New Folk Horror Movie Officially Turns Religious Fanaticism Into a Nightmare [Exclusive]
The Ones Who Grieve, a new folk horror film, is set to have its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, exploring religious fanaticism through the lens of a plague-stricken 19th-century French village. The story follows 17-year-old Zélie, whose father Jacob is a self-proclaimed "Masker" who subjects the sick to brutal purification rituals, framing him as a more terrifying force than the disease itself. Collider shared an exclusive image ahead of the premiere showing one of Jacob's victims wearing a haunting carved mask, underscoring the film's central theme that unchecked religious control can be as monstrous as any supernatural threat.
The film is set in the French countryside amid an outbreak called "The Black Veil", with Zélie seeking escape from her tyrannical father through allies including a woman named Jane, a troubled man called Carmin, and an infected soldier named Gabriel who offers to kill Jacob. When her plan is discovered, Jacob's punishment triggers a spiral of tragedy. Thierry Frémont, known for AMC's Nautilus, stars as Jacob, alongside Zélie Rixhon, Isabelle Anciaux and Jean-Baptiste Maunier, with French director Quarxx at the helm.
In short
- New folk horror film premieres at Fantastic Fest, exclusive image shared
- Set in plague-hit 19th-century France, exploring religious fanaticism
- Stars Thierry Frémont as a brutal "Masker" father figure
Explained simply
In 19th-century France, outbreaks of disease could leave rural communities frightened and with few ways to protect themselves. Folk horror uses local beliefs, customs and isolation to create unease, often blurring the line between human cruelty and supernatural danger.
The film centres on Zélie, a teenager living through an outbreak known as the Black Veil, and her father Jacob, who claims to be a “Masker” and subjects sick people to harsh rituals. Her attempts to escape bring her into contact with Jane, Carmin and Gabriel, an infected soldier.
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