Nitzan Havoc From my not too wide experience with French Horror films (basically Martyrs and The Inside) I've learnt that they could be quite sick. Malefique isn't so much sick as it is disturbing and slightly depressing. It's not your ordinary everyday Horror film, but it does have it's Horror-like disturbing moments and aspects of the story. It's also the first Horror film I've ever seen that takes place in a prison.I can't say much about the screenplay and script as I don't speak the language, but the story was pretty average and all that original. Some prisoners find an old journal that used to belong to another prisoner, and deals with occult black magick. The audience is told the tale of their everyday routine as cons, then the changes it and they undergo upon finding the book and attempting to decipher it. The cinematography is also quite ordinary, with few scenes shot as seen from a video camera, like in a found-footage/mockumentary film. The impressive bit is that the entire film takes place almost solely in a prison cell (except for two short scenes, one in the visiting room and one at the prison office), so it's basically single location. I always like seeing how directors face the single location challenge, and in this case Eric Valette has done well.As probably said before, what really makes this film is the characters, who are bizarre to the point of being fantastic and unrealistic at the same time as being as realistic and compelling as they come. Protagonist/Antagonist Carrère (Gérald Laroche) used to run a company and it's implied that he "took some shortcuts", probably financial ones. He's almost obsessed with being bailed out so he could be with his son. There's Marcus (Clovis Cornillac), a brute force character who likes to use his strength to get what he wants. He's also a very masculine drag- queen with breasts, make-up and everything that is obsessed with working out and keeping fit so he could escape by climbing the prison wall with 50 kg on his back. The 50 kg refer to Pâquerette (Dimitri Rataud), a funny demented retard who behaves like a hyperactive 5 year old, Marcus's protégé and my favorite character, excellent acting performance by Rataud. And then there's Lassalle (Philippe Laudenbach), a seemingly harmless elderly fellow, not quite obvious if very smart or insane, or both. The dynamics between the characters, who share the cell, is what keeps the film going and the audience enthralled to the screen.All in all, the story, ending and small plot-twist are good, but not excellent. There's never a dull moment, but it's not the story that makes this film worthy, nor even the acting. It's, as mentioned, the characters and their dynamics. I'd highly recommend this film to anyone who's had their share of Horror films and wouldn't mind seeing something a little different, a little new, and while not a masterpiece - very impressive in my opinion!

pmdawn Now this is what I'd call a good horror. With occult/supernatural undertones, this nice low-budget French movie caught my attention from the very first scene. This proves you don't need wild FX or lots of gore to make an effective horror movie.The plot revolves around 4 cellmates in a prison, and each of these characters (and their motives) become gradually more interesting, as the movie builds up tension to the finale. Most of the action we see through the eyes of Carrere, who has just entered prison and has to get used to living with these 3 other inmates.I won't say much because this movie really deserves to be more widely seen. There a few flaws though: the FX are not that good, but they're used effectively; the plot leaves some mysteries open; and things get very confusing towards the end, but Malefique redeems itself by the time it's over.I thought his was a very good movie, 8/10

ian_campbell6 had to see this cos it looked like a great scary premise- prisoners finding magic book,oo err! claustrophobic terror ensues, etc. but there didn't seem to be a story to go along with the great idea. rather than chilling/physcological horror, it relied on effects out in the open- fire and OTT body horror- , which didn't scare at all if your over 12. The logic at the end is ridiculous, with characters being killed off for nothing other than bodycount. waste of good characters- which were the best thing about this film.obviously low budget, which doesn't spoil it, the film really goes nowhere, and- icant believe im going to say this- it needs a Hollywood remake. you simply loose interest in this version. definitely not in the same league as other french films coming out in the last few years like crimson rivers which were at least watchable/entertaining, malefique isn't watchable to the end to be honest. and i bet you can guess the ending before you have watched the film. really really disappointing- impossible to recommend.

blakndn I was hooked from beginning to end. Great horror comes from disturbing imagery and organic shocks that are created not to make you jump, but to make you go "What the f*ck did I just see?" All the other commentators gave short summaries of what the film is about, so I won't rehash what has already been said. I was telling other people about this movie days after I had seen it just because it still haunted me. I even had a bad dream after seeing it, and I am a true horror fan, not easily spooked by tripe like "The Grudge" or even "Silent Hill". What gave me the bad dreams was the unease I felt about what I would do if I were in that cell with those guys. What would my personal horror be? my subconscious took me there, and it was not pleasant. That my friends is what a good horror flick does to you! The best part of this movie is that it is subtle. It's not about Bogeymen that jump out at you,alien invasions, or tons of gore. It's the opposite. The horror you create in your own mind. The irony for the four characters is that the horror comes not from an external force that asserts it's power over them. Simply, the men ask for the one thing they desire, and they get it...but not in the way they imagined. So on the one hand, they get what they wish for from an occult book, but may ultimately wish they hadn't. Sometimes being locked in a jail cell is the best place to be!