10 French Horror Movies You Need To Watch

1. Revenge

Frontier 2007
Rezo Films

In the wrong hands, a vengeance story that highlights sexual assault can come across as insipid and exploitative. Fortunately, Coralie Fargeat's Revenge deals with the touchy subject with finesse and grace.

After being invited to a party, Jen (Matilda Lutz) is r*ped by a powerful CEO, Richard, before he and his friends leave her for dead in the desert. Rather than succumbing to the intense heat, Jen organises a plan to execute her assailants.

Though Jen's transition from a damsel in distress to a hardened warrior is sudden, Matilda Lutz plays it perfectly, convincingly portraying a woman who's forced to discard all human weakness to survive. The story doesn't focus much on the assault itself, so Jen comes across as a fighter rather than a victim.

Although r*pe-revenge stories are often compared to I Spit on Your Grave, this action thriller is more akin to The Revenant, with Jen's trauma giving her the uncompromising determination and efficiency needed to track down her targets. The CEOs are the bad guys, but there are times when Jen is more terrifying, due to her insatiable rage and the creative methods she takes to dispose of her enemies.

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James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows