La Mante (2017) User Reviews

Nice but not amazing

[shalsea · 7/10 · 15 September 2017]

To be honest, the first thing you need to know is that there are a few inconsistencies which can make you think that this can't be real. Apart from that, the story itself is interesting and keeps pushing the characters further and further.

The good acting is a big part of La Mante's charisma and this is what you need to watch this six-episodes show at least once. You get easily attached and it is nice to see that much known faces outside of their comfort.

There are enough exciting twists to keep the story good and each of them brings with it a controversial subject beautifully established.

Manon Azem is a true diamond which everyone needs to keep an eye on, and Fred Testot is pretty convincing when he's not trying to make us laugh.

At the end, it's a good surprise and even without being exceptional, it's still a refreshing thriller show.

Another great French series

[john-dawson-614-792694 · 8/10 · 4 November 2018]

Netflix recommended this because I liked Le Chalet, and they do have elements in common. Slow burner with good characterisation and a few twists. A slightly offbeat police drama, which stretches credulity more than slightly. Nethertheless, recommended, especially for Francophiles.

Great acting on Carole Bouquet

[kuroimila · 8/10 · 6 June 2018]

A great serial killer TV Show one of the best that I've seen in this year besides the few inconsistencies in the storyline.

Exceptional acting

[fionaharrison-70780 · 9/10 · 2 January 2018]

I enjoyed watching this series and was really impressed with the quality of the acting, especially with Carole Bouquet, Fred Teston and Manon Azem. While the plot has some unrealistic elements, the relationship between the mother and son was portrayed with emotion and was compelling to watch. I have seen many thrillers (The Fall, The Killing, The Disappearance), but have not seen this particular mother/son dynamic before. I ended up binge-watching this series, something that I don't normally do. For this reason, I am rating it as a 9. I hope that there will be a second season.

The Mantis

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 27 April 2021]

As this French mystery series opens a body is found in a sawmill; the way it has been posed matches that of Jeanne Deber, a serial killer known as 'The Mantis', who was incarcerated twenty years previously. It is the third such case; there is clearly a copycat at work. When Jeanne hears about the case she contacts the police and offers to help... on one condition; her long-estranged son, Captain Damien Carrot must lead the case. He has kept the identity of his mother secret, even his wife believes he is an orphan, but as the case progresses the secret will be hard to keep. Before the case is solved there will be more killings and various suspects will emerge.

This is a solid serial killer mystery series. The murders are somewhat varied and unpleasant, as befits the genre and the links to a previous killer are intriguing... is there a real connection or is the new killer just a fan? The characters, most obviously Jeanne and her son Damien are interesting; the former's motives are nicely ambiguous. There is plenty of tension and a fair bit of misdirection as suspects appear and are later eliminated before the final reveal. At only six episodes the series never drags, nor does it feel rushed. The resolution is a bit melodramatic but I enjoyed the various twists and turns; which don't stop with the arrest of the killer. I enjoyed the references to other works, notably to the film version of Stephen King's 'Misery'... not just because of what happens to one victim but the name of Damien's home town; Miserey. Captain Carrot's name may even be a Discworld reference but as he isn't a six foot dwarf it might be coincidental! Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of French crime dramas.

These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.

Worth a Watch for Spiral (Engrenages) Fans

[jakemccoy-289-559646 · 7/10 · 24 February 2019]

I have watched probably 50 of these various style of foreign noir series. Everything from The Bridge, Penoza, Trapped to Spiral (Engrenages}. Some are obviously much better than others; some are awful in spite of their inexplicable popularity. And some of the best ones fell though the cracks, like "Arne Dahl"; which I accidentally stumbled upon on an obscure review site.

They sure don't make 'em like they used to. I've had to lower my standards.

If you enjoy those types of shows than this series fits into the "worth a watch" bundle. Watchable, but it's not on the same par with Engrenages, that's for sure.

It looks and feels like a copycat of Spiral (Engrenages) to me. But, the special FX are almost distractedly bad for a modern show, sort of unintentionally funny. But the story line is good, and most of the cast plays their roles very well.

My only real problem with the show is the "soap opera" production style. it has a bit of the "General Hospital" kind of vibe. Dramatic pauses, over dressed, freshly painted stage-looking sets, overly choreographed and sorta overacted.

Some of the details are just plain stupid. For example: If a woman has been in a solitary confinement prison cell for 25 years, why is her hair and makeup absolutely perfect? She looks like an executive that just stepped out of a corporate boardroom. Her prison cell is nicer than some luxury hotels I've stayed in. That almost killed it for me in the first 15 minutes of episode #1.

In spite of all this, I have to admit that it kept me watching. I'm not finished with the whole series, but thought I'd chime in with an opinion.

The last episode fails

[abboyd-01384 · 2 January 2018]

Gripping series, but the last episode is frustrating to watch because of so many unrealistic scenes. I enjoyed all episodes except for the last.

European Perfection!

[leroyhenzen · 10/10 · 16 August 2021]

This is series is without a doubt one of the best series I have ever seen in the genre crime/mystery/thriller. It makes the movies about Hannibal Lector look childish and even a bit fake and overacted. Once again a European serie shows that they really know how to make it believable, how to keep you hooked and how to make you root even for the most cold-hearted of people.

Passable thriller... some uneven performances...

[thegulls1 · 7/10 · 31 December 2017]

Carole Bouquet, a glam star from past decades, plays a Mom doing a life term for a series of brutal killings. Her son, Damien, is a senior investigator with Paris police, who are investigating a series of copycat killings. He has a drop- dead pretty wife, who would like to start a new family, but Damien is haunted by the mess in his family background (try a serial killer Mom & an abusive dad who 'disappeared' sometime before her spree began).

Problem is: they stare a lot. Damien has an explosive temper and often throws hissy fits when his wife asks for clarification or compassion.

Anyway, we have a couple of major plot twists and a few scenes you might want to fast-forward, and a thrilling climax. Not as good as the Korean entries on Netflix, surprisingly, but a good way to burn a weekend with this 6-parter.i

Excelent show

[cloviskemmerich · 9/10 · 3 January 2018]

It's a must-see show. The levels of tension just increase from the beginnin till the end.

Dumb-diddly-um-dumb

[jiballini64 · 6/10 · 21 August 2018]

Seriously? Do you allow the son of a convicted serial killer head the investigation into a copycat? No? Didn't think so. Much moody staring between "tortured" lead investigator and his wife, much bumbling and in-fighting from the team (who don't actually seem to do much apart from the ill-dressed girl cop), much running around unsupported by back-up (this is an annoyingly popular trend amongst ALL cop shows lately), AND I guessed it was wife-y's mate in episode 3. All in all a complete waste of good actors. Oh, and what was with the 70's throwback chief detective???

Must-watch

[larss-60843 · 9/10 · 14 January 2019]

For a time I have been watching all sorts of detectives and I have honestly created this account to write a review just for this. Although the story contains a few illogical things, such as the police not being very bright at all time, La Mante completely blew my mind. I have never seen a show in which plots come together so nicely. The characters are very strong and combined with several great plots, this combines for a perfect thriller/detective. I love it when certain things symbolically come back into a story and create a meaning for a future or present event and the creators of La Mante have mastered this. 9/10

Could have been great

[Jenn4567 · 6/10 · 28 August 2018]

I found the beginning so promising, but the show really fizzled. I found it painfully predictable and the characters were generally uninteresting and unlikable. I watched it to the end because I had nothing else to do. The last two episodes I spent waiting for the end.

Can we have a moratorium on idiot cops?

[captain_astronaut · 5/10 · 12 July 2018]

Plus no more of killers going after friends and family of cops. It's a tired cliche. And when you find out the killer knows about your friends and family, why don't they have 24 hour police protection? And if you're running into a hotel to catch a killer, bring more people. And when you know how the killer subdues their victims, why would you fall for it? And where are your comrades when chasing the perp? They were right behind you. Did they decide that the hero cop could catch the bad guy on their own? It's cliched writing. Do better.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS . . . . . . . . . The killer reveal? WTF was that? I had my suspicions early on, but figured that was too easy and preposterous for them to go that way. But they did, and the cops acted even more idiotic than before. They stay at headquarters, on the phone, while two plain clothes attempt to enter the house? They're looking for a serial killer, and that didn't send the french version of S.W.A.T. in as backup? The two plain clothes cops are so incompetent at their job, that they get taken out by the crazy person? Which is another thing; the crazy person was in the lives of our hero and his wife for at least 5 years, and not once did this person act weird with them? Then on a dime they become a grinning, wide eyed, nut bag? That's not how insanity works (but it IS how lazy writing works).

I was liking the show up until the last few episodes when the stupid just kept piling up.

Not to be missed!

[cs-43541 · 13 January 2018]

I watch a lot of tv. When this Netflix original series popped up it looked right up my ally. I was not disappointed! Do not let the French speech with subtitles put you off. This is a well written, well acted, tense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and thirsty for more. Every episode Is beautifully crafted with fantastic character work. I raced through the six part series and immediately watched the whole thing again so that my husband could enjoy it too. If you are a fan of Wire In The Blood, Luther, Waking The Dead etc. this is a must see. Le Mante spurred me into writing my first review on IMDB ever!

Great mini thriller

[cbunch-17263 · 10/10 · 5 January 2018]

I binged on the series all week long. Once you get past the language barriers, I thought it was a great show. Keep in mind, it is French made, and a Netflix series, so no, it isn't Academy Award good. But every episode made me want more, and more. I give it a 10. But see for yourself. Decent acting, decent story line. Im hoping there is a season 2.

Well done

[aphillips-43057 · 8/10 · 27 June 2018]

My wife and I really enjoyed this series. Yes, there were some flaws: a few stupid decisions by the police and a little overacting; but overall it was a great series with a complicated plot that in the end made sense. This is one of the better detective series we have found recently and I would definitely recommend it.

Decent, but with a flat lead character

[CountJonnie · 6/10 · 5 March 2018]

La Mante is a thriller with enough twists to keep you guessing, and decent acting by the lead character, her son and the rest of the team. La Mante is a female serial killer who is asked to help catch her copycat who is always one step ahead.

Besides some generic moments the series suffers from dumb decisions (ergo: dumb writing). For example when the police are going to the scene of a crime, without medics, while knowing there is a live victim. Another one is the lead investigator having a phone call with a doctor, while "other people" are listening.

But the biggest flaw is La Mante herself. This is not the fault of the actress, who tries to make La Mante as enigmatic as possible. This is caused by superficial writing, and works in the first scenes, but after that, she (d)evolves into a character who does nothing more than deliver irritating silences, long stares, while showing as little emotion as possible. This starts to feel forced and generic after episode 2 and will continue to the end.

As a series, it is decent. But as an attempt to create an enigmatic and scary serial killer, this series fails and falls flat.

FORMIDABLÈ

[johnwatkins-95433 · 9/10 · 19 December 2018]

Superb French serial killer series.Actors are excellent and story is strong.I have to say I guessed the copycat killer by episode 3 but that didn't spoil the series.The denouement is satisfying and overall I fully recommend so catch it on Netflix.

Convoluted and sometimes frustrating but CAROLE BOUQUET

[opiaterein · 6/10 · 14 April 2021]

The plot has a lot going on, to the point that it really defies credibility. The cops make a lot of infuriatingly stupid mistakes. And I know a lot of people loved her but I couldn't stand Lucie. Despite the series's many flaws, I would suggest it's worth watching even if only for the incomparable performance of Carole Bouquet. The range she brings to the character of Jeanne is stunning. I'm in awe of an actress who can chill my bones, scare the piss out of me, then make me almost cry. (I probably would have had my nerves not been shot from watching the whole series in a day.) She's utterly mesmerizing.

Gripping series, very well done.

[wisewebwoman · 9/10 · 31 December 2017]

This series took me on a ride of plot twists and unexpected reveals. The acting, particularly by the amazing lead, Carole Bouquet along with Fred Testot, who plays her son, is riveting.

The only poor note was Pascal Demolon who played the police chief and who constantly looked both baffled and just off the streets needing a fix of some kind.

It's a shame also Netflix didn't see the need to supply an English sound track. The subtitles jumped around from the top to the bottom of the screen and some swathes of dialogue were missing from the subtitles.

The story was believable - a woman becoming a revenging angel from her own history of abuse and those of others she encounters along the way.

It is slow moving and many scenes were too graphic for this viewer. But the French and the British are top of the game when it comes to edge of yer seat crime thrillers.

Satisfying ending. I gave it a 9 out of 10.

Silence of the Lambs and se7en in French

[DLochner · 7/10 · 16 August 2020]

The series is unexpectedly good - even if the story is very reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter and the Silence of the Lambs and Seven with Bratt Pitt. The constant mind game between serial killer in prison and the police, who hopes for tips for a serious case in dialogue. This makes the story very tiring at times. The French version also manages to create little atmosphere, the villain is played too weakly, the main actor is implausible. Nice entertainment with familiar motifs. Please see it in the original language. The synchronization actually breaks a lot here.

Great Mini-serie

[jelispasca · 10/10 · 11 April 2018]

Couldn't stop watching it. Many surprises. Loved every episode. Carole Bouquet is stunning with her charisma. The other actors are also good and credible. The rythm is great too. Nice hints to the 'silence of the lambs' without trying to be as unbearably horrible. Am surprised to see such poor reviews compare to other stupid shows which will average better although considerably less interesting.

A bit overwrought

[alabamense · 7/10 · 5 February 2018]

The story line is good, but the acting is sometimes too dramatique. Not as good as Spiral, but Canal+ has been doing this type of stuf a lot more than Netflix.

One quibble point: in Episode 4 they show up at a rather strange performance of Puccini's Tosca, ostensibly. After a truncated ending to Act II, where the Tosca and Scarpia are dressed in Venice-style Carnival costumes and masks, they take their bows, and then the "opera" proceeds with Tosca singing "Voi lo sapete, o mamma" from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. WTF? You would think that this day in age idiocies would be laughed out of a planning meeting, much less approved and aired.

Missed opportunity

[D8Player · 5/10 · 23 January 2018]

This series should be marked under the "not bad but could have been so much better" category.

In terms of the positives. The editing is quite good and the pace is kept up quite well. The score does a very good job of raising the tension at the appropriate moments. The cinematography is high quality and the series overall was very well shot.

Now to the less than positive points. First off the premise is not very original and in the end very contrived. Its as if someone took the plotlines of Silence of the Lambs (using an imprisoned serial killer to catch their admirer), Seven (a serial killer who ritually tortures their victims as punishment) and Copycat (a serial killer imitating the crimes of a convicted murderer).

Secondly, the characters are all pretty one dimensional and the acting is actually quite flat. Carole Bouquet is as cold and distant as ever, meaning it is difficult to feel anything for her, positively or negatively. Fred Testot, who plays her son, mopes around and seems pointedly uninteresting as a character. Its hard to see from this what his wife saw in him. The other characters are pretty much stereotypes (the grizzled police chief, the disgruntled/resentful partner who was passed over for promotion, the deranged serial killer, etc).

Lastly some of the plot lines stretch credibility a bit too far. For example, France's most notorious serial killer is left with only one guard. The police decide race to rescue the serial killer' victims by racing across Paris only to arrive too late instead of calling for local backup.

All in all, with a bit more originality in the scenario and a tighter script, this could have been excellent.