Plots(1)
French horror about a couple who have to fight for their lives when an assault on their home turns deadly. The story opens with the murder of two Romanians, a woman and her young daughter, who crash their car along a rural road and are promptly butchered by a shadowy figure. Meanwhile, in Bucharest, schoolteacher Clementine (Olivia Bonamy) climbs into her car and drives to the isolated mansion that she inhabits with partner Lucas (Michael Cohen), not far from the site of the murders. Soon the couple overhears someone stealing their car, but a call to the police accomplishes little. The lovers gradually realise that an outsider is attempting to break into the house with homicidal intent. (In2film)
(more)Reviews (5)
Them is a psychologically more mature and sophisticated rendering of the same topic addressed in the brutal British film Eden Lake. While the British film shocked with redneck-like brutality and straightforwardness, Them relies on raising the audience’s goosebumps through mystery, fear of the unseen, playing with the camera and, especially, sound (!). And it might not be a pioneering endeavor – we’ve more or less seen it all elsewhere – but the film is very thorough and impressive in what it’s doing. Them is one of the few horror movies that do not embarrass its genre, but rather show the importance of filmmaking skill for it. Thumbs up for the French.
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The best horror film of 2006. The French have outdone themselves again delivering a movie precisely to my taste. The heroes are likeable, the villains are mysterious and the twist is chilling. And, surprisingly, the experience was even more intense after a second screening.
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The intimate atmosphere of one house is transformed into a spectacular atmospheric theatre based on a simple plot and thanks to a pair of likable actors and a straightforward effort, the entire suspenseful film blows by in less than 80 minutes. There’s no point here for morons or huggable happy endings and it’s a clear hit for all those who like to be scared, and others as well.
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After a promising opening, when the director immediately reveals his intention to get deep into the viewer’s skin through a chilling and creeping atmosphere, comes a slightly duller part filled with everything we've seen a hundred times before: something (or someone) is outside the house, the shutters slam, the fuses trip, etc. But after a while it gets pretty damn interesting, the story picks up a lot of pace and it's clear that there's more going on than just a contrived haunting. The camera clearly revels in cramped and dark corners, and every shot gives you the feeling that you’re being watched, that someone may already be on your back, and that they definitely want to hurt you. The director took this story really seriously and created excellent filmmaking that will get on your nerves beautifully without being bloody or disgusting.
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I mean, I don't know. I don't doubt something like this could happen in Romania, but the film is pretty uninteresting. For anyone who has seen a larger number of horror movies, Them has practically nothing new to offer. Plus, the memories of Eden Lake haven't faded and this is really just a poor relation.
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