Fresh off its initial run across the European festival circuit, French filmmaker Quarxx has set a North American debut. The genre-bending period horror, The Ones Who Grieve, is scheduled to premiere on September 18 at Fantastic Fest. And judging by the trailer below, it looks like an intense, edge-of-your-seat film not to be missed!
Desperation and Madness on an Isolated Farm
Set near the close of the 19th century, the narrative follows Zélie, played by Zélie Rixhon. She is a young woman living under the oppressive, deeply religious thumb of her father, Jacob (Thierry Frémont). A devastating affliction known as the Black Veil is spreading across the surrounding rural landscape. Meanwhile, Jacob’s intense religious devotion steadily morphs into outright insanity. Trapped in a bleak environment where fanatical faith bleeds into madness, Zélie is forced to fight for her own humanity. As well as escape her family’s escalating nightmare.
Isabelle Anciaux and Jean-Baptiste Maunier round out the principal cast.
Tesla Towers and Twisted Folklore
While the central story echoes classic historical dread, festival descriptions indicate that the Black Veil is far more than a typical period plague. The film establishes an alternate version of 19th-century rural France. It’s one where towering Tesla structures sprout across the countryside as industrial electricity reshapes society.
The mysterious illness leaves its victims lingering in a state of prolonged agony rather than granting a swift death. It sparks a bitter conflict between scientific ambition and religious superstition. The Ones Who Grieve is also being described as a French Gothic Western infused with zombie elements, scientific fantasy, folklore, and melodrama.
The Evolution of a Unique Genre Visionary
Produced by Transgressive Production and Kali Pictures, The Ones Who Grieve, originally titled Les Âmes en peine in French, marks another ambitious step forward for its director. Quarxx previously gained international acclaim with his 2023 descent-into-hell horror feature Pandemonium, which made waves at FrightFest before securing a physical home video release via Arrow Video. Before that, the filmmaker made his feature directorial debut with All the Gods in the Sky. With his third effort, Quarxx continues to refine his reputation for crafting visually striking, deeply unsettling genre visions that defy standard narrative boundaries.
WTFilms is handling international sales as the movie seeks domestic distribution ahead of its festival showcase.
