Ils (2006)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

David Moreau
Xavier Palud

Writers:

David Moreau (writer)
Xavier Palud (writer)

Release Date:

20 April 2006 (South Korea)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The film that terrified Europe has come to America

Plot:

Lucas and Clementine live peacefully in their isolated country house, but one night they wake up to strange noise... they're not alone... and a group of hooded assailants begin to terrorize them throughout the night.

Plot Keywords:

Night | Car | Writer | House | Romania

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Olivia Bonamy	...	Clémentine
Michaël Cohen	...	Lucas
Adriana Mocca	...	Ilona (as Adriana Moca)
Maria Roman	...	Sanda
Camelia Maxim	...	Maria
Alexandru Boghiu	...	L'enfant
Emanuel Stefanuc	...	Adolescent n°1
Horia Ioan	...	Adolescent n°2
Stefan Cornic	...	Adolescent n°3
George Iulian	...	Adolescent n°4

Directed by
David Moreau
Xavier Palud

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Moreau		writer
Xavier Palud		writer

Produced by
Richard Grandpierre	....	producer
Bogdan Moncea	....	line producer
Vlad Paunescu	....	co-producer

Original Music by
René-Marc Bini

Cinematography by
Axel Cosnefroy

Film Editing by
Nicolas Sarkissian

Casting by
Floriela Grapini
Guillaume Moulin

Set Decoration by
Alexandra Botoi Tudorache

Costume Design by
Elisabeth Mehu

Makeup Department
Lidia Constantin	....	key hair stylist
Lidia Ivanov	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Cristian Bostanescu	....	executive in charge of production
Nicolas Dancel	....	unit manager
Elena Valeanu	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Oana Ene	....	second assistant director
Franck Vestiel	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Andi Rosu	....	props buyer

Sound Department
Germain Boulay	....	supervising sound editor
Yannick Boulot	....	sound recordist
Edouard d'Heucqueville	....	sound mix technician
François-Joseph Hors	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marion Lorthioir	....	post-synchronisation
Thomas Pietrucci	....	sound re-recording boom operator
Serge Rouquairol	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Ciurlin Melania	....	special makeup effects
Ionel Popa	....	prosthetic and makeup effect

Visual Effects by
Christophe Lucotte	....	color grader

Stunts
Dicu Aurel	....	stunt rigger
Mihaela Elena Oros	....	stunt double
Daniel Pasleaga	....	stunt performer
Vasilescu Valentin	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Florin Mihalache	....	electrician

Casting Department
Ovidiu Paunescu	....	extras casting

Transportation Department
Octav Tudor	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Andreea Iordache	....	location manager
Ruxandra Popescu	....	production accountant
Pierre Selinger	....	production attorney
Oana Topliceanu	....	production coordinator

Thanks
Kook Ewo	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Eskwad
• Studio Canal (co-production)
• Castel Film Romania (co-production)
• Canal+ (participation)
• CinéCinéma (participation)

Distributors

• Mars Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metrodome Distribution (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Slowhand Cinema Releasing (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Dark Sky Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Dark Sky Films (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• MPI Home Video
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Metrodome Distribution (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Video (2008) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Castel Film Romania  production facilities

Also Known As:

Ils - Them (UK)
Them (USA)
Ekeinoi (Greece) [el]
Eles (Portugal) [pt]
Ellos (Spain) [es]
Hotet (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Onlar (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Spiel oder stirb (Germany) (Pay-TV title) [de]
Them (Germany) [de]
Uhka (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and terror.

Runtime:

France:77 min

Country:

France | Romania

Language:

French | Romanian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Italy:VM14 | France:-12 (with warning) | South Korea:15 | USA:R | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA (2008) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Eskwad

Trivia:

Shot in 30 days.

Goofs:

Continuity: Right after Clementine removes the piece of glass from Lucas' leg, there are repeated shots of the bedroom door as the intruders try to get in. During one such shot the handle that had just busted off reappears, intact. In the next shot of the door the handle is once again missing.

Quotes:

Child: We just want to play with you... won't you play with us?

They did not Want to Play With Us

The teacher of the French School in Bucharest Clémentine (Olivia Bonamy) lives with her husband, the writer Lucas (Michaël Cohen), in a remote real estate in Snagow. Along the night, Clémentine is awakened by weird noises outside the old house and Lucas sees their car being stolen. Then the lights are turned off, phone line is dead and they see that their property gate has been trespassed and they are surrounded by weird persons with lights. They hide in the cellar and try to escape to ask for help in a dreadful night of pure terror.

The unknown "Ils" is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen, almost comparable to Michael Haneke"s "Funny Games". The story of this low-budget movie is very simple, does not have special effects and apparently is based on a true story, but the direction of David Moreau and Xavier Palud is stunning, supported by the awesome and credible performances of Olivia Bonamy and Michaël Cohen that make the difference with most of the American movies of this genre. I was tense and nervous with the frightening atmosphere of this film. The alienation of the youngsters "them" in the end is perhaps the scariest part of this gem of horror. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Eles" ("Them")