Ils (Them) (2006)Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Ils (Them) 2006 |
| Release Year | 2006 |
| Original Title | Ils |
| English Title | Them |
| Director | David Moreau, Xavier Palud |
| Screenplay Writer | David Moreau, Xavier Palud |
| Story By | David Moreau, Xavier Palud |
| Based on Novel by | — (Original screenplay) |
| Producer(s) | Richard Grandpierre |
| Executive Producer(s) | — |
| Lead Actors | Olivia Bonamy, Michaël Cohen |
| Cast | Olivia Bonamy, Michaël Cohen, Adriana Mocca |
| Genre | Horror, Thriller |
| Subgenre | Home Invasion Horror, Psychological Horror |
| Release Date | July 19, 2006 (France) |
| Runtime / Duration | 1h 17m (77 minutes) |
| Budget | Low-budget independent production |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | ~$11 million |
| Language | French, Romanian |
| Country | France, Romania |
| Production Company | Eskwad, Canal+ |
| Distributor | StudioCanal |
| Filming Locations | Romania |
| Music By | René-Marc Bini |
| Cinematography | Axel Cosnefroy |
| Edited By | Nicolas Sarkissian |
| Production Design | — |
| Costume Design | — |
| Special Effects | Minimal practical effects focused on realism |
| Makeup Effects | Subtle injury and realism makeup |
| MPAA Rating | R (U.S.) |
| Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 |
| Sound Mix | Dolby Digital |
| Format | Color |
| Themes | Fear, isolation, vulnerability, survival |
| Setting | Remote countryside house in Romania |
| Notable Trivia | Marketed as being inspired by real events |
| Critical Reception | Praised for tension, atmosphere, and minimalist horror style |
| Audience Reception | Cult following among European horror fans |
| Awards / Nominations | Nominated at several European fantasy film festivals |
| Home Media | DVD, Blu-ray |
| Streaming Availability | Occasionally available on horror streaming services |
| Sequels / Franchise | None |
| Franchise Type | Standalone psychological horror film |
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Clem and Lucas are a French couple living out in the Romanian countryside. One night, while they are sleeping Clem is awakened by a strange noise so her and Lucas go to investigate. They see someone driving their car away and soon a series of noises, phone calls and lights start to terrorize them, forcing them to leave the house to try and find help.
One major thing Ils got right, and I mean really, really right, was the dark. So often in horror movies the dark looks like one of two things. Either it’s dark outside but you can tell there are lights set up somewhere, giving everything a spot-lit look or it’s so dark you can’t tell what the heck is going on. Here, you could see everything without any telltale lights or shadows, giving you the feeling of being right there in the midst of all the terror.
The second major thing done right is the location. The couple have recently moved into an old mansion out in the middle of a woody nowhere. The house is enormous, much more than two people need and you can see where someone could stalk you throughout without you being the wiser. Hell the attic alone could house five different serial killers without any of them knowing the others were there. Plus they were remodeling so there was thick sheets of (murder) plastic hanging everywhere already.
I was skipping along merrily through the whole movie until we discover exactly who “them” are. Sure, I get how it could happen and I even understand how fear can trip you up but the actions of our protagonists after learning who was after them bugged me a little. I think more confidence should have been restored with the knowledge.
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