Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Mortel, which brought French supernatural storytelling to Netflix with a dark tale of teenage revenge, mysterious powers, and the dangerous price of making deals with otherworldly forces.
Mortel premiered on Netflix on November 21, 2019, as a French supernatural series created by Frédéric Garcia and directed by Simon Astier and Edouard Salier. The first season consists of 6 episodes with an average runtime of 45 minutes each, followed by a second season that was released on July 2, 2021, bringing the total to 12 episodes. This teen-focused horror series stars Carl Malapa, Némo Schiffman, and Manon Bresch in a story that blends voodoo mythology with contemporary French suburban life.
Set in a Parisian suburb, Mortel follows two unlikely teenage allies who make a supernatural pact to solve a murder and gain extraordinary powers in the process. The series combines elements of teen drama with horror and supernatural thriller genres, creating a unique entry in Netflix’s international content library that explores themes of grief, justice, and the corrupting nature of power through a distinctly French lens.
A Brother’s Death Sparks Supernatural Vengeance
The central plot revolves around Sofiane, a troubled teenager whose brother Reda is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Desperate to uncover the truth and seek justice, Sofiane teams up with his quiet classmate Victor to make a pact with Obé, a powerful voodoo spirit. In exchange for their help in solving the murder, Obé grants them supernatural abilities: Sofiane gains the power to control people’s actions, while Victor can read minds.
Mortel excels at showing how the pursuit of justice can quickly transform into something darker and more dangerous. The series explores the moral complexity of wielding supernatural power, as the teenagers struggle with the ethical implications of their abilities while being drawn deeper into a web of corruption and violence that extends far beyond their brother’s death.
The show’s strength lies in its ability to ground supernatural elements in genuine emotional stakes, making the fantasy aspects feel like natural extensions of the characters’ grief and anger rather than arbitrary plot devices.
Sofiane: The Grieving Brother Seeking Justice
Carl Malapa delivers a powerful performance as Sofiane, a young man whose love for his deceased brother drives him to make increasingly dangerous choices. Throughout the series, we watch Sofiane struggle with his newfound ability to control others, as the temptation to abuse this power conflicts with his desire to honor his brother’s memory.
Malapa captures both Sofiane’s vulnerability as a grieving sibling and his growing corruption as he becomes intoxicated by the control his powers provide. His character development is central to the series’ exploration of how grief can transform into destructive obsession, making him a compelling protagonist even when his choices become questionable.
Sofiane’s journey represents the series’ central theme about the fine line between justice and revenge, and how the pursuit of one can easily become the other when supernatural forces are involved.
Victor and Luisa: Unlikely Allies in Dark Times
Némo Schiffman brings depth to Victor, the quiet, intellectual teenager who becomes Sofiane’s reluctant partner in their supernatural investigation. Victor’s mind-reading abilities create both advantages and psychological torment, as he’s forced to confront the dark thoughts and secrets of everyone around him.
Manon Bresch rounds out the central trio as Luisa, a character whose connection to the supernatural events becomes increasingly important as the series progresses. The chemistry between the three leads creates the emotional core of the series, as their friendship is tested by the dangerous powers they’ve unleashed and the secrets they uncover.
The supporting cast includes the mysterious Obé, whose true motivations and nature remain tantalizingly unclear throughout the series, adding layers of supernatural intrigue that keep viewers guessing about the ultimate cost of the teenagers’ bargain.
When Supernatural Powers Meet Real-World Consequences
Without spoiling the dramatic revelations, Mortel builds to a climax that explores the true nature of Obé’s bargain and the interconnected web of corruption that led to Reda’s death. The final episodes successfully escalate both the supernatural and criminal elements while forcing the protagonists to confront the moral consequences of their actions.
The series finale sets up major developments for the second season while providing satisfying answers to the central mystery, though it also raises new questions about the long-term cost of the teenagers’ supernatural abilities and their relationship with the enigmatic Obé.
The resolution demonstrates how Mortel succeeds in balancing supernatural horror with grounded character development, creating stakes that feel both mystical and deeply personal.
Success on Netflix
Mortel became part of Netflix’s successful strategy to develop original French content for both domestic and international audiences. The series’ success lies in its unique blend of teen drama with supernatural horror elements, creating content that appeals to young adult viewers while maintaining enough complexity for older audiences. Each episode combines stylish direction with compelling character development, making the French suburban setting feel both specific and universal. The show’s popularity helped establish Netflix’s commitment to diverse European content and proved that non-English supernatural series could find global audiences when they combined familiar genre elements with distinctive cultural perspectives.
Perfect Supernatural Drama for Teen Horror Fans
If you love supernatural teen dramas with dark themes and aren’t afraid of moral complexity, Mortel is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This French thriller delivers everything you want from international horror: compelling characters, genuine supernatural scares, and storytelling that explores the dangerous allure of power.
Why This French Supernatural Series Deserves Recognition
Positive Points:
- Strong performances from the young cast, particularly Carl Malapa as the tormented protagonist
- Unique blend of voodoo mythology with contemporary French suburban setting
- Compelling exploration of how grief and desire for justice can become corrupting forces
- Stylish direction that creates genuine atmosphere and tension
- Complex moral themes that elevate it above typical teen supernatural content
Negative Points:
- Some plot developments can feel rushed due to the short episode count
- The supernatural rules and limitations aren’t always clearly established
- Certain character motivations feel underdeveloped in the first season
- The dark themes and moral ambiguity may not appeal to all teen drama fans
- Limited budget occasionally shows in the supernatural effects sequences
Mortel proves that the best supernatural teen dramas use their fantastical elements to explore real emotional and moral dilemmas that resonate beyond the genre’s typical boundaries.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 12 episodes across 2 seasons (6 + 6 episodes)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Years: 2019-2021
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
- Genre: Supernatural Horror, Teen Drama, Mystery Thriller
- Type of Production: French series
- Status: Completed (2 seasons concluded)
- Protagonists: Carl Malapa (Sofiane), Némo Schiffman (Victor), Manon Bresch (Luisa)
- Antagonist: Obé (the supernatural entity) and various human adversaries