Infested 2023

Movie · 106 min · French · August 30, 2023

Directed by Sébastien VaničekWritten by Sébastien Vaniček

Starring Théo Christine, Jérôme Niel, Lisa Nyarko, Finnegan Oldfield, Ike Zacsongo-Joseph

Infested is a 2023 French horror film that marks Sébastien Vaniček's first time directing a feature-length movie. He also co-wrote and created the concept for the film. The story follows Théo Christine, a young person living in a banlieue, who brings home a deadly desert spider. This spider begins to multiply quickly, leading to a serious infestation throughout their area. Supporting actors include Sofia Lesaffre, Jérôme Niel, Lisa Nyarko, and Finnegan Oldfield.

Vaniček developed the project as a way to explore themes of xenophobia, drawing comparisons between spiders and life in the banlieue. Shudder, an American streaming platform, purchased distribution rights for the U.S., Canada, and major international markets before the film's debut at the 80th Venice International Film Festival. It also screened at Fantastic Fest 2023. The movie opened in France on 27 December 2023 and became available on Shudder on 27 April 2024. Critics responded with "overwhelmingly positive" reviews.