France may not be the first country that comes to mind when it comes to horror cinema. But the place that brought us Truffaut, Godard and an inexplicable appreciation for Jerry Lewis has made a name for itself in the last decade when it comes to defining the genre. Films like the twisty High Tension, the zombified Horde and the exceptionally creepy Them gave Hollywood a reason to stand up and take notice – and, of course, take some of the ideas for themselves.
Recently, it was announced that French distributor SND Films will oversee an English-language remake of the 2011 creeper Livid. Originally directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (Inside), the film, which is described as a “dark romantic fairy tale,” will be adapted by screenwriter David Birke. Appropriately, Doug Davison, one of the people who brought The Strangers, the successful remake of Them, to theaters, will produce, along with Robert Léger.
From the trailer, Livid looks like a nightmare that could only come from the land of New Wave and surrealism. The glimpses of bodily horror bring to mind Un Chien Andalou, Luis Bunuel’s definitive silent film that was embraced by Paris in 1929. There’s a distinct style, and I’d be curious to see how the story and form are translated for American audiences. See the original trailer and synopsis below:
Synopsis:
It’s young Lucy’s first day as a trainee in-house caregiver. She visits Mrs Jessel, an old woman who lies in cerebral coma, by herself, in her large desolate house. Learning by accident that Mrs Jessel, a former dance teacher of repute, supposedly possesses a treasure somewhere in the house, Lucy and friends William and Ben decide to search the house in the hope of finding it. At night, they get into the house, which reveals itself to be increasingly peculiar. Their hunt for Mrs Jessel’s treasure leads them into a horrifying supernatural series of events that will change Lucy forever.
How do you think American audiences will react to Livid? Do you think it will be successful?