A Thoughtful Look at ‘Species’: Exploring Body Horror in Marion Le Corroller’s Creative Vision at Cannes Film Festival
Blood serves as only the beginning in Marion Le Corroller’s film Species, a piece that draws inspiration from the body-horror genre while contributing its own insights into the theme of women navigating male-dominated spaces. Featuring a standout performance by Mara Taquin, who undergoes significant transformation throughout the film, Species invokes a sense of sci-fi paranoia reminiscent of early works by David Cronenberg while layering in social commentary that echoes Nicolas Ray’s Bigger Than Life.
The film opens with a darkly comic prologue set in a fast-food restaurant named Bloody Burger. Here, a beleaguered server maintains a forced grin while managing the demands of customers. His demeanor shifts drastically when confronted by an irritating TikTok influencer, who threatens his job for refusing to provide his favorite item. The tension escalates, culminating in a moment where the server, consumed by rage, physically assaults the influencer in a fit of violence.
As the narrative unfolds, the style adopts a whimsical tone, yet the film quickly establishes its distinct identity with the introduction of Margot, a medical student played by Taquin. Margot, enthusiastic yet struggling to meet the intense demands of the emergency room, faces criticism from her superior, Professor Virgile, who embodies the chilling intelligence often found in Cronenberg’s characters. Virgile’s blunt advice—“Stop treating every patient like your mother”—reflects a harsh but pragmatic approach to medicine.
Margot’s surroundings, including her dimly lit and grim living quarters, replete with unsettling signs of neglect, contrast sharply with her determination to integrate into her medical team. She forms a connection with her laid-back neighbor, Louis (Sami Outalbali), but soon confronts the challenges of her profession when faced with a pregnant stock-market trader exhibiting peculiar symptoms. After the trader flees before Margot can summon help, the young medical student begins to experience similar afflictions, leading her to connect the dots between rising violence in the area and mysterious health issues such as rashes and unexplained bleeding.
The plot eventually loops back to the fast-food restaurant in an unexpected twist that deepens the narrative, drawing comparisons between the world of fast food and the pressures of contemporary healthcare. Taquin’s character arc contributes significantly to the film’s resonance, reflected in its English-language title, Species, distinct from its original French title, Sanguine. The supporting cast further enriches the film, lending authenticity to Margot’s discovery of the disturbing realities she faces.
Le Corroller deftly navigates the film’s chaotic elements, leading to a surprisingly somber climax that fulfills its ambitious premise. Her direction positions her as a noteworthy contender for future projects within the genre, suggesting she may be well-suited for remakes of classic horror films.
Title: Species
Festival: Cannes (Midnight)
Director/Screenwriter: Marion Le Corroller
Cast: Mara Taquin, Karin Viard, Kim Higelin, Sami Outalbali, Stefan Crepon
Sales: WTFilms
Running Time: 1 hr 22 mins
