Digest

This episode of the Demy Podcast dives into the French horror film "Infested," a creature feature about a giant spider that infects an apartment building. The hosts, Chelsea and James, discuss the film's plot, characters, and themes, including the sense of community within the building, the tension between Caleb and Jordy, and the film's commentary on social class and immigration. They also share their thoughts on the film's pacing, special effects, and overall effectiveness as a horror movie. The episode concludes with a discussion of other horror films released this year, including "Long Legs," which Chelsea and James both highly recommend.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the Demy Podcast and its hosts, Chelsea and James. They begin by discussing the film "Infested" and their anticipation for it.

00:01:11

The Title and Language

This Chapter delves into the film's title, "Infested." The hosts discuss the French pronunciation of the title and James's bias against the French language. They explore the reasons behind this bias, including the perceived difficulty of the language and the feeling that French speakers believe they are superior.

00:04:11

Spiders and Bug Assault

This Chapter focuses on the hosts' personal experiences with spiders and their reactions to the film's premise. James reveals his fear of spiders and Chelsea's gift of a salt gun for spider extermination. They discuss the website "Bug Assault" and the concept of using salt to kill bugs.

00:05:35

The Plot of Infested

This Chapter dives into the plot of "Infested." The hosts discuss the film's setting in an apartment building and its similarities to other horror films like "Evil Dead Rise" and "Attack the Block." They also discuss the film's characters, including Caleb, Manon, Jordy, and Lila, and their relationships with each other.

00:11:11

The Beginning of the Film

This Chapter focuses on the beginning of the film, where a group of men are driving through the desert with a truck full of weapons. The hosts speculate on their intentions and discuss the possibility of them being smugglers or terrorists.

00:15:00

Caleb and the Spider

This Chapter introduces Caleb, a young man who lives in the apartment building. He is a bug enthusiast and buys a spider from a bodega. The hosts discuss Caleb's character and his relationship with his sister, Manon.

00:21:18

The Going Away Party

This Chapter focuses on a going away party for Claudia, a tenant in the apartment building. The hosts discuss the party's atmosphere and the interactions between the characters. They also discuss the spider, Rihanna, and its role in the events that unfold.

00:25:39

The First Death

This Chapter describes the first death in the film, when Tian, the man who bought the shoes from Caleb, is bitten by the spider and dies. The hosts discuss the film's use of horror and the reactions of the other tenants to Tian's death.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the main plot of the film "Infested"?

  The film follows a group of residents in an apartment building who are terrorized by a giant spider that has infested their home. The spider is deadly and quickly spreads, forcing the residents to fight for survival.

• What are some of the themes explored in "Infested"?

  The film explores themes of community, social class, immigration, and the tension between human nature and the natural world. It also touches on the idea of people being treated as expendable in the face of a larger threat.

• What are some of the film's strengths?

  The film is praised for its claustrophobic atmosphere, its use of practical effects, and its strong characters. The hosts also appreciate the film's commentary on social class and immigration.

• What are some of the film's weaknesses?

  The hosts feel that the film's pacing slows down in the second half, and they find the ending to be a bit underwhelming. They also criticize the film's use of bug movie logic in the final act.

• What other horror films do the hosts recommend?

  The hosts highly recommend "Long Legs," a 2023 American horror film directed by Sarah Adina Smith. They also mention "Smile" and "M3GAN" as upcoming horror films they are looking forward to.

• What is the Demy Podcast?

  The Demy Podcast is a podcast hosted by Chelsea and James, where they discuss horror films and other topics related to the genre. The podcast is known for its humorous and insightful commentary, its focus on independent and foreign films, and its engaging hosts.

• What is VidCon?

  VidCon is an annual convention for video creators, fans, and industry professionals. The convention features panels, workshops, meet-and-greets, and other events related to online video. VidCon is held in Anaheim, California, and is one of the largest events of its kind in the world.

• What is "Bug Assault"?

  "Bug Assault" is a website that sells salt guns, which are designed to kill bugs by blasting them with salt. The hosts discuss the website and the concept of using salt to kill bugs.

• What is the significance of the spider's name, Rihanna?

  The spider is named Rihanna by Caleb, the main character. The name is a bit of a joke, as it is a reference to the popular singer. However, it also highlights Caleb's fascination with bugs and his desire to connect with nature.

• What is the significance of the scene where Caleb and Jordy are shown as children at a reptile museum?

  This scene reveals that Caleb and Jordy shared a passion for reptiles and bugs as children. It also foreshadows the conflict that will later arise between them, as Jordy loses his interest in these creatures while Caleb continues to pursue them.

Show Notes