Watch Dead Shadows

In the year 2012, a French science-fiction horror film named Dead Shadows was released. The movie is set in Paris, in the year 2015, on the eve of the end of the world as predicted by the Mayan calendar. This event triggers a bizarre phenomenon of astral interference, with comet and meteor showers raining over the city of Paris. Amidst this chaos, a young Frenchman, named Chris (played by Fabian Wolfrom) returns to his apartment building in Paris, where he spent his childhood.

As the night proceeds, Chris meets his new neighbor Claire (played by Blandine Papillon), a young woman who is fascinated with the paranormal world. They get to know each other better and plan to celebrate the end of the world together. Meanwhile, the city is experiencing strange occurrences like the transformation of the Parisians to aggressive, blood-thirsty mutants, and communications networks shutting down.

Chris and Claire soon realize that the cause of these events is not the Mayan prophecy, but rather, an astral invasion caused by a cosmic anomaly. When the couple meets a scientist, Dr. Richard (played by John Fallon), he reveals that the anomaly is the cause of a massively mutating genetic code that alters the DNA in humans, causing them to transform into monsters.

The three of them then go on a mission to prevent a monster apocalypse by tracking down the anomaly and destroying it before it destroys the world. They navigate their way through a city filled with grotesque mutations and violent monsters, making some shocking discoveries along the way.

Dead Shadows is a visually impressive film that blends science fiction with elements of horror. The movie takes full advantage of its Parisian location, with shots that capture the city's architecture and provide a unique backdrop for an otherwise chaotic setting.

The characters are quite different from those found in typical horror films. Chris is not a typical hero, and the writers explore his character in a way that makes him empathetic yet flawed. Claire, on the other hand, is curious, intelligent, and could easily fit into any sci-fi genre. Dr. Richard plays a typical scientist role, but his character has a tragic backstory that adds depth to the plot.

The film's strongest suit lies in its special effects. The visual effects team did a fantastic job of creating monsters and mutations that are both terrifying and fascinating to look at. They used prosthetics, makeup, and CGI to create the effects, which blend seamlessly to make the monsters more realistic.

The film also has a few shortcomings. At times, the plot feels rushed, and some parts of the movie are underdeveloped. The story is a little bit predictable, and there are a few cliches that detract from the overall innovative visuals and narrative.

In conclusion, Dead Shadows is an enjoyable and visually stunning movie that creates a unique blend of science fiction and horror. The plot might fall short at times, but several scenes are truly terrifying, providing the viewer with a sufficient dose of fright. The facial prosthetics and makeup are intimidating, and the use of computer-generated imagery makes the monsters feel more tangible. Fans of horror and science fiction will appreciate this creative take on an end-of-the-world scenario.

Dead Shadows is a 2012 foreign movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8.