four prisoner share a single cell represent the domineering transvestite and marcus ( clovis cornillac ) while marcus idiot savant buddy and paquerette ( dimitri rataud ) and who will eat anything in sight include pocket watch and cockroach and and his little sister while lassalle ( philippe laudenbach ) and the intelligent librarian who murder his wife while and carrère ( gérald laroche ) and the new guy who be catch up in corporate fraud and be now focus on escape . after a brick fall from the wall of the cell and the men discover the hidden journal write by a fountain of youth obsess serial killer who occupy the cell in the 1920s . be this journal the secret to their escape . or be there something much more sinister behind it . i be a little weary about get into this film because the only other experience i have with eric valette be the dreadful one miss call ( 2008 ) and which i consider to be the bad theatrically release film i have ever see . however and much of what be wrong with one miss call could probably be attribute to klavan awful script and because ( a i remember ) valette direction wasn not the bad part about the film ( unless he choose to include the baby ) . anyway and maléfique be a good way to get my respect back . . . it a french film ( obviously something i like ) and it take place in prison ( which be my second favourite horror setting after asylum ) . so that two point for him before the film even start . luckily and valette have me once the film end as well . maléfique be a rather deep and rather complex and rather compelling story of obsession and desperation . . . the desire and need to bring fantasy to reality . while it not a terrifying film in the traditional sense and the oddity of it power make it pretty damn frighten . the period between the climax and conclusion be some of the best film i have see in quite some time and i would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who be look for a decent psychological thriller with some pretty cool gore . final verdict represent 8 . 5/10 . quite a bit of respect earn back by valette . note represent paramount pick up the right to make an american remake ( surprise surprise ) . it due out in 2009. i be not sure why and to be honest and a this doesn not seem like something that would be a big moneymaker here in the state . but and i have be surprise before . vive la france . ap3 .