It’s been a while since we’ve seen a creature feature with a serious tone, especially one featuring real-world animals rather than fictitious monsters. This sub-genre often leans towards horror-comedy or campiness, intentionally or not. So it’s refreshing that ‘Infested‘ (formerly titled ‘Vermin’), Sébastien Vaniček’s feature directorial debut, takes a deadly serious approach to the material. While there’s still plenty of fun to be had with these spiders, there’s nothing funny about them.

The film follows 30-year-old Kaleb (Théo Christine), a small-time grifter with a passion for small critters. His dream of opening a reptile zoo with his friend Jordy (Finnegan Oldfield) was shattered years ago due to an argument that drove them apart. To compensate, Kaleb fills his room with vivariums filled with creepy crawlies. He buys an exotic spider from his friend’s shop, unaware of its extreme aggression and venom. Shortly after bringing it home, the spider escapes, leading Kaleb to barricade his room in an attempt to contain it. However, the photosensitive arachnid has other plans and quickly wreaks havoc in the building.

This isn’t just one spider on the loose; it’s a spider named Rihanna by Kaleb, and it breeds rapidly. Within a day or two, its offspring grow to ten times the size of their parents. This escalation raises the stakes and provides variety to the set pieces. One standout sequence forces our characters to navigate a dark hallway lined with spiders, with the timer on the light switch adding tension.

One concern about ‘Infested’ was the possibility of an abundance of CGI spiders (gone are the days of ‘Arachnophobia’). Fortunately, Vaniček and his team use practical spiders whenever possible, enhancing scenes with CGI only when dealing with hordes of them. In the early stages of the takeover, the spiders remain out of focus in the background, concealing any potential issues with the effects. The larger spiders in the third act are entirely computer-generated and can look a bit cartoonish, especially in bright lighting. However, the plot cleverly has the local authorities cut off power to the building, keeping the less convincing effects hidden in dim lighting.

Vaniček and co-writer Florent Bernard maintain a brisk pace but stumble in the climax, attempting to squeeze in too many emotional resolutions between characters. They also introduce some social commentary about law enforcement that adds extra weight. These elements all come together in a climactic parking garage showdown against the spiders, leaving little room for them to resonate. While not a movie-killer, it does slightly detract from the overall experience. On the other hand, the early glimpses into the lives of the tenants, though brief, effectively highlight their sense of community turning sour once the arachnids take over.

While ‘Infested’ may not entirely nail the emotional beats, the journey is well worth the watch. Filled with moments that will make your skin crawl (I lifted my legs more than a few times during my screening), Vaniček has crafted what might be the best ‘when spiders attack’ movie in over 30 years—a significant achievement. ‘Infested,’ in essence, has plenty of bite.

‘Infested’ made its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest and has been acquired by Shudder for distribution. Release details are pending.