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The Chalet

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The Chalet. (Photo: Netflix)
The Chalet. (Photo: Netflix)

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

A reunion of childhood friends at a remote chalet in the French Alps soon turns into a desperate struggle for survival as they get cut-off from rest of the world and a shocking dark secret from the past surfaces.

WHAT WE THOUGHT:

The name and show poster for The Chalet had me thinking this would be one of those American slasher clichés. The type of shows in which a group of loud twentysomethings get brutally chopped up by an axe murderer in the woods. 

But this finely crafted French mystery thriller is far more than that. Yes, we have the cabin in the woods and the mysterious killer with a thirst for blood, but don’t expect to run into any of those predictable plotlines. 

The Chalet is a far more sophisticated and well-developed production that unfolds in two linear storylines set 20 years apart. The two different stories progress at the same time - complementing each other effortlessly before later merging together at the end. The past and present plots are packed with clever twists and surprises that aren’t just added as gimmicks but rather contributes to the intrigue. 

It is a big cast and at first it might seem a little overwhelming to figure out exactly where and how each character fits in, but rest assured it all gets unpacked rather skillfully. As the viewer gets to learn more about each character the true reason behind the gruesome deaths become more evident. Soon you’ll find yourself rooting for the dark side as a shocking secret from the past is revealed that totally changes the game. 

Of course the series has its faults. Some deaths are a little more believable than others, and some characters a little more fleshed out than others that seem to only be space fillers. The series is French, which might make it a little more challenging for some who aren’t used to subtitles. But to be completely honest it isn’t an obstacle at all. The eye gets trained quickly and you almost instantly forget you’re watching a foreign language TV program. This is one thing Netflix is really great at – opening regional shows to a global audience. 

I highly recommend you add The Chalet to your binge-list this winter. 

WATCH IT ON NETFLIX NOW

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