IR Film Review: THE ORIGIN OF EVIL [IFC Films]

The aspect of wanting a better life can be reflexive depending on what is willing to be sacrificed. With the throughline of "The Origin Of Evil", the basis comes on the conception of what becomes psychopathic behavior and where does it completely cross the line (there is one good barometer). Laura Calamy as the lead Stephane does so from almost the inception in her very existence in terms of her disassociative behavior. As she builds her new world, based in an idea of what her discovered or new family really is, things become even more murky. The father (Serge played by Jacques Weber) is plagued by certain issues, his own raghe, dysfunction from within his family and some other behavior points which become clearer as the film goes on. The rest of the family each have their own agenda, phobia and slightly psychopathic behavior (each in their own way). The way writer/director Sebastian Marinier plays them against each other is nicely subtle (though the viciousness of the mother/daughter seems a bit like mustache twirling).

However, as the narrative grows, it is interesting to see how Stephane starts to adjust her approach, not out of greed but out of genuine sickness in her head because her actions start to make less logical sense. Her reactions border on bipolar as well (including her eventual conflict with someone of extreme importance to her at the end). Granted no one is absolved of fault (even the housemaid) but some are more aware than others. George (the other daughter) has certain tendencies of her own. Louise (her supposed stepmother) has a almost kleptomaniac impulse. What is interesting here is knowing how far someone will go, who is culpable but eventually what everyone tends to gain. Calamy is very good at switching what her character sees as empathy on and off. The irony is that everyone seems to know what she is doing. It is only when she is found out (of sorts) that she rebels (because it breaks her reality). The violence is mostly bloodless but its intent in that way almost makes it at times more diabolical. The title overcompensates a little but that might have been a texture of translation. B

By Tim Wassberg