They Came Back (2004)

The lives of the residents of a small French town are changed when thousands of the recently dead inexplicably come back to life and try to integrate themselves into society that has changed for them.

Director:

Robin Campillo

Writers:

Robin Campillo, Brigitte Tijou

Stars:

Géraldine Pailhas, Jonathan Zaccaï, Frédéric Pierrot

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Géraldine Pailhas	...	Rachel
Jonathan Zaccaï	...	Mathieu
Frédéric Pierrot	...	Gardet
Victor Garrivier	...	Le maire
Catherine Samie	...	Martha
Djemel Barek	...	Isham
Marie Matheron	...	Véronique
Saady Delas	...	Sylvain
Guy Herbert	...	Le revenant au blouson gris
Catherine Salvini	...	La psychologue
Alain Guillo	...	Le directeur de Mathieu
Dan Herzberg	...	Le soldat
Hélène Alexandridis	...	La fille du maire
Gérard Watkins	...	Le fils du maire
Serge Biavan	...	Le représentant médecin DDASS

Storyline

The lives of the residents of a small French town are changed when thousands of the recently dead inexplicably come back to life and try to integrate themselves into society that has changed for them.

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Plot Keywords:

french | dead | black panties | panties | france | 

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Taglines:

Why have the dead suddenly returned?

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

27 October 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

They Came Back

Filming Locations:

France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Haut et Court,France 3 Cinéma,Gimages Développement

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frederic Pierrot who plays Gardet also appears in the 2012 tv series of the same name as the character Jerome.

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Connections

Remade as The Returned (2012)

User Reviews

Art house zombies, less bite more thoughtful

I liked this film, but potential genre viewers beware, this is a subtitled French film, but since I enjoy both horror films and art house movies I had little problem with its leisurely pacing. Some reviewers have commented on a lack of horror, this is true, but there are plenty of unsettling scenes and the film has a genuine sense of unease hanging over it. It takes place in a high-rise suburb of the Ile-de-France, a region of Paris. There is something of a J.G. Ballard-like feel of dislocation to the urban surroundings that matches the inability of the returned dead to fit in with the lives of their previously grieving loved ones. Similarly, as in the short story The Monkey's Paw, it is perhaps better not to have your loved ones return from the dead because they may not be quite as you'd like them to be.

It's a fascinating premise and goes to show how the zombie genre can be tweaked in to interesting new shapes. However, writer and first time director Robin Compillo does not explore the full socio-economic possibilities of the situation, let alone the potential for horror. He instead considers some of the emotional implications involved in regard to loss and wish fulfilment in relation to the returned loved ones. It might be hoped that They Came Back could kick start a new direction in the zombie genre, as a global phenomenon there are thousands of potential scenarios. However, it is unlikely this modest and thoughtful little chiller (imagine M.Night Shyamalan when he was modest and thoughtful) will have the same impact as Night of the Living Dead.