Best 2022 Thriller Wins 6 Césars: ‘A Just and Smart Masterpiece’ Rated 4/5!

Four years after dabbling in comedy with his film “News from Planet Mars,” Dominik Moll returned to his beloved genre: the thriller. In 2019, he directed “Only the Animals,” and three years later, he came back with another intense and thrilling movie: “The Night of the 12th.” The film was so well-received that Allociné viewers gave it an excellent average rating of 4 out of 5 (12,1595 reviews and 778), making it the top thriller of 2022.

The Night of the 12th, César for Best French Film of 2022

Based on a grim true crime, this film follows the criminal investigation unit in Grenoble as they probe the murder of Clara (played by Lula Cotton-Frapier), a 21-year-old woman who was burned alive as she was returning home. Lieutenant Yohan Vivès (portrayed by Bastien Bouillon) and his team start by questioning the victim’s acquaintances. Soon, several individuals become suspects, but pinpointing the actual perpetrator proves challenging (we’ll explain the ending).

This hard-hitting thriller features Bastien Bouillon, but also stars Bouli Lanners, Théo Cholbi, Johann Dionnet, Thibaut Evrard, Julien Frison, and Pierre Lottin, among others. The cast is predominantly male in a film that focuses on violence against women.

In addition to moving Allociné audiences, “The Night of the 12th” swept the César Awards. Out of its ten nominations, the film won six awards: César for Best Supporting Actor (Bouli Lanners), César for Most Promising Actor (Bastien Bouillon), as well as awards for Best Director, Best French Film, Best Adaptation, and Best Sound.

The thriller also excelled at the Lumières Awards, with Dominik Moll winning Best Film and Best Screenplay for his outstanding work with Gilles Marchand. Lastly, “The Night of the 12th” was also showcased at the Cannes Film Festival. A stellar performance, indeed.

What did the viewers think?

According to Cinephile6759: “It’s been a while since a film gripped me with so much suspense and tension. A powerful and moving long feature that I won’t soon forget. The casting is incredible. A must-watch.“

According to Moket: “A sordid true crime for a brilliant film. The investigation stalls, but the story is fascinating, closely following the detectives, their personal stories, their obsessions. The film is dark, desperate, but you can’t take your eyes off it…“

According to Naughty Doc: “The cast is great, and the film, beyond the obsession, addresses the view on women with relevance. A feminist film with no secondary interpretation at that level, but again brought with sense and pertinence. In short, a very good film, exciting too!“

According to Ella3108: “A great noir film that grabs you from the first scenes and doesn’t let go even as we know the investigation did not conclude. The tight direction creates an unsettling atmosphere, elevated by the stellar performance of the actors. Perhaps the best French film of the year. A film that makes you think about how society views young women.“

According to Mickael L.: “A true lesson in filmmaking. Dominik Moll takes us into a thriller worthy of the name. He plunges us into the depths of the investigation. The detectives flounder but never give up, in vain. It’s superb. Rarely has such a level been reached. The six Césars are well deserved.“

According to Saint Clar: “It’s finely directed, filmed, and acted: astounding. This film is a masterpiece: cinematically speaking, it deserves top honors in several categories (direction, cinematography, actors, supporting roles). Just and intelligent. What talent!“