Rapaces: a journalistic thriller starring Sami Bouajila

Published by Julie de Sortiraparis · Published on June 14, 2025 at 02:58 p.m.
Rapaces, the new thriller from Peter Dourountzis starring Sami Bouajila and Mallory Wanecque, will be released in cinemas on July 2, 2025. An investigation between father and daughter.

Directed by Peter Dourountzis, Rapaces is a French thriller centered on a journalistic investigation that turns into an obsession. It stars Sami Bouajila in the lead role, surrounded by Mallory Wanecque and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. The film follows a father and daughter on the trail of a killer after an acid attack. At the crossroads of intimate drama and social suspense, Rapaces depicts the excesses of a quest for truth and the family tensions it rekindles. The screenplay was co-written by Peter Dourountzis and Christophe Cantoni, and is in line with contemporary French cinema on the borderline between detective fiction and psychological realism.

Where and when can you see Rapaces?

Rapaces will be released in cinemas from July 2, 2025.

A tense, realistic trailer

The trailer for Rapaces reveals a heavy atmosphere of urban tension and strained father-daughter relationships. The character of Samuel, played by Sami Bouajila, is confronted with the horror of a violent crime and the fresh perspective of his daughter, Ava, played by Mallory Wanecque. There's a twofold issue at stake: the quest for justice and the transmission of a profession. The images reveal a breathless investigation, against a backdrop of criticism of the media's treatment of news stories.

An intimate investigation by a father-daughter duo

Rapaces follows Samuel, an experienced journalist, and Ava, his teenage daughter who is starting an internship at the same magazine. Their relationship takes an unexpected turn when they become involved together in an unofficial investigation. The film explores family secrets, societal violence and the effects of trauma. In the course of their investigation, they discover disturbing similarities with a past case, which heightens the dramatic tension and moral ambiguity of their choices.

Synopsis: Samuel, a journalist, and his daughter Ava, a trainee, investigate the murder of a young girl attacked with acid. Disturbed by the case and Ava's involvement, Samuel continues his research on the sidelines of his editorial office, discovering disturbing similarities with a previous crime.

For fans of realistic thrillers and contemporary dramas

Rapaces would appeal to viewers sensitive to investigative thrillers with a social and psychological dimension. Its tone and approach could recall works such as Anne Fontaine's Police, Dominik Moll's La Nuit du 12 or Jean Dujardin's Présidents for its play on authority roles in crisis. The Sami Bouajila - Mallory Wanecque duo brings an intergenerational dynamic that enriches the human aspect of the story. Fans of films such as Seules les bêtes or Incendies may also find it of particular interest.

What we know about production

The film is directed by Peter Dourountzis, noted for his work on Vaurien, presented at Cannes in 2020 in the ACID selection. He collaborates here with Christophe Cantoni on the screenplay. The cast also includes Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Valérie Donzelli and Stefan Crepon, bringing a diversity of profiles that enriches the realism of the story. The production is in a vein of committed contemporary French cinema, exploring ordinary violence and its consequences on individuals.

Rapaces in a nutshell

Rapaces is a French thriller directed by Peter Dourountzis, starring Sami Bouajila and Mallory Wanecque. It tells the story of a journalist father and his trainee daughter's parallel investigation into a brutal murder. With its taut staging and social approach, the film will appeal to fans of realistic, psychological stories centered on the quest for truth and family ties.

This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.

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Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
Starts July 2, 2025

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