Brussels at night looks different when you're running for your life. That’s the basic vibe of Michiel Blanchart’s breakout feature, but let’s be honest: a slick camera and some neon lights don’t mean anything if the people on screen don't sell the panic. The cast of La Nuit se traîne—known internationally as Night Call—is a fascinating mix of rising European stars and heavy hitters who make a fairly straightforward "wrong place, wrong time" premise feel genuinely claustrophobic.
Most people went into this movie expecting a standard action flick. What they got was a masterclass in casting. It’s not just about the lead; it’s about how the ensemble creates a pressure cooker atmosphere in the middle of a city that feels like it's breathing down their necks.
Jonathan Feltre: The Heart of the Chaos
Everything rests on Jonathan Feltre. If he doesn't work, the movie fails. Feltre plays Mady, a locksmith who makes the massive mistake of answering a call that isn't what it seems. Mady isn't an action hero. He’s a kid. He’s vulnerable.
Feltre brings this frantic, wide-eyed energy that feels completely authentic. You’ve probably seen him in Les Rascals, where he showed he could handle grit, but here, the physical demands are on another level. He spends half the movie sprinting. His performance isn't about cool one-liners. It’s about the sound of his breathing and the way his hands shake when he realizes he’s holding something he shouldn't have.
Blanchart clearly saw something in Feltre’s ability to project innocence under fire. It’s a reactive performance. He isn't driving the plot so much as he is being hunted by it. This choice makes the stakes feel way higher than your typical Hollywood thriller where the lead suddenly develops Commando skills. Mady stays a locksmith. That's why we care.
Natacha Krief and the Moral Grey Area
Then you have Natacha Krief. She plays Claire, the woman who kickstarts the whole nightmare by calling Mady to open a door. Krief has this specific type of screen presence where you aren't quite sure if you should trust her or feel sorry for her.
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In a film that moves this fast, there isn’t much time for long monologues about backstories. Krief has to do a lot of heavy lifting with just her expressions. She represents the catalyst. If the cast of La Nuit se traîne was filled with archetypes, Claire would just be a "femme fatale." But Krief plays her with a desperate edge that feels more like a victim of circumstance than a master manipulator. It creates a weirdly effective chemistry between her and Feltre—two people caught in a drainpipe together.
The Weight of Romain Duris
When Romain Duris shows up, the energy shifts. Duris is a legend in French cinema—think The Beat That My Heart Skipped or L'Auberge Espagnole. Seeing him in a gritty Belgian thriller like this is a treat because he brings instant "gravitas" without even trying.
He plays the antagonist role with a controlled menace. Unlike the younger cast members who are purely reactive, Duris is the predator. He’s calm. He’s professional. He’s terrifying.
- He doesn't need to scream.
- His presence serves as the "adult" threat in a world of panicked youths.
- Duris’s casting was a smart move for international appeal, but it also anchors the film’s stakes.
Honestly, seeing him play against Feltre is like watching a cat toy with a mouse. The age gap and the experience gap between the actors mirror the power dynamic in the script perfectly. It’s a deliberate piece of meta-casting that works.
Jonas Bloquet and the Supporting Strength
Jonas Bloquet is another name you might recognize, especially if you follow the Conjuring universe (he was Frenchie in The Nun). In La Nuit se traîne, he reminds us why he’s one of Belgium’s best exports right now.
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The supporting cast of La Nuit se traîne is rounded out by actors like Thomas Mustin (Mustii) and Sam Louwyck. If you follow Eurovision, you know Mustii. If you know weird, atmospheric European cinema, you definitely know Sam Louwyck’s face. Louwyck has this weathered, almost architectural face that screams "Belgian Noir." Every time he's on screen, the movie feels five degrees colder.
Why the Brussels Setting Matters for the Actors
This isn't a studio movie. It was shot on the streets. The cast had to deal with the actual damp, cold, and chaotic environment of Brussels at night. This influences the performances. You can see the real fatigue.
The film captures a specific moment in the city—protests, sirens, a sense of social unrest. The actors aren't performing in a vacuum; they are reacting to the environment Blanchart built. It’s messy. It’s loud. The actors have to compete with the sound of the city itself.
The Casting Philosophy: Why This Mix Works
If you cast only famous people, the audience feels safe. You know they won't die, or you know they’ll win. By putting a relative newcomer like Jonathan Feltre at the center and surrounding him with veterans like Duris and Louwyck, the movie keeps you off balance.
You genuinely don't know if Mady is going to make it. He feels expendable in the grand scheme of the city's criminal underworld. That’s the "secret sauce" of this ensemble. They didn't go for a "star vehicle" approach; they went for a "realism" approach.
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What to Watch Next if You Loved This Cast
If you’re digging the performances here, you shouldn't just stop at the credits. There’s a whole ecosystem of films featuring these actors that explain why they were picked for this specific thriller.
- For Jonathan Feltre: Check out Les Rascals. It’s a 1980s-set gang drama that shows his range before he became the "Night Call guy."
- For Romain Duris: You have to see The Beat That My Heart Skipped. It’s arguably his best "tough guy with a soul" performance.
- For Jonas Bloquet: Look at Tirailleurs (Father & Soldier). He shows a lot more grit there than in his Hollywood horror roles.
- For the Vibe: Look for Michiel Blanchart’s short film You're Dead Helen. It’s where he polished the style he used for La Nuit se traîne.
Practical Takeaways for Film Fans
The cast of La Nuit se traîne proves that European thrillers are currently outperforming Hollywood when it comes to "grounded" tension. When you watch it, pay attention to the silence. Notice how much story is told when characters are just looking at each other in a car or a dark hallway.
Actionable Insights:
- Watch the original version: If you can, watch it with subtitles rather than a dub. The vocal performances—the cracking in Feltre’s voice and the gravel in Duris’s—are half the acting.
- Follow the director: Michiel Blanchart is likely headed to Hollywood soon. This cast helped him get there by making his script feel three-dimensional.
- Look for Belgian Noir: This film is part of a growing trend of "Belgian Noir" (think Bullhead or The Ardennes). If you liked the casting here, you'll find similar "weathered" performances in those films.
The casting of this film wasn't just about filling roles. It was about building a hierarchy of power, from the lowest locksmith to the highest predator. That's why it sticks with you long after the sun comes up.