Drone

Drone, dir. Simon Bouisson, 2024, France, 110 min., in French with English subtitles
⚠️ content advisory: Sexual violence
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 8:30 pm Vogue Theatre

Drone outside Émilie‘s
window, altered to show detail

Émilie is studying architecture, but to pay the bills she is also a camgirl. One night, she notices a drone hovering outside her apartment window (photo enhanced to show detail), but it gradually becomes more invasive and more ominous, especially because it is not at all clear who is controlling it. It’s not a commercially available off-the-shelf model, but apparently a much more sophisticated custom unit. Her stalker remains stubbornly hidden, despite sending her money on her phone, but also becomes more persistent and more sinister. The tension builds to a crescendo, but you’ll have to see it to find out the ending.

The drone clearly is a stand-in for “the male gaze” in its ickiest form, intruding into every aspect of Émilie’s life. Drone is a taut thriller, too, besides a pointed social commentary. Definitely a must see, especially if you like thrillers.

Drone is not included in this year’s Digital Screening Room, but the credits include “avec la participation de Disney+” so you just might get to see it screening some day soon.

• IMDb • trailer • official website [fr] • Emilie