Mandibles

Two bumbling friends stumble into a questionable plan after discovering a giant fly hidden in the trunk of a car. Manu and Jean-Gab quickly seize the chance to turn sheer oddity into cash, chasing a scheme that spirals into more trouble than it seems to promise. Set in a world that bends rules of logic and taste, the duo bail from ordinary life into a string of surreal misadventures. Their scheme attracts curious neighbors and minor players, each reaction feeding the prankish energy of the film. While the creature looms as a catalyst, the story stays tethered to small city hangups and the absurdity of greed. The film uses practical effects and quirky sound design to heighten its oddball charm.

Directed by Quentin Dupieux, Mandibles arrived in 2021 as a French comedy fantasy exploring absurd enterprise. It features Grégoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adèle Exarchopoulos, India Hair, and Bruno Lochet, with Dupieux shaping a deliberately offbeat, quirky tonal mix for audiences.

Box Office numbers reflect a modest performance, grossing about 2.04 million dollars worldwide on a 4.9 million dollar budget. Its niche appeal and Dupieux's cult audience likely contributed to a steady, if not blockbuster, reception across several markets in Europe.

Mandibles has carved a small but loyal footprint among fans of Dupieux's offbeat cinema. Its outrageous premise and tactile humor sparked memes and festival chatter, underscoring how a strange creature in a trunk can become a conversation starter rather than a one note gag and a lasting conversation about fame.

Critics generally welcomed the film for its deadpan energy, quirky visuals, and willingness to embrace absurdity without surrendering its character dynamics. The core themes revolve around friendship tested by greed and the unpredictable consequences of chasing money inside Dupieux's signature surreal mood. It also invites reflection on desire and consequence.