Them 2006

Writer/directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud's unrelenting DV-lensed jugular-grabber has only one thing in mind: to frighten the bejeebers out of you. Trimmed of narrative blubber to bare-boned perfection, Them features Olivia Bonamy and Michaël Cohen as Clémentine and Lucas, a couple living peacefully in their beautiful Romanian countryside estate. With minimal dialogue and exposition, these actors totally command our sympathy as they are terrorised by faceless intruders for one long, extremely horrifying night. If you feel that recent Stateside horrors haven't quite managed to make your heart race with fear, Them should remedy that problem. Joining High Tension and Sheitan as stunning examples of contemporary Gallic horror, it's as visceral and nerve-jangling as thrillers get, with atmospheric forest-shrouded locations, purposefully disorientating camerawork, bone-chilling sound design and a twist ending that'll send shivers down your spine with its startling, terrible possibility. Oh, it's also inspired by true events. Sleep well.