Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Vourdalak

Play trailer 1:46 Poster for The Vourdalak Released Jun 28 1h 30m Fantasy Drama Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When the Marquis d'Urfé, a noble emissary of the King of France, is attacked and abandoned in the remote countryside, he finds refuge at an eerie, isolated manor. The resident family, reluctant to take him in, exhibits strange behavior as they await the imminent return of their father, Gorcha. But what begins simply as strange quickly devolves into a full-fledged nightmare when Gorcha returns, seemingly no longer himself.... Adapted from a novella that predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by over half a century, The Vourdalak is an atmospheric, unexpected, sensorial experience that will leave you reeling and giddy in equal measure.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Vourdalak

The Vourdalak

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A visually sumptuous gothic tale with intriguing subtext flowing through its veins, The Vourdalak is a memorably stylish debut for director Adrien Beau.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (48) Critics Reviews
Danny Leigh Financial Times ... Delightfully skewed. The movie puts the dead in deadpan. Rated: 4/5 Sep 19, 2024 Full Review Phil Hoad Guardian A delirious and oddly agreeable stopover. Rated: 4/5 Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Flippant humor slowly gives way to an unavoidable onslaught of anxiety that overwhelmed my senses, leading to haunting final images I will uncomfortably savor for quite some time. Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 26, 2024 Full Review Romey Norton Film Focus Online The Vourdalak is a quirky, slightly bizarre, Gothic comedy. The artistic exploration of Gothic horror makes this film a splendid and strange surprise. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 15, 2024 Full Review Spleeny Dotson Starburst Sparse, tense, and claustrophobic, if you can get past the spooky puppet, The Vourdalak is a solid addition to cinema’s eternally bulging vampire canon. Rated: 3/5 Sep 6, 2024 Full Review MontiLee Stormer MovieReelist.com This story is pulled from oral myths and superstition where the undead walk in the daylight, and the signs of sickness aren’t silver and mirrors, but saliva and shadows. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 3, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (10) audience reviews
Kestutis D Manage your expectations. It looks like a student film. The quality of the film stock is cheap (some call it retro, but it doesn't really serve an artistic purpose), the story and cinematography are not particularly well-crafted either. The one redeeming quality is the thematic/dramatic element of caring for a loved one so much that you can't resist embracing them, even when they have turned into a zombie. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Joel P Whoa, take it easy folks; it ain't that great. It's charming and quirky and the father's appearance is disturbing (puppet?CGI?both?) but that's about it. It's not worth a re-watch. I would have given it 3 stars had they made the character of Sdenka attractive to look at (maybe a different (sexier)actress too. Sdenka was ghastly to behold; no Frenchy would have been smitten by her. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/10/24 Full Review Alec B The movie does a great job of invoking an older style of low budget filmmaking. I like the puppet but we probably see too much of it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/03/24 Full Review Honest D A great folk horror dark comedy with a pretty nasty surprise at the end. I loved it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Jon L Different take on traditional vampires. The puppet was definitely unsettling. Worth a watch for sure. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/25/24 Full Review Zane W A Haunting Thrill in The Vourdalak! Oh, The Vourdalak is a chilling delight, With whispers of shadows that dance in the night! Set in the countryside, remote and serene, Where secrets and terrors weave into the scene. The Marquis d'Urfé, noble and grand, Finds refuge in a manor that’s strange and unplanned. The family inside is peculiar and sly, As they wait for their father, with watchful, odd eyes. But hold on to your hats, for the twists are quite wild, As Gorcha returns, he’s no longer a child! What lurks in the darkness, what secrets unfold? A tale of suspense that’s both daring and bold. Adapted from tales that come long before Frank, This story dives deep into horror’s cold bank. With atmospheres heavy and tension so thick, Each moment will leave you just gasping—from fear or a kick! The visuals creep in with a style that enchants, Drawing you closer to forlorn, ghastly chants. You’ll feel every shiver, every jump at the sound, As the mysteries wrap you, all giddy and wound. The performances dazzle, with layers of fear, As the family’s behavior becomes crystal clear. With a mesmerizing plot that pulls you right in, You’ll ponder what’s real, and give in to the spin. So gather your friends for a night steeped in fright, For The Vourdalak will haunt you just right! With eerie enchantments and twists that excite, This film is a masterpiece in the pale moonlight. So if you seek thrills in a chilling embrace, Dive into the screams of this gothic place! In a world filled with nightmares that thrill and appall, The Vourdalak invites you to witness it all! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Vourdalak

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis When the Marquis d'Urfé, a noble emissary of the King of France, is attacked and abandoned in the remote countryside, he finds refuge at an eerie, isolated manor. The resident family, reluctant to take him in, exhibits strange behavior as they await the imminent return of their father, Gorcha. But what begins simply as strange quickly devolves into a full-fledged nightmare when Gorcha returns, seemingly no longer himself.... Adapted from a novella that predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by over half a century, The Vourdalak is an atmospheric, unexpected, sensorial experience that will leave you reeling and giddy in equal measure.
Director
Adrien Beau
Producer
Judith Lou Lévy, Eve Robin
Screenwriter
Adrien Beau, Hadrien Bouvier, Hadrien Bouvier, Adrien Beau
Distributor
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co
Les Films du Bal, Master Movie Productions
Genre
Fantasy, Drama, Horror
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 2024, Limited
Runtime
1h 30m
Most Popular at Home Now