Must-Watch French Sci-Fi Sensation Leaving Netflix in One Week!

A French twist on the disaster movie genre? Hurry, it’s leaving Netflix soon!

French cinema rarely ventures into science fiction, and when it does, the results can be hit or miss. However, the 2018 movie “Dans la brume” (In the Mist) proved to be an exception. This film takes us to a Paris cloaked in deadly fog.

Survivors seek refuge on the upper floors of buildings and the rooftops of the city. With no communication, no electricity, no water or food, a small family struggles to survive this disaster… As time passes, it becomes clear: help is not coming, and they must venture into the fog if they hope to escape.

Led by Romain Duris and Olga Kurylenko, this film by Canadian director Daniel Roby (Target Number One) was well-received by critics upon its release for its straightforward yet effective direction and its distinctive aesthetic, setting it apart from other productions.

While audiences rated it an average of 2.9 out of 5, they were nonetheless captivated by the initial premise, even though they were generally disappointed by the film’s lack of deeper messages.

An Immersive Closed-Door Drama

“Dans la brume” remains an ambitious French film. For the purposes of the movie, and because half of the action takes place within the same Haussmann-style building, the director had different apartments constructed within studio settings. The outcome was quite successful, allowing viewers to be fully immersed in the story and adding a touch of realism.

Roby also used real smoke on set, which initially disoriented Romain Duris. The French actor explained at the time:

“Technically, it was impossible to clear the smoke between takes, so we felt like we were directed in a chamber, in an indistinct atmosphere, where things are sensed rather than seen. These sequences in the fog make up almost half of the film. We also had to learn to speak with a mask, which was all the more challenging because it changes the way we hear ourselves. All these physical constraints truly took me out of the more traditional films I’ve done.”

A Notable Success on Netflix

When it premiered on Netflix a year ago, subscribers flocked to it! “Dans la brume” even reached the third spot in the weekly top 10, becoming one of the most-watched films within 24 hours at that time.

It was an impressive feat, though hardly surprising: French subscribers have always shown a strong preference for action, disaster, and sci-fi films on the platform. And this new addition was no exception.

You have only a few days left to catch it on Netflix. “Dans la brume” will leave the catalog on February 18.

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