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77 minutes of gloriously sustained tension, Them is an exceptionally tight and classy Eurohorror with barely a frame out of place. A French couple's dilapidated mansion becomes the scene of a terrifying game of hide and seek with unknown and unseen invaders. With the minimum of gore, the film crafts its thrills through realism, relentless pacing, and the extremely effective use of sound. For those who like their frights highly polished and fuss-free - this is as professional and effective as minimal horror gets.

A heart-pounding intro sequence gives a taster of what's to come - a mother and daughter are picked off in thumping style on a deserted roadside. We then meet Clementine, a school teacher on her way back to her stay-at-home-writer lover Lucas in the Bucharest countryside. Late that night, Clementine wakes to a strange noise, and - more-or-less in real-time from that moment - the shattering of their idyll by faceless, hooded stalkers unfurls to a chilling climax.

"LEAVES THE COMPETITION FOR DEAD"

Olivia Bonamy and Michael Cohen bring compelling credibility to the couple, while the stylish camera and lighting work give the impression that the bad guys have intruded on a polished romantic drama, rather than a by-the-numbers horror. Them makes consistently innovative use of its haunted house, forest and underground locations, consistently backing the viewer into the same crannies as Clementine and Lucas, scrambling with them for glimpses of their off-screen, shadowy assailants, and in doing so, leaves the competition for dead.

In French with English subtitles.

Them (Ils) is released in UK cinemas on Friday 26th January 2007.