lmcclosk07 Review of The Chalet

The Chalet (2017–2018)

Gripping horror story of murder and revenge, all in a French village and chalet

[20 April 2018]

The Chalet is an absorbing crime drama and horror story set in a lovely chalet in a remote French alpine village. The present-day drama is illuminated by flashbacks of a grim homicide in the same chalet 20 years ago. The dramatic tension builds in each episode, and the characters are so well-acted and interesting that their deteriorating trust for each other makes sense. The first couple of episodes the Director exposes these couples who are there for a wedding as all sexually charged and mostly in love; the romantic glow disappears by the third episode at which point a number of people are dead. I couldn't stop watching this and liked the story and the characters, but the weakest episode was the last. It was somewhat predictable and yet could have revealed more about the essential motives of the killers. Also the "cousin" hermit disappeared and he was the best character so I would have liked to see him more at the end. Finally, some questions lingered which is why so many people apparently unrelated to the early homicides were killed: The newlywed couple for instance. And why did Adele release the men from the freezer? Inexplicable. These loose ends were a bit frustrating but overall a terrific drama.