Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre

Synopsis

Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre is a 2001 French mystery thriller directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, starring Sophie Marceau as an intrepid journalist drawn into a chilling enigma within the iconic Louvre Museum. When a mysterious phantom known as Belphegor begins haunting the halls of the museum, stealing priceless artifacts and triggering a series of unexplained events, Marceau's character embarks on an investigation that uncovers dark secrets and ancient legends tied to the museum's history. Blending elements of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and historical mystery, the film immerses viewers in a gothic atmosphere where art, myth, and reality collide within the famed Parisian landmark.

Cast

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  Sophie Marceau

  Lisa / Belphegor

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  Michel Serrault

  Verlac

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  Frédéric Diefenthal

  Martin

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  Julie Christie

  Glenda Spencer

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  Jean-François Balmer

  Bertrand Faussier

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  Patachou

  Geneviève

Reviews

Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre received mixed to negative reviews upon release, with critics often praising the film's atmospheric visuals and production design but critiquing its narrative execution. On IMDb, the film holds a modest rating of 4.5/10, reflecting audience reservations about the storyline's coherence and pacing. While some reviewers lauded Sophie Marceau's performance as compelling and engaging, others found the script lacking depth, with predictable plot developments. For instance, Rotten Tomatoes does not provide an official score due to limited critic reviews, but the general consensus points to a movie that has intriguing concepts but falls short of fully capitalizing on them. Metacritic, likewise, lacks an aggregated score but features comments highlighting the film's stylish cinematography contrasted with a somewhat uninspired screenplay. Critics from outlets such as Variety noted that "though visually impressive, Belphegor struggles to maintain suspense and ultimately feels like a missed opportunity." Similarly, some reviewers appreciated the film's homage to the original 1960s Belphegor miniseries, but felt it did not translate effectively to a modern audience, describing it as "an atmospheric thriller that gets bogged down by clichés and pacing issues." Overall, the film may appeal to fans of gothic mysteries and Sophie Marceau enthusiasts but might disappoint viewers expecting a tightly woven thriller.