In 1971, a little girl named Lucie escapes from a building where she was held and abused. She is placed in an orphanage, where she befriends another girl, Anna. Fifteen years later, Lucie (Mylène Jampanoï) believes she has found the people who tortured her, and turns up at their door with a gun. Anna (Morjana Alaoui), loyal as ever, follows her into a nightmare.
The first half is a frantic, shocking thriller, with a terrifying creature that stalks Lucie. Then the film changes completely, becoming something colder and much harder to watch, as the true purpose behind Lucie's suffering is revealed.
Morjana Alaoui is remarkable, carrying the film through scenes that are almost impossible to sit through. Laugier stages the violence without music or style, so it feels painfully real.
This is not a film to enjoy. Its second half is relentless, and some will find it cruel and pointless. But it is also ambitious, asking big questions about suffering and what comes after death. If you can bear it, it is unforgettable.
