New directors are often eager to use their debut projectsto prove their artistic prowess.Edgy plot points, stylistic flare, and technical tricks are all used in an effort to demonstrate why that director deserves to make their art. A favorite method for flexing talent and skill is the long, single-shot. These shots add tension and enhance the mood of their films, immersing the audience in the world of the story. Famous continuous shots are often embedded into classic films, with absolute legends likeStanley KubrickandSteven Spielbergincluding them in their most famous works. But one director,David Moreau, in his debut, no less, takes the continuous shot to a new level with his 2024MadS. A gnarly tale of drugs, gore, and infection,MadSis over an hour long and filmed in one, endless shot. No cuts, no scene breaks, nothing.Once the horror starts, there is no escaping it.
‘MadS’ Plays With Genre For Maximum Horror Effect
A mash-up ofLess Than Zero’s nihilistic glitz and glamor with all the bloody thrills and gore of28 Days Later,MadSis a genre-bending trip that feels familiar, yet fresh.FollowingMilton Richeas an apathetic teenager, Romain,MadStakes its audience on a literal thrill ride. Romain is on top of the world whenMadSopens—he’s got drugs, his father’s car, and plans to party later that night. But when a badly injured woman leaps into his car playing a tape recording that implies she was experimented on, his night takes a grim turn. Never let it be said that mutilation is enough to stop Romain from having a good night, so, despite all the insanity of his drive home, he still makes his way to a house party that quickly turns into ground zero for a brutal infection. Fresh faces, Riche andLucille Guillaumeas Anais, are new to the cinema scene, yet deliver tremendous performances. Guillaume, in particular, steals the show every time she’s on-screen. Once the halfway point hits, Guillaume brings a frenetic energy to Anais that matches that manic energy of the film as a whole.
This Was the First Film Made From One Single Unedited Take
This trip to the museum is the culmination of decades of experimentation.
Fairly low budget and released direct-to-streaming,MadShas received relatively little fanfare, which is a shame, considering it has everything horror fanatics have been begging for.Tight pacing and brilliant technical effects ensure thatMadSgets the heart of every viewer racing.The plot elements do a lot to imbue the film with great tension. Moreausaid in an interviewthat when he found out they were filmingThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carolfive minutes away from his house, he took it as a “strange sign” sent to him by “the God of Zombies.” The gore and teeth ofMadSare certainly zombie adjacent, but at times,MadSfeels more like an outbreak horror or a survivalist flick.
‘MadS’ is a Masterclass in Tension and Suspense
For all thatMadSbrings its A-game in the special effects department with blood, guts, and gore, where this movie truly hits its stride is inthe building of suspense.From the moment the unnamed woman gets into Romain’s car,a pressure cooker starts. Her specific brand of erratic behavior clues the audience in to where the film is going ahead of Romain, who doesn’t know he’s starring in a horror movie. Armed with the knowledge of how most outbreak and zombie flicks go, the audience is white-knuckling it as Romain decides that, after his harrowing experience, hestillwants to party. For all that the audience knows the foregone conclusion,MadSis still a thrilling watch.
Much of this tension is thanks to Moreau’s ambitious decision to do the filmas a one-shot. While some reviewers have speculated that they can see places where Moreau hides a cut, Moreau maintains that the film is done entirely as a single shot.In one interview, he glibly remarks, “I didn’t think it was that difficult.” Five takes over five nights, and the final result isMadS.What could have felt gimmicky, a new director’s attempt to show off skill, is ultimately an essential aspect of the film’s horror. The continuous shot means there is no breathing room for the viewer.The tension is constantly mounting, almost claustrophobic, as the audience is trapped in the same nightmare as the characters.It is a relentless watch.
For any horror fans out there, Moreau is a director to watch. His devotion to artistic flair and good old-fashioned fun has resulted in what might just bethe most underrated movie of 2024, horror or otherwise.MadShas that indieje ne sais quoi, with the edgier use of one long shot, casual drug usage, and unique lighting, and the makings of a horror classic with a thrilling pace and gleeful gore. His decision to use relative unknowns for his whole cast is likewise admirable. As audiences bemoan seeing the same five actors in every movie, Moreau found some up-and-comers with real star power.MadSis a must-watch.
