Why Is This Netflix’s Scariest Horror Series To Date?
· Thought CatalogIf you are looking for something truly terrifying, look no further.
Updated 14 hours ago, March 8, 2025
You may be surprised to learn that something this haunting is on Netflix.
Case in point: Marianne, a French horror series that first debuted on Netflix in 2019. Even though it came out before the Lockdown Era, it’s now experiencing a mini revival of sorts, with many viewers discovering (or re-discovering) its strengths. Though the show was regrettably canceled after only one season, it’s suddenly trending on Rotten Tomatoes for some reason. Whether that’s due to Netflix meddling or not, the show definitely deserves the renewed attention it’s getting. In addition to its eerie atmosphere and psychological depth, Marianne has plenty of assets that make it stand out among the many horror offerings of today. Join me as we break down the story of Emma Larsimon, a lonely and jaded horror novelist haunted by the evil demon of her nightmares, Marianne.
It’s greater than the sum of its parts
When the scares arrive in Marianne, they often feel familiar, reflecting the stuff of classic horror films and series. After all, there are familiar touches of demonic possession, haunted houses and psychological torture — all genre touchstones that have been mined countless times.But Marianne has a way of integrating these influences into something greater. The series’ sullen atmosphere and impish score conspire to heighten anxiety, and the performances sell every burst of terror. And in some cases, this show WILL get you, inciting cases of unprovoked jumping.
It uses its backstory to great effect
Flashbacks can be a tricky narrative tool — done wrong, they can interrupt pacing or collapse under their own exposition. But Marianne knits its past tightly with the present, using flashbacks to not only flesh out the story, but lend emotional gravitas to protagonist Emma Larsimon’s struggles. Viewed through the lens of the past, all of Emma’s perceived flaws and supposedly cruel decisions take on heartbreaking new meaning, foreshadowing the series’ inevitable conclusion. Her life’s tragic underpinnings become an integral part of the horror, lending urgency to the story.
Its interpersonal drama never feels cheap
Ultimately, Marianne is an intimate and agonizing unspooling of Emma Larsimon’s personal life. Though a celebrated horror novelist, Emma is apparently flawed to her core. And like in the best horror stories, her supernatural encounters are entwined with her metaphorical demons. The relationships she neglected, the friendships she strained, the bridges she burned … It all comes back to slap her in the face, raising the stakes of the series. Every time her life collapses, you’ll feel real devastation on her behalf.
Its lore is often original and funny
A horror villain is only as effective as the mythology in place around them, and Marianne builds an unsettling lore that makes its antagonist both mystifying and fearsome. Though some elements of the series’ titular villain may be reminiscent of other well-known horror villains, Marianne often feels unique, with her own strange rules and constraints. One especially memorable trait — her inability to lie about her own name — produces creepy, delicious moments throughout the series. Additionally, the connection between Marianne and Emma’s horror novels is another of the script’s strokes of genius, making the horror of Marianne feel personal, not random.
But the character’s power comes not only from the mythology around her, but from the way she’s portrayed. Mireille Herbstmeyer’s performance as Madame Daugeron, the initial human vessel of Marianne, is unforgettable. Her unhinged gaze and unsettling smile do a lot of the heavy lifting in establishing Marianne as one of the most memorable horror antagonists in recent memory.
The je ne sais quoi of it all
While Marianne draws on universal fears, it also bears a very French flavor that distinguishes it from other horror efforts. The brooding, cigarette-smoking police officer; the emotionally stunted main character in the grip of an existential crisis; the omnipresent themes of rebellion and emancipation — it’s all distinctly French and elevates the series. Still, the horror, drama and comedy of Marianne are universal in appeal, and the series absolutely deserve the international attention it’s getting. And if Netflix really did orchestrate the resurgence of Marianne by fudging some algorithm or another (as some online commentators have suggested), then hey, at least we’re talking about it now. Also, can we get a Season 2, please?