Review of Infested (2024) – A Frightening Shudder Original Streaming this Friday

Review of Infested (2024) – A Frightening Shudder Original Streaming this Friday

Infested, directed by Sébastien Vanicek, is a chilling entry into the creature horror genre. It invites audiences into a world where spiders multiply at alarming rates, turning a quiet apartment complex into a nightmarish lockdown. Coming to Shudder on Friday, this French horror film brings to life the terror of eight-legged invaders in a way that will make you distrust every shadowed corner of your home.

The film follows Kaleb, a young man struggling with losing his mother, who unwittingly introduces an unusual spider into his growing collection of insects. What starts as a single escaped arachnid soon escalates into a full-blown infestation, with spiders growing in size and ferocity. The plot moves at breakneck speed, mirroring the rapid breeding and spreading of the spiders, keeping the tension consistently high.

One of the standout elements of Infested is the use of real spiders in the footage, adding an eerie authenticity to the horror. While the larger-than-life CGI spiders bring the expected cinematic spectacle, the actual arachnids ground the fear in reality, making every skittering movement and shadow feel much more disturbing. This combination of practical effects and CGI creates a lingering dread long after the credits roll.

The film doesn’t just rely on its creepy-crawly antagonists to drive the horror. Initially appearing as a group of rough-around-the-edges individuals, the characters slowly reveal their humanity and depth as the story unfolds. Kaleb’s strained relationships with his sister and best friend add emotional weight to the narrative, turning what could have been a straightforward creature feature into a story with heart. Théo Christine, who plays Kaleb, delivers a commanding performance that makes you care about his fate despite the lurking dangers. 

All I wanted was for him to live a long life as a shady, back-alley sneaker salesman with his friends!

The film’s pacing is relentless, matching the ferocity of the spiders. Each scene heightens the intensity, with the arachnids evolving into increasingly terrifying threats. The film’s sound design is a standout as well. The spiders have an audible ‘click’ continuously echoing throughout the background of every scene. It creates an unnerving backdrop that amplifies the tension. It’s a sound that will echo in your ears long after you’ve turned off the streaming service, a cue to the lingering sense of dread. While writing this review, it’s a sound that creeps up my spine as I now realize the clacking mandibles of these beasts sound shockingly similar to a mechanical keyboard.

Infested has garnered critical acclaim, with a César nomination for Best First Film for Vanicek and multiple Digital Creation Genie awards for its impressive creature effects. It also won Best Picture and Best Director at Fantastic Fest, solidifying its place as a must-watch for horror fans.

If you dig films that play on primal fears, Infested is an excellent choice. It’s a movie that will make you shiver at the thought of spiders (like most of us don’t already), question every dark corner, and perhaps keep a can of insecticide handy. The intense action, engaging characters, and terror-inducing sounds make Infested a memorable and thoroughly unsettling experience. 

I’d give Infested a solid 8 out of 10. After watching and reviewing, it’s still crawling along the back of my neck.

Watch it with the lights on.