The Swarm 2021

In a poignant portrayal of rural France, Virginie (character), a bereaved widow and single mother, toils tirelessly with her children Laura and Gaston by her side. Her endeavor to cultivate protein-rich locusts as a means of sustenance serves as a testament to her unwavering dedication to providing for her family in the aftermath of her husband Nico’s passing, whose demise is hinted at having been a result of suicide. The once-thriving goat farm, now abandoned since Nico’s departure, has given way to Virginie’s latest attempt at self-sufficiency - raising locusts.

Despite her valiant efforts, Virginie struggles to make ends meet as the locusts fail to reproduce in sufficient numbers, leaving her and her children to face an uncertain future. The family’s dynamics are further complicated by Gaston’s fascination with the insects’ unique characteristics, which ultimately leads him to discover their unsettling appetite for human flesh.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, Laura’s embarrassment at her mother’s endeavors is heightened when Kévin, a classmate at school, mocks them online, prompting an altercation that leaves both parties feeling frustrated. Virginie’s desperation to turn things around reaches a boiling point when she receives a paltry offer for the locusts from Karim, her friend, leading her to lash out in anger and destroy the enclosures.

The aftermath of this outburst finds Virginie injured and disoriented, only to awaken to the unsettling sight of the locusts feeding on wounds on her arm. This grim realization prompts her to make a drastic decision: she partially opens the enclosure, unbinds her arm, and allows the locusts to feed from her very flesh.

As the days pass, Virginie’s desperation gives way to a newfound sense of purpose, as the locusts multiply at an alarming rate, allowing her to sell large quantities. However, this success comes at a terrible cost: she must continue to provide them with blood and human flesh to sustain their growth.

Laura’s frustration at her mother’s increasing obsession with the insects boils over into a fit of rage, resulting in the destruction of one of the greenhouses, which inadvertently sets loose a swarm. Gaston, oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him, remains tied to his goat Huguette in the back of a nearby truck.

The unsuspecting swarm descends upon the vehicle, and when it departs, Huguette is nowhere to be found. Virginie returns from her trip to town to find Gaston distraught over the loss of his beloved pet. Unbeknownst to him, Virginie has already discovered Huguette’s fate - the goat had been taken by the locusts, leaving behind only a trail of bloodied insects.

As Virginie’s mental state crumbles beneath the crushing weight of her unholy pact with the locusts, her physical form begins to reflect the darkness that has taken hold. Her blood becomes the lifeblood of the ravenous insects, which she nourishes with an unending supply of her own vital fluid. The consequences of this macabre arrangement are far-reaching, as Virginie’s relationship with Karim (Karim) slowly disintegrates amidst a backdrop of secrecy and shame. Her distant demeanor becomes increasingly unbearable, especially when the couple’s tender moments are marred by the inescapable reality of her open wounds.

Meanwhile, Gaston is finally granted permission to attend the soccer camp that has been an object of his desire for so long. However, Laura finds herself burdened with the responsibility of driving him there, as Virginie’s all-night vigil feeding the locusts renders her unfit to accompany him. Unbeknownst to Laura, her mother’s room lies in disarray, strewn with bloody garments that speak volumes about the horror unfolding within.

Upon her return home, Laura’s curiosity gets the better of her as she enters her mother’s room, only to be met with a ghastly sight: Virginie, half-dressed and being devoured by the very insects that have consumed her mind. The revelation sends Laura reeling, prompting her to reach out to Karim via text message, pleading for his presence at her home as her mother teeters on the brink of collapse.

In an attempt to lift the family’s spirits, Karim hosts a movie night at his residence, but when he finds himself alone with Laura in the kitchen, she struggles to articulate the true extent of Virginie’s affliction. The mention of the locusts is all it takes to set off a chain reaction of events that culminates in an explosive argument between Virginie and Karim.

As tensions simmer, their neighbor ventures into one of the greenhouses in search of his missing dog, only to stumble upon a gruesome discovery: the lifeless body of the man has been claimed by the locusts. Later that night, Karim returns Virginie and Laura home, but not before he is confronted with the unvarnished truth about her condition.

Upon entering their home, Karim’s instincts prompt him to investigate the greenhouses, where he stumbles upon the neighbor’s lifeless form, a grim reminder of the true extent of Virginie’s depravity. As he escapes the clutches of the ravenous insects, Virginie intercepts him outside and is met with the devastating realization that her secret has been exposed.

Seizing his truck keys, Karim embarks on a desperate attempt to destroy the source of Virginie’s torment: dousing the greenhouses in gasoline and setting them ablaze.

As Virginie (Virginie) desperately attempts to contain the inferno and quell the flames, she’s struck by the stark reality that the locusts have managed to break free from their enclosures. The air is soon filled with the cacophonous buzz of these winged devils as they converge on Karim and Laura’s sanctuary, a house where the pair had sought refuge. Virginie’s ears are pierced by Laura’s anguished cries, prompting her to rush into the fray, only to be met with a horrific sight: Karim (Karim) is being consumed by the sheer numbers of locusts.

Laura (Laura), realizing the gravity of their situation, makes a break for it, fleeing the house and seeking solace in the nearby forest. Virginie gives chase, determined to safeguard her daughter’s well-being as they navigate the treacherous terrain. Laura eventually finds herself being pursued by the relentless swarm, her only refuge an overturned boat on a serene lake. As the locusts begin to cover the vessel like a shroud, their collective weight threatening to drown Laura, Virginie seizes the initiative.

With a pocket knife, she inflicts a brutal wound upon her palms, then uses the crimson flow to mask her face, beckoning the swarm towards herself. The locusts, driven by an insatiable hunger, converge on Virginie, abandoning their pursuit of Laura as they feast upon the sacrificial offering. As Laura finally comprehends what has transpired, she surfaces from beneath the boat and swims towards her injured mother, enveloping Virginie in a tender embrace.

The pair clings to each other in the water as the locusts dissipate above them, their buzzing growing fainter with the approaching dawn.