Directed and written by Sébastien Marnier, L’Origine du mal is a gripping dramatic thriller starring Laure Calamy, Doria Tillier, and Dominique Blanc. Released in cinemas in October 2022 and showcased at the Venice Film Festival, the film has drawn praise for its performances and direction. It will be available in France on Netflix starting January 14, 2026, according to the platform.
In a luxurious seaside villa, a woman from humble beginnings reconnects with a long-lost, extraordinarily wealthy father. Her return upsets a family scene where each member seems to stick to a carefully crafted role. Amid unspoken truths and conflicting stories, the fragile harmony of the household begins to crack, as the protagonist struggles to unravel truths, manipulations, and personal ambitions. Tensions escalate as alliances shift and loyalties are tested.
The family dynamics tighten around a hazy secret, amplified by the presence of an enigmatic maid, a demanding heiress, and a rebellious teenager. Suspicion becomes a driving force in the story, creating a constant psychological tension. The film leans into ambiguity, hinting that everyone might be lying or rewriting their part within this fractured family group.
The project continues to explore themes that are central to Sébastien Marnier’s work, themes he previously examined in Irréprochable and L’Heure de la sortie. Once again, the filmmaker delves into stories of social climbers, family relationships marked by secrets, and spaces where identity is constantly reconstructed. The narrative draws from personal elements, particularly the director’s mother’s story, before shifting into a more fictional and manipulative realm. Marnier also sets the story in an actual villa on the Riviera, filmed on location after rewriting the script to highlight its imposing architecture and almost labyrinthine atmosphere.
The costume design plays a significant role in shaping characters, particularly for the role played by Dominique Blanc, whose outfits evoke theatrical figures and a certain Hollywood-inspired imagination. The house, essentially a protagonist itself, required meticulous work in filling the space—featuring thrifted objects, signature furniture, and striking materials. Pierre Lapointe's music, structured in three acts, guides the story's progression through mystery, tension, and eventually melodrama. Marnier employs an anamorphic 2.55:1 ratio, heightening the image’s surreal quality and amplifying the sense of a psychological claustrophobic setting, despite the grandeur of the frame.
The Origin of Evil
Film | 2022
In theaters: October 5, 2022
Available on Netflix from January 14, 2026
Drama, Thriller | Runtime: 2h03
Directed by Sébastien Marnier | Starring Laure Calamy, Doria Tillier, Dominique Blanc
Nationality: France
With its meticulous direction, screenplay focused on power struggles, and highly controlled spatial design, the film offers a deep dive into family dynamics driven by suspicion. Flirting between psychological thriller and contemporary melodrama, it maintains the director’s signature style while presenting a fresh take on themes of lineage and concealment.
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