13 TZAMETI

RATING 3.5

(Director: Gela Babluani, Not Rated, 90 min, English subtitles)

Sébastien (George Babluani) seems like a nice young man who works construction jobs to keep his family from being evicted. He’s replacing the roof for Jean-Francois (Philippe Passon) when he hears how Jean-Francois has a lot of debts, but has a plan to repay everyone with this offer that’s supposed to pay big bucks. A nasty twist of fate gives Sébastien the opportunity to take this invitation for himself - so despite the fact that he hasn’t got a clue what is going to be asked of him, he jumps at the chance and proceeds toward the unknown.

The instructions that come with the "summons" are all very mysterious with secret codes, losing tails, changing trains, and avoiding the police. You would think this would make Sébastien hesitate, but the promise of a big payoff is too enticing. Everything leads to a game where Sébastien gets paid to be contestant number 13 in a game where he doesn’t even know the rules – and once you start, there’s no opting out.

You know something ominous is on the horizon from the solemn music that helps build the tension, but it takes some time to figure out where this story is going. Then, "oh my god" is the only way to describe this twisted game that only the rich and powerful sickos of the world would dare imagine (which naturally means there is betting involved and danger, but not to the rich and powerful). It’s also safe to say that once you find out what Sébastien might have gotten himself into, you kind of have to stick around to see what happens next (like the ultimate reality show and survivor game rolled into one). And just when you think you know how it ends, the rules change.

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Movie Chick Cherryl:
"I knew nothing when I started watching this film except that I had heard it was intense (it is) and a little violent (also true). It’s also well made, really disturbing, and rather hard to forget – 3.5"