AQUARIUM

This economic little horror concerns the intertwined destinies of six strangers: Vincent (Julien Masdoua), Alex (Abel Divol), Georges (Michel Robin), Marie (Capucine Mandeau), Elise (Sophie Talon) and Alice (Karen Bruere).

We first meet them as they lie sleeping on the floor of a sparse white room. Vincent wakes first, pounding on the walls looking for a way out as Muzak plays gently in the background. It doesn't take him long to spy the surveillance camera above the room's locked door, watching him.

As the others awake, they all search the walls for any weakness. Marie removes her hairpin and uses it to pick the door's lock, but when the door opens … the exit has been bricked up. Understandably, the group become more fraught upon this discovery, and begin to bicker amongst themselves as their tension mounts.

Georges tries to act as the voice of reason, suggesting they all introduce themselves to each other and attempt to work as a team to find a way out of their predicament. Georges insists that if the group can deduce why they are there, it will be easier to escape. But their efforts are cut short when a voice comes through a speaker positioned below the camera.

The voice (Pierre-Luc Scotto) explains that all six must partake in certain tasks in order to survive. It outlines six rules (or "activities") that they must abide by, or suffer punishment as consequence. Essentially, they're told that they must all participate in the tasks and that whoever fails, sabotages or attempts to escape, will be executed and removed. Whoever completes all of the tasks will be set free.

It's at this point that Georges, a level-headed barrister, flips. Protesting that he refuses to live under anyone else's control, he smashes the camera - much to the anger of the other five group members. Seconds later, gas seeps into the room via an air vent and before long the group are asleep again. When they wake, Georges is missing a finger: the first punishment!

With the camera restored to working order, the voice returns and the first "task" begins - a game of "Simon Says". Whoever loses, will be the first fatality …

It's easy to liken AQUARIUM to several noteworthy films of the last decade. CUBE immediately springs to mind, as does SAW (both with their "strangers imprisoned together; must complete tasks in order to survive" scenarios).

There's also a strong element of MY LITTLE EYE and RED ROOM present (although there is no TV show or prize as such - other than freedom - the fact that half the film is told through the surveillance camera's lens gives it that reality show/Big Brother vibe).

You could also argue that there's a nod to the likes of Romero's DEAD films here too, with AQUARIUM's observations on how people fail to communicate even in times of crisis - instead choosing to fight among each other.

But AQUARIUM succeeds for the most part, because it is filmed by writer/director Frederic Grousset in a sharp, brisk manner (the film is less than 70 minutes long) that soon makes you forget about its micro budget trappings (a single set; small cast; minimal props or FX). The script co-written by Grousset and Jean March) is fluent and intelligent, keeping the suspense at an agreeable level while maintaining a sense of realism and sympathy. The performances are universally strong.

Where AQUARIUM fails is in its finale, when the truth behind the prison is revealed. It's a weak and unconvincing conclusion that fails to satisfactorily explain many of the questions that are raised along the way. Still, as a metaphor for modern life, it manages to bring a wry smile to the viewer's face.

Redemption's disc offers the film uncut in a non-anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer. Images are reasonably sharp but there is minor ghosting evident and grain appears in some darker scenes. Fortunately the bulk of the film is quite brightly lit, so it's not too great a problem.

The French 2.0 audio is a problem-free offering, and optional English subtitles are at hand for people - like myself - who require them.

Static menus include a scene-selection menu allowing access to AQUARIUM via 24 chapters.

Extras include a 4-minute Making Of documentary which is a fast-edited montage of behind-the-scene footage.

We also get an original trailer, which is 2 minutes on length, and 2 galleries - a stills gallery of 6 images, and a Behind The Scenes gallery of 17 photographs.

The best extras on offer are two short films by Grousset.

First up is EMERGENCY STOP which is a grainy 8-minute affair about a woman hiding in a roadside toilet, terrified of the knifeman outside. It's in French with no subtitles but there's very little dialogue and the set-up - and twist ending - don't require an understanding of the language. The film is presented in non-anamorphic 2.35:1.

The second short film is entitled SHIT, and runs for 6 minutes. This is presented in a grainy window-boxed transfer that doesn't ruin its gleefully gross (literal) toilet humour. Presented in French with burned-in subtitles, I got the distinct impression that I'd seen this before somewhere - possibly on British TV? - but enjoyed catching it again.

Finally, there's a promotional gallery of 5 pages advertising Redemption's "Blood & Dishonour" book. For people who like Goth chicks caked in stage blood.

AQUARIUM is an interesting addition to the Big Brother-influenced sub-genre of modern horror films, and works well within the constraints of its low budget. Its finale prevents it from being essential in the way that other French-speaking horrors of this decade such as SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE, INSIDE and THEM are. But it's definitely worth a look.

Review by Stuart Willis