel in her popular book series about an evil witch named Marianne. She wants to retire from horror, and hopefully the nightmares that have been plaguing her since childhood. But the announcement of her retirement has caused a ferocity in her nightmares like never before, and a bizarre encounter with a childhood friend leaves Emma forced to confront her fears head-on by going to the one place she swore she’d never go again: home.
Emma’s past comes back to haunt her in increasingly gruesome ways.
All 8 episodes were directed by Samuel Bodin, who also co-wrote the series with Quoc Dang Tran. From the premiere episode, it becomes quickly apparent that Bodin understands how to craft a scare that will chill right to the bone. In terms of originality, horror fans will recognize many clear influences, but it customizes and molds them into a unique antagonist with fascinating mythology. Even when the jump scares approach familiar territory, they’re so effective that you’re too busy being frightened to care.
Marianne is nightmares personified. Not just for Emma, but for the viewer. As a witch that feeds on nightmares and terror, at least it seems initially, there’s a serious unpredictability to her means and motives that makes her all the more terrifying. She can do or be anything, use your fears and memories against you, and the scares always land. There are so many spine-tingling moments that I want to discuss, but I don’t want to spoil them. I will say that, save for a few middle episodes that expand on the story and character dynamics, the horror tends to be relentless.
The more horror we watch the more desensitized to it we tend to become, making that adrenaline rush of fear so much harder to come by. Yet Marianne makes it seem so effortless. It offers gore, endless suspense, jump scares aplenty, and visceral terror that might make you question the decision to watch it before bedtime. And if you’re like me, you’ll become addicted. It’s a show that deserves discussion and viewership. Beyond the scares, the story and characters are compelling. It’s beautifully shot, and exudes fall atmosphere with its gloomy seaside village setting.
With Halloween season practically here already, Marianne is the perfect show to binge.
