A Mars Distribution release of a 120 Films, La Chauve Souris, StudioCanal production with the participation of Canal Plus and CineCinema in association with Wild Bunch and support from Region Ile-de-France. (International sales: Wild Bunch, Paris) Produced by Vincent Cassel, Eric Neve.
Directed by Kim Chapiron. Screenplay, Christian Chapiron, Kim Chapiron.
With: Vincent Cassel, Olivier Barthelemy, Roxane Mesquida, Nico Le Phat Tan, Ladj Ly, Leila Bekhti, Francois Levantal, Monica Bellucci, Julie-Marie Parmentier, Gerald Thomassin.
A foxy young temptress, a trio of horny guys, a creepy rural manse and a slightly demonic caretaker are the classic building blocks that get reassembled French-style in "Sheitan." Humor-laced creepfest, co-produced by and co-starring Vincent Cassel, got the ultra-rare 16-and-over rating in Gaul, although its quotient of sex and gore isn't excessive for the genre. A must for Cassel completists, mostly handheld horror flick is competently made and boasts a multcultural spin that puts it squarely in the 21st century.
After Bart (Olivier Barthelemy) is hit over the head with a bottle, Eve (Roxane Mesquida, the pouty young looker from "Fat Girl" and "Sex is Comedy") invites Yasmine (Leila Bekhti), Thai (Nico Le Phat Tan), Ladj (Ladj Ly) and Bart to leave the Styxx dance club and drive to her farmhouse in the country. Once-elegant abode is full of old-fashioned dolls. Strapping and seemingly in-bred Joseph (Cassel, pulling out all the stops with gusto) is strangely enthusiastic about Bart, the lone Caucasian visitor. Joseph's unseen wife is very pregnant. And it's Christmas Eve, although all the guests are non-believers. Punchline is way out there.
Camera (color, HD-to-35mm), Alex Lamarque; editor, Benjamin Weill; music, Nguyen Le; production designer, Marie-Helene Sulmoni; costume designer, H. Minh Truong. Reviewed at UGC Les Halles, Paris, Feb. 13, 2006. Running time: 92 MIN.
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Date in print: Mon., Feb. 27, 2006