‘MadS’ Review: One-Shot Horror Frenzy That Redefines Immersive Filmmaking
As a lover of innovative filmmaking techniques, I always fell for the immersive experience one-shot films offered. Films like Long Day’s Journey into Night, Birdman, and 1917 captured my imagination at the seamless storytelling of traveling through time rather than watching a movie. I was thus excited to look forward to yet another unique cinematic experience that the French film MadS came to offer. Shudder and Neon have been cranking out some great original films lately, producing critically acclaimed films such as Oddity, In a Violent Night, Longlegs, and Cuckoo, so I was excited to see how MadS would fit into this growing trend. Well, 2024 has again proven to be the Year of Horror! Read our MadS review below.
The film is reminiscent of a very classic viral outbreak horror movie, and its story has been done in so many different ways already, but, a series of twists and an interestingly creative structure did the job for me while watching the film. This bold choice of filming the whole piece as one continuous tracking shot pays off and immerses us in the chaos that ensues on the birthday of our protagonist, Romain (Milton Riche). The creative forces behind MadS must have relished the opportunity to bring to life the frantic energy of a young man whose world rapidly spirals into turmoil.
From the very start, MadS puts us in Romain’s shoes as he interacts with his group of friends, establishing a familiarity that feels comforting, almost nostalgic. For about the first thirty minutes, the film evokes memories of classics like 28 Days Later, leaving me with the bittersweet realization that perhaps those earlier films had set a bar that was hard to surpass. But just as I was surrendering to that nagging doubt, MadS veered in a different direction. The camera drifts through the film with an easy fluidity that catches the subtle shifts of atmosphere as the characters come to realize that something is wrong, though what that might be remains obscured.
It’s obvious that the movie is drenched in an overwhelming feeling of chaos and urgency. As if we’re caught inside Romain’s whirlwind birthday party, a night that would have been all laughter but then turns into some kind of nightmare, perhaps, the pace being breathless that the film rarely allowed is part of its charm. We are plunged into the chaotic energy of youth, just to have it all knocked askew by a horror that is both inevitable and utterly unpredictable.
The beauty of the one-shot lies in the anxiety it brings and claustrophobia. The brilliant camera technique manages to capture their increasing unease as we follow Romain and his friends, ampling the tension when they come to understand the situation they are in, enveloping us with the mounting dread to feel as if we are right there alongside them.
Perhaps my favorite in the whole film happens in the second part of the movie, where the story shifts from Romain to Anais (Laurie Pavy), her scenes perfectly captures the turmoil of the world around her when she rides her bike blood-soaked through the streets at dusk as night falls. There’s almost a therapeutic quality to her ride, that momentary calm in the tempest. The juxtaposition of her solitary journey against the crumbling society is very beautifully rendered. Laurie Pavy delivers a very good performance, her expression perfectly captured the mix of confusion and determination as she doesn’t know where she’s headed.
However, like any other horror entry from Shudder this year, MadS is not flawless. That familiar outline of its very narrative ultimately drags it down. Despite some creative flair, there are times when the film’s chaotic filming style threatens motion sickness rather than enhancing one’s experience. It’s a double-edged sword as it keeps tension at an extreme high, while on the other hand, it disorients, especially in scenes packed with frantic movement. I feel this sensation, though not the fault of the filmmakers, occasionally pulled me out of the experience.
Ultimately, MadS is one of those films that proves how innovatively creative filmmaking can get with a horror story. A risk-taking approach sometimes misses its mark but has enough good going around that this remains a fascinating departure from familiar material. Filmmaking that’s accomplished to have a movie take shape entirely in a single shot must be recognized; there can be as much creative juice in it for the trade that operates most on a formula-driven path.
MadS is written and directed by David Moreau. The film stars Lucille Guillaume, Laurie Pavy, and Milton Riche. It is now streaming on Shudder. Watch the trailer for the film below:
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