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Vermin poster

Film · 2023

Vermin

Original titleVermines

Directed by Sébastien Vanicek · starring Jérôme Niel, Sofia Lesaffre and Théo Christine

  • 7.8 AverageMovieNCo
  • 7.5 Users1 vote
  • 8.0 Critics1 review

Synopsis

Sébastien Vanicek immerses himself in genre cinema with his film 'Vermin', a fusion of action and horror presented as the closing film of the International Critics' Week at the 2023 Venice Film Festival.

The plot follows Kaleb, a young man from the suburbs who, while making a living selling sneakers, finds himself in trouble when the exotic spider he has brought home escapes b>. This little creature will infect his entire neighborhood who will have to quarantine themselves as the plague continues to increase. The narrative explores social themes, such as the dilemma of a generation forced to leave the suburbs, through characters such as Kaleb's sister, Manon, and Lila, a municipal agent.

As the film progresses, the invasion of deadly spiders builds a crescendo of terror, leading the characters to fight for survival in a building overrun by cobwebs. The realistic and survival approach is intertwined with a creepy atmosphere and dynamic shots that intensify the sense of panic and helplessness. Although the film addresses social issues, its true appeal lies in his mastery of creating a low-budget monster thriller.

Produced by My Box Productions and Tandem Films, it is distinguished by its ability to combine social elements with an effective focus on genre. Charades and WTFilms are handling international sales, while Tandem Films is leading distribution in France. The film stands out as a cinematic achievement that transcends the expectations of a conventional horror thriller.

Where to watch Vermin

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Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
106 min1 hour and 46 minutes
Box office
$2.4mworldwide
How long is Vermin?
1 hour and 46 minutes (106 minutes).
Who directed Vermin?
Sébastien Vanicek.
Where can I watch Vermin?
In the UK it is available with a channel on Prime Video and to rent on Apple TV.
How much did Vermin make?
It took $2.4 million worldwide.
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Producers
Harry Tordjman

Videos and trailers

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Photos and posters

All 11 photos

Reviews

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7.5 1 vote

What the critics say 8.0, from one outlet

  • 8.0 FotogramasDesirée De Fez As a spider movie, it is infallible. Vermin is distressing, uncomfortable, and it will infect you with the characters' phobia. [Full review in Spanish] Read

Box office

Weekend by weekend
  • Worldwide $2.4m
  • Spain €49,384

Trivia

  • Authentic buildings

    The visually striking buildings where the action is set have not been created for the movie; these are the Picasso arenas in Noisy-le-Grand, near Paris, designed by architect Manuel Núñez Yanowsky in the 80s.

  • First feature of Vanicek

    First feature film for director Sébastien Vanicek, who had directed a few shorts before.

  • Filming dates

    The movie was shot in the Seine-Saint-Denis département, next to Paris, from January to early March 2022.

  • Reference to racism in France

    Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they're spotted, they're swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

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