MAL &FIQUE

THURSDAY 30 OCTOBER AT 10:20PM UGC SHAFTESBURY AVE SCREEN 1

Country France Running Time 90 mins Format 35mm Dir Eric Valette Prods Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier S'play Alexandre Charlot, Franck Magnier, Francois Cognard DoP Jean-Marc Bouzou Cast Gerald Laroche, Dimitri Rataud, Clovis Cornillac, Philippe Laudenbach Print Source Tartan Films E cbarwick@metro-tartan.co.uk

In the dark, gloomy recesses of a gothic French prison, four unusual inmates are forced to share a cramped cell. Carrere (Gerald Laroche), newest member of the cell, is a corporate criminal who is incarcerated at the beginning of the film. He joins the na ve P querette (Dimitri Rataud), an accidental murderer who suffers from severe mental disabilities. Next is Marcus (Clovis Cornillac), a middle-aged transsexual halfway between gender transformations with a violent disposition. Finally there is Lassale (Philippe Laudenbach), the silent and intellectual elder of the group, in for the murder of his wife but whose calm and polite demeanour makes it hard to imagine him capable of such an act. When the prisoners discover an ancient book of spells hidden in the wall of their cell, their desperate desire for freedom proves stronger than the possible dangers of the black arts. Soon the four felons begin experimenting with the incantations, completely oblivious to the supernatural forces that they have unleashed. Eric Valette creates a tense and grisly atmospheric horror film that outsmarts all others of the genre. Its twisted story and precision pacing propels the brilliant ensemble cast through dangerous puzzle-solving and demonic obstacles as the film reaches its harrowing conclusion. Malefique is a clever and brilliantly crafted addition to the French Fantastique horror scene. NJS

Eric Valette makes his feature film debut with Mal»fique, which, though it hardly looks it, was made for only 1,000,000 francs, roughly the equivalent of £100,000.