Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Stranded (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)
Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Genre: Action Horror
Director: Hugues Martin & Sandra Martin
Starring:Saïd Taghmaoui, Cyril Raffaelli, Aurélien Wiik, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet
Language: French, Arabic
Duration: 103 min.
Rating: 6.0  

Summary:
A platoon of French paratroopers are sent in search of a missing plane in the Algerian desertThe aircraft wreckage is quickly located, but there are no survivors, just a steel case labelled "Top Secret".  Attacked by enemy soldiers, the troops seek refuge in a strange abandoned citadel where they are confronted by the Djinns, the evil spirits of the desert...



Stranded is the debut film from Hugues and Sandra Martin.  It premiered at the 2010 Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival.

Set in Algeria in 1960, it follows a small troop of French soldiers sent to investigate a military plane crash site.  Along the way they are attacked by local Mujahideen fighters and seek shelter in an ancient walled village.  There they face an evil supernatural force that drives them to madness and worse.

A fairly well presented picture with good acting and a nice slow buildup of tension at the beginning which starts out like a war action film then changes gears into a supernatural thriller.  The first half is extremely well shot, and though we never really get any developed characters, it is a tense and exciting scenario that definitely works better than the second, which fails to take full advantage of the suspense and setting and where the lack of development catches up resulting in a plodding finish.

Worth a watch if you happen to stumble onto it, but not one to go out of your way to find.

Bonjour Tristesse

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

Stranded • Djinns (2010)

11 comments:

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Now I really have to keep an eye out for that one.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks JD, I haven't heard of The Objective before, it sounds like an interesting one. 

Hoi-Ming Ng said...

Well, you know I'm in for a war film, so I'll say yes.

d_4 said...

So, when I happen to come across this French/Arabic movie, I should give it a watch. Alrighty then!

Shutterbug said...

this kind of movie doesn't interest me...i would probably fall asleep!

Hermann Rorschach said...

I agree with Jack Deth, as I have recently watched The Objective.  But I loved that, and some might say it's ending was also a "plodding finish" so I most likely will check out Stranded. 

Jack Deth said...

Bonjour, Bonjour and company:

Great looking trailer and critique!

'Stranded' looks and feels a lot like a nearly unknown gem from 2008, 'The Objective'. Though 'Stranded' has a larger cast, more interaction and much better effects. Also has a vibe borrowed from Michael Mann's 'The Keep' when it comes to shadowy interior shots.

I'll have to keep an eye out for this one!

dekumcawesome said...

this movie is fukin awesome, :D
 i would know... ive seen it :D

The Reel Foto said...

sounds like my kind of film. :D

The Angry Lurker said...

Sounds interesting but I'll wait for it on late night TV sometime, thanks.though.

FrontRoomCinema said...

Ooh I like the sound of that one. :-)

Post a Comment