Infested (2023)

Rating: 3/5

Plot Summary

Kaleb's life is kind of a mess as he nears his 30th birthday. He's feeling pretty lonely, caught in a feud with his sister over inheritance, and disconnected from his best friend. His only escape? A love for exotic creatures. Things take a wild turn when he brings home an exotic spider, which promptly escapes and kicks off a terrifying chain of events. "Infested," directed by Sébastien Vaniček, is a spine-chilling ride that kind of feels like "Arachnophobia" on steroids. If you thought your fear of spiders couldn’t get any worse, "Infested" will prove you wrong.

Chopping Block - Hits & Misses

Hits

• The intense and creepy atmosphere had me on edge.

• The special effects and practical creature designs are really impressive.

• The plot is engaging.
  

• g and suspenseful, keeping me hooked throughout.

Misses

• Some moments come off as unintentionally funny, which broke the tension.

• The character development could have gone a bit deeper.

• The supporting characters felt a bit clichéd at times.

Credit: IMDB

Full Review

• Scare Factor — Points: 0 The movie definitely has its scary moments, especially if you’re not a fan of spiders. The tension is real, but a few scenes were unintentionally funny, which kind of took away from the overall horror for me.
  

• Storyline and Plot — Points: 0.5 The plot keeps you engaged, though it doesn’t dive too deep into the characters. It felt like a solid survival story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
  

• Atmosphere and Setting — Points: 1 The atmosphere is one of the film's strongest points. The setting, combined with effective use of sound and music, creates a suspenseful and creepy environment.
  

• Special Effects and Makeup — Points: 1 For an indie movie, the special effects are top-notch. The spiders look convincingly creepy and really add to the fear factor.
  

• Acting and Performances — Points: 0.5 The cast delivers solid performances, especially the main character's transformation from introvert to hero, which adds an intriguing layer to the story. However, the supporting characters sometimes felt a bit clichéd.

Final Verdict

"Infested" isn’t perfect, but it’s a fun and scary ride. The atmosphere and creepy vibes make it worth watching, even if the characters could use a bit more depth. If you love creature features and don’t mind reading subtitles, definitely give this one a shot. Just make sure to have some bug spray handy.

Rating: 3/5

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