The French Zombies of Les Revenants

They look just like you and me, but they are the people we used to know who are dead now. Les Revenants is a series about several people who come back from their graves. An article I read in Belfast called them zombies, and that was the whole reason I watched the show. However, they seemed more like ghosts, and initially I thought the translated name of the show was "The Ghosts". In French, ghosts are often called les revenants, but the noun is related to the verb revenir, which means "to come back". Les Revenants literally translates to "The Ones Who Came Back". Some have died ten years ago, while others passed away over thirty years ago. Some of them don't even know they're dead. The stylistic choices have been compared to David Lynch's show Twin Peaks.

Camille's family feels both horrified and blessed when they watch the fifteen year old girl walk through the door like she hasn't been dead for the last four years. Her parents accept Camille right away, calling her a miracle and considering their options for reintegrating her into their small community. Lena, her identical twin sister, now four years older than the unchanged Camille, does not trust her. Lena calls Camille an impostor and is leery of her presence.

Lena's first confrontation with Camille.

The first few episodes had a lot of slow moving dialogue that set the stage for the show. It wasn't until
the start of episode four, once they started developing Victor's character, that I had to know more. As the story unfolds, it becomes clearer how these French revenants earn the status of the new breed of zombie. Unlike ghosts, they are in the flesh. Instead of eating people, their presence sacrifices the lives of those around them in mysterious ways. People in their vicinity have the tendency to get sick or drop dead.

Simon ravenously devours a piece of chicken immediately
after being too aggressive with his lover. 

Additionally, the revenants never sleep and are always hungry for food, alcohol and sex. Les Revenants demonstrates its French roots by giving us the first zombies who have sex and smoke cigarettes. The story is wrought with love triangles and sensual love scenes that make the show so emotionally engaging.

Camille notices a change in the sore on her face.

I still wasn't completely sold on them being zombies. One of them eats human organs, but he also did that back when he was alive; it doesn't really count. Soon enough their skin starts cracking open into hideous sores.  When an eerie horde of the undead makes its way into the town and everyone locks their doors, I felt pretty safe calling this a zombie TV show. It's not the traditional zombie premise at all, and that's what makes it so good. Nothing is predictable, because there is no precedent for this kind of monster.

While I ended up deeply enjoying the show and even crying a little during the season finale, I struggled getting into it at the beginning. During the first three episodes I was very confused by so many characters looking so alike. Instead of a survival tip of the day, I give you a chart for surviving the confusion of telling people apart on this show. Be warned that in flashbacks, Lena is played by the actress who plays Camille. Jerome and Pierre look very similar in certain shots. Also, for a while I thought Laure and Adele were the same person. The information is out there online, but it's in French. Nonetheless, you should check out the official website: http://lesrevenants.canalplus.fr/

Bonne chance, mes amis! Let me know if you like these French zombies. Even if you don't, immersing yourself in this show will definitely improve your French language skills.