L'autre (1930) Review - A very weird French Jekyll and Hyde

If you are into those really old movies where the shadows are basically their own characters, you might actually like this one. It’s perfect for a rainy Tuesday when you want to feel a bit fancy but also a bit creeped out. 🌧️

Most people will probably find it way too slow. It’s from 1930, so the sound is a bit clunky and everyone talks like they’re standing on a theater stage.

The main guy is Jean-Max, playing this prosecutor named Hallers. He is so stiff and serious during the day that you just know something is going to break.

His face is basically a stone wall. Then night hits and he turns into this other person who hangs out with criminals and acts like a total loser.

What’s weird is how he changes. It isn't like the American movies where they use a bunch of makeup or hair glue to make him look like a wolfman. 🐺

He just kind of... changes his posture? And his eyes get all wide and wild looking.

There is this one scene where he’s looking in a mirror and you can almost see him trying to remember who he actually is. It goes on a bit long, but it’s still pretty effective for a movie this old.

The lighting is clearly inspired by those German silent films. Not a surprise since Robert Wiene helped write it, and he’s the guy who did Caligari.

Sometimes the sets look like they are made of thin wood and prayers. Especially the office scenes where the curtains look extra heavy for no reason.

I noticed a few moments where the actors seem to be waiting for their cue. It makes it feel more like a play than a movie, honestly.

Colette Darfeuil shows up and she’s great, even if she doesn't have a ton to do. She has that classic 1930s look where her eyebrows are just thin little lines of permanent surprise.

The pacing is a bit of a mess. It starts off really interesting and then just sort of drags in the middle when they talk about the law too much.

It’s not as fun as something like Poker Faces, but it’s way more atmospheric. If you've seen La tour, you know that specific French vibe from that era—it's very much present here.

I wish the criminal stuff was more exciting. He mostly just hangs out in dark rooms and looks suspicious.

The ending feels like they ran out of film or maybe everyone just wanted to go home for dinner. It just sort of... happens. 🤷‍♂️

Still, it’s a cool look at how they did psychological horror back then. No jumpscares, just a guy being creepy in a suit.

If you like old-school mood pieces, it’s worth a watch. If you need things to actually happen quickly, maybe skip it.