In this French film, a contained highrise setting provides the backdrop for one of the creepiest infestations committed to media. Even the tamest arachnophobes should avoid this, as it is skin-crawling, disquieting and embodies every possible variation on spider-horror one might imagine. Personally, I find the smaller variants more terrifying, part of the effectiveness in the opening salvo is that they could literally be hiding anywhere unseen and unnoticed. The larger they get, the less of a hidden threat they become, but still providing their unique eight-legged terror. This film is smarter than it seems on the surface, as there are thematic undertones and subtext about xenophobia and the immigration crisis in Europe, which is referenced in the original title, but one of many things lost in translation. The messaging is never particularly hamfisted, but it does infuse the characters, the setup and film’s resolution. Unfortunately, some of the characters are insufferable, many do jaw-droppingly dumb actions, and the last act gets short-changed. Irregardless, this film is fast-paced and frenetic, and once things get started never relents in its intensity. The direction is fantastic, with some great moments and framing, most shots eliciting squirms, tension and disquiet, which earned the creators the directing gig on the next Evil Dead movie. If creature-horror appeals to you, or if spiders have ever given you the creeps, this should not be avoided.
Vermines (Infested) (2024)