(2023) is a French gothic horror film that has gained significant attention for its eerie, folk-inspired atmosphere and unique artistic choices. Directed by Adrien Beau in his feature debut, the movie is based on the 1839 novella The Family of the Vourdalak by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy . Plot & Themes
Directed by Adrien Beau, this film isn’t interested in the sleek, modern vampire. Instead, it invites us back to the 18th century for a tactile, eerie, and deeply unsettling experience that feels like a rediscovered relic from a bygone era. The Origin: Tolstoy’s Family Curse
The Marquis, our outsider protagonist, watches in horror as the family’s devotion becomes their undoing. It’s a slow-burn descent into madness where the horror is birthed from love rather than hate. Why You Should Watch It
However, the Vourdalak is also said to have several weaknesses, including:
The foundational premise of Tolstoy’s story is a test of obedience and recognition. The patriarch, Gorcha, leaves his family to hunt a bandit, warning them that if he does not return within a strict timeframe—traditionally ten days in the novella or six in the 2023 film—he should be considered dead and denied entry. His return just moments past the deadline creates a harrowing moral dilemma: is this skeletal, changed figure still the father they love, or a monster wearing his skin? By inviting him back into the home, the family prioritises sentimental attachment over survival, transforming their domestic sanctuary into a slaughterhouse. THE VOURDALAK: Love is a Beautiful & Dreadful Thing