Infested

For the 1993 film also known as "Infested", see Ticks (film). For The Star Wars: The Bad Batch episode, see Infested (Star Wars: The Bad Batch).
Infested
Theatrical release poster
FrenchVermines[1]
LiterallyVermin[2]
Directed bySébastien Vaniček
Screenplay by
Story bySébastien Vaniček[1]
Produced byHarry Tordjman[1]
Starring
CinematographyAlexandre Jamin[1]
Edited by
  • Nassim Gordji-Tehrani
  • Thomas Fernandez[1]
Music by
  • Douglas Cavanna
  • Xavier Caux[1]
Production
companies
  • My Box Films
  • Tandem[1]
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 30 August 2023 (2023-August-30) (Venice)
  • 21 September 2023 (2023-September-21) (Fantastic Fest)
  • 27 December 2023 (2023-December-27) (France)[1]
Running time
105 minutes[1]
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Box office$2.4 million

Infested is a 2023 French horror film conceived, co-written, and directed by Sébastien Vaniček in his feature directorial debut. Its original French title is Vermines, which is literally Vermin in English. The film stars Théo Christine as a twenty-something banlieue resident who takes home a lethal desert spider that reproduces rapidly and causes a massive infestation in the neighborhood. Sofia Lesaffre, Jérôme Niel, Lisa Nyarko, and Finnegan Oldfield are featured in supporting roles.

Vaniček conceived the film as a social commentary on xenophobia, finding parallels between spiders and banlieue residents. American streaming service Shudder acquired the film for the United States and Canada and other key international territories ahead of its premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and screening at Fantastic Fest 2023. The film was released in France on 27 December 2023, and on Shudder on 27 April 2024. Critical reception to the film was "overwhelmingly positive".[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Vermines: Press Release" (PDF) (in French). Tandem. 2023. pp. 1–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Galuppo, Mia (24 August 2023). "Shudder Lands Venice-Bound Thriller 'Infested' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference SR1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).