Now in release on Blu-ray and DVD is the French TV series “The Returned: The Complete Second Season”. The TV-MA rated series was originally released on TV in France and completed the run in 2015 then taking it to the United States and making it available on home video. If you are already a fan of the show then you probably have watched the first season with all the excitement, supernatural drama and fantasy that involves people returning from the dead. Not zombies or ghosts, but as a mortal and at the age when they died.
It’s been hurtful to loved ones since a bus load of students, their teacher and the driver were killed when the vehicle missed a turn and plummeted off a mountainside some 4 years ago. Its modern day and a one of the passengers, Camille, walks into the small mountainside town she was from. But, she’s not the only one returning from the dead, as several have re-entered alive and well from the past. In this first season there related stories since they are from the same town, but most are just dramas played out as the town begins to realize that it’s not a figment of their imagination. By the end of the first season you have become familiar with each of the main returnees and their lives right up to the weird ending that reveals some dark secrets and a surprise catastrophe. The main characters included Camille, Simon, Julie, Victor, Serge, Tom, Lucy, and Adele.
Season two opens 6 months after the dead were summoned back from where they came and most of the town is under water. The story picks up with Adele who is pregnant being taken by ambulance to the closest place where they can check on her unborn baby. The Military has taken over what’s left of the town and are limiting the people who can enter the area. Investigating the scene is Ricard Berg who’s an expert on catastrophic events. His job will lead him into the strange events that the town has been experiencing while getting to the bottom of the incident. Thus begins another set of tales that will mystify and compel as each person begins to find out the truth behind the returning dead.
The Returned series is actually a cool idea, but being a fan of stores like this I did see a similar American made TV series called Manifest. It’s similar in that it’s also a supernatural drama and begins with a flight never reaching its destination until four years later. The returning people on the plane have not aged and do not know why everything has changed including their families who have suffer for four years. However, The Returned series really packs more of a punch delivering a much more gloomy view of dealing with the suffering by parents and loved ones.
“The Returned: The Complete Second Season” has been rated TV-MA and contains violence, language, and some sexual references. The subtitles are a good size and easy to read, but if you cannot follow the storyline remember you can pause and rewind. The violence includes some bloody scenes and brutality. The first season is on Blu-ray and DVD and it would be a good idea to search it out so you can be familiar with each of the main characters and find out their story. I found the first season on Netflix as I had not seen the first season of the series, but it’s also available from Amazon and possibly other VOD outlets.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The good storyline, acting and direction makes the supernatural drama worth watching. (3.5 out of 5 Stars).
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Anne Consigny, Frédéric Pierrot, Clotilde Hesme, Céline Sallette, Samir Guesmi, Guillaume Gouix, Jean-François Sivadier, Jenna Thiam, Pierre Perrier, Yara Pilartz, Ana Girardot, Swann Nambotin
Directed by: Fabrice Gobert (Episodes 1-4, 8), Frédéric Goupil (Episodes 5-8)
Genre: Supernatural Drama
TV Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 8 Hours
Video Release Date: December 17, 2019
Original Theatrical Release Date:
Language: French with English subtitles
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Aspect Ratio 1.77:1
Subtitles: English
Number of Discs: 2 Discs
Distributed by: Music Box Films Home Entertainment
Released on: Blu-ray, DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
