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A stylish , complex movie driven by main character, an innocent inmate on the run , being realized in ¨The fugitive¨ style and centers on a low-level crook who had to break out of jail in order to save his family from his former cellmate, who results out to be a brilliant but deranged serial killer . As a thief (Albert Dupontel) is condemned and imprisoned but before he gets caught he arranges to hide the loot and it's not just Gendarmerie that are looking for the bank cash . His cellmate is a creepy introvert , Jean-Louis Maurel (Stéphane Debac) , who results to be an alleged rapist/child molester but he claims his innocence and the court finds him not guilty ; Maurel promises him to find his wife (Caterina Murino) and mute daughter when he gets out . But one day, an ex-Gendarme called Manuel Carrega (Sergi Mateu) tells him that Jean-Louis Maurel is a suspicious serial murderer . Franck then plots a twisted plan , as he decides to break her out . As he starts planning and decides to carry out his scheme . Franck devises a daring plan to rescue his wife and daughter , but he is relentlessly pursued by an obstinate policewoman called Claire Linné (Alice Taglioni).

This exciting film contains high-octane action , violence , thrills , suspense , a gruesome escape , bone-crushing mayhem and plot twists . From the start to finish the action , chases and thrills are interminable . Excellent thriller in which nothing is the way it seems , the atmosphere is already tense and the twists and turns are the best part of this movie . In other ways, it feels like a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock , full of attractive characters and edge-of-your-seat intrigue . The film borrows from a handful of hit movies, there are plenty of short-cuts and inconsistencies such as ¨The fugitive¨ , ¨Seven¨ , ¨The Prey¨ , ¨Tell no one¨ , among others . Film's best asset is its brawny stars , who outperform a scenario that offers enough lasting surprises or sustainable characters . The flick was noteworthy for casting some of the finest actors in France including Albert Dupontel as a Bankrobber whose life is turned upside down when his family is kidnapped , as he serves a prison sentence after successfully robbing a national bank and gets escape to look for a sadistic killer . Dupontel is one of the only French players who can capably switch from comedian high jinks to noisy action . Furthermore , there appears Alice Taglioni as a tough police woman and the Spanish Sergi Mateu who usually plays in France . Good production design , the prison seen in the film is actually a combination of real locations and adequate sets ; in addition nice rural outdoors and local villages .

Laurent Turner and Luc Bossi , also producer, wrote a moving screenplay filled with surprises , twists and turns . This is a convincing foray into thriller territory for French director Eric Valette . Valette did formidable work in this picture and filming lasted various months . Eric proves that he can handle action sequences with panache, even if he doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Valette is a notorious writer/director who has achieved some successes . Eric Valette was born in 1967 in Toulouse, location where has filmed scenarios for his films . He is a director and writer, known for ¨State Affairs¨ , ¨one missed call (2008), ¨Maléfique¨(2002) , ¨the hybrid car¨(2010) and "The Prey" (2011). A remake of this Eric Valette's 2011 thriller La Proie is in development at DreamWorks and The Hollywood Reporter is saying that James Croker has been brought on board to pen the script , this U.S. adaptation, The Prey, is being produced by Charles S. Cohen.

"La Proie" is a superbly tense and adrenalin-rushing thriller from Eric Valette, the director of the French horror sleeper "Malefique" and the hopelessly flopped Hollywood remake "One Missed Call". Although most unfortunate for them, I don't really mind when acclaimed European directors' debuts in Hollywood fail, because this usually means they return to their native country and strike back with a vengeance. In case of Eric Valette, he strikes back with a testosterone-packed thriller full of breathtaking stunts, convoluted plot lines, interesting characters and unexpected shock moments. Albert Dupontel profiles himself as a worthy successor of Jean-Paul Belmondo during the 70's and 80's; meaning a robust but charismatic and energetic hunk for whom you automatically develop feelings of sympathy regardless of whether he plays the hero or a villain. He plays Franck Adrien, a bank robber convicted for heist but still safekeeping the location of the loot. Within six months, he can return home to his beloved wife and daughter, but he makes the sad mistake of taking custody over his seemingly weak and vulnerable cell mate Jean-Louis Morel. Morel is wrongfully accused of child abuse and soon gets released from prison, but Franck painfully discovers that Morel is nevertheless a sadist serial killer who now knows the whereabouts of his family. Franck spectacularly escapes from prison and begins the pursue of Morel, yet meanwhile the most elite French police teams are pursuing him.

Okay, admittedly some of the action sequences are a tad bit grotesque and implausible. It's highly doubtful that anyone simply runs away at 20mph moments after he threw himself through the widow of a six-storey building onto the rooftop of a car. It's even less likely that someone walks around with a shot wound in his stomach for several days and then still goes out climbing rocks. But seriously, I couldn't care less about all the illogical stuff in "La Proie", simply because the film is so incredibly fast-paced and entertaining. Franck's continuous cat-and- mouse games with the police result in some of the best action I've seen in years, whereas the sub plot concentrating on Jean-Louis Morel generates authentic old-fashioned suspense and fear. Stéphane Debac depicts a petrifying nihilistic predator who relentlessly stalks his victims while his docile wife even assists him! The scenario contains several unpleasant (but highly efficient) surprises and remains unpredictable until the denouement. Furthermore, Eric Valette makes terrific use of the beautiful Southern France filming locations and the entire supportive cast delivers excellent work. Definitely a must-see if you dig non-stop action flicks like "The Transporter", "Crank", "Chaser", etc

Director Eric Valette isn't exactly breaking new grounds but this is well made entertaining action thriller. For those of you who enjoyed Henri-Georges Clouzots & Jean-Pierre Melvilles films, or Luc Besson and of course Olivier Marchals films this should be perfect for you.

When it comes to casting this film doesn't disappoint...for example we have Albert Dupontel plays antihero Franck Adrien very convincingly, and he looks very tough while beating prisoners, shooting police officers, stealing cars etc while trying to save his family.

Alice Taglioni as the sleuth who wont give up her chase after Franck Adrien is new face to me. I don't remember seeing her in any other before but she did a good job here.

Stéphane Debac is very good and gives chilling performance as Jean-Louis Maurel, a person who might be more dangerous then Franck Adrien.

Sergi López I always liked since seeing Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien (2000)here only has small supporting part but is very good.

Biggest flaw here is some plot twists, screen writing could've been better and also, more depth in characters and story etc. It seems that Eric Valette has moved away from well written dark horrors like Maléfique (2002)and only focuses on the action.

But strangely I found this to be more compelling then US produced action thrillers like The Bourne Identity (2002. Just wish Eric Valette could go back to this roots like Maléfique (2002)or at least get a much deeper script. But seems with this film and with Une affaire d'état (2009)that he is moving in another direction.

French thriller that moves right along, incrementally closing down your brain as it does so. Albert Dupontel has the face to makes it work as a con on the lam but he's undermined by his nemesis - lady cop Alice Taglioni who looks likes she's just stepped off the catwalk. Her long, luxuriant arms look like they wouldn't trouble a fly of average strength but here they're knocking perps flat out. Even for the French, this is a bit de trop. The rest of the cast are the real deal with everyone playing their part to the hilt. It also looks good and the endless chases are well executed but in most aspects it's blown away by French TV cop shows like Spiral.

I put this on for my husband to watch unfortunately there was nothing to say it was in French and subtitled. He had to give up as he couldn't keep up . Though he did say it looked good I decided to watch it on my I pad in bed ,and as I am used to subtitles ,it was no problem .thoroughly enjoyed it. The story line was good thought out , I don't believe for a minute it was filmed in U.S. As it says on location . far to French looking . Pretty violent ref prison scenes says a lot for the French prison service . I would certainly recommend watching it Will be curious to see what any proposed U.S. Remake will be like Also 10 lines is a bit much for reviews

Don't miss LA PROIE. It's a fast paced action kidnapping thriller as I saw in TAKEN. In fact it is long time ago I gave to a thriller the highest vote. The actor Albert Dupontel was great here. He played the role as the prisoner so credibly and cool that he must get the Oscar. Director Eric Valette convinced me too. Bravo to all the staff. The stunts has been all executed at a very respectable level and without any help of CGI effects. They will take your breath away. There were puzzles to solve and I guessed all the time what will come next. The locations in South of France were pretty. This is how movies should be made nowadays. At the end I was without words there and I still cannot realize that I watched one of the best french thriller ever made. The french film industry created with cable TV companies once more an unforgettable work. And where are you Italian film people? It's long time ago I saw a remarkable movie from my origin country. I think the last one was LA VITA È BELLA with Roberto Benigni. So don't wait and see LA PROIE, you won't be disappointed. This DVD will find a nice place in my best of DVD collection.

The plot is lame and takes a despicable turn. Shooting such a dark plot just as an ordinary chase movie is nowhere acceptable. Fortunately Albert Dupontel is always good at fleshing up humane character from very little and he makes this mess quite watchable.

Remove Dupontel, put a less capable actor in the lead and you get a real dud. Alice Taglioni is OK, but they really forget to establish her as a physical character (clearly her abilities her first sequence are not displayed in an efficient way, and then it's a drag for the rest of the movie). Zinedine Soualem is barely a background player so it does hurt the movie to give him a serious part. The same goes for all the police squad, they are shot like a nice clean professional team: closer to a sitcom than in line with our disturbingly violent subject matter.

And yes graphic violence really cripples a movie when it comes out of the blue and not as a closing argument for tension and suspense.

I was not impressed by Eric Valette's Maléfique, precisely because it was all forced before us to be impressed. Here he does a good job of shooting a sharp chase movie, except it is definitely not the script he was given.

This is a first rate, hugely entertaining action-packed thriller directed by Eric Valette, following his already very good State Affairs. This time he handles a much bigger budget, but maintains tons of personality together with the testosterone. French star Albert Dupontel is amazingly intense as a tough bank robber pitted against an unpredictable killer and trying to save his family while he is chased by the police. Alice Taglioni is also very good as a Jodie Foster-flavored investigator, newcomer Stephane Debac nuanced and frightening as an average Joe who happens to be a psychopath. There's a wonderful appearance by Sergi Lopez as a retired cop who believes he can feel a criminal when he crosses his path. Surprisingly good script, great cinematography, music and editing and the chase scenes are really exciting. The last reel by night in the hills of Provence is especially beautiful. One of the few European thrillers to rival (often blander) Hollywood fare, catch this one before they remake it.

It made me sit the whole hell of a movie without feeling the clock. If you did not watch this movie - go for it - it's time for one of the movies !! Especially when it's in language - that I did not believe the film would be so great.

One of the best tense thrillers seen in a long time though be also prepared to witness the terribly sick side of the human mind so well depicted. The film is packed with superb action, chases, suspense and tension and yet never feeling over the top as the scenario painted is so very plausible. Albert Dupontel plays the role of the fugitive prisoner with such realism, one gets the impression one is watching a docu-drama.

Where good many films content themselves with ensuring the viewer is left in a pleasant frame of mind as the story finally unfolds, this one has the courage to portray events more akin to reality, perhaps this may explain the film's low IMDb score and why even the critics may have found the movie hard to stomach?

This almost comes across as a TV Movie but its standard is much higher.

The action is mostly but not entirely in the tension. There are some really nice entirely physical cliffhangers to pull you to the edge of your seat.

The characterisation is superb and the plot, while admittedly a cliché, is excellently implemented.

Anyone who likes police drama or investigative thriller will find this an unusually good film of its genre.

For those that like any amount of the above but also want some eye candy, the cast will appeal to male and female alike.

I'm not that big on cheap melodrama type stuff (preferring deeper movies) but this one got me with the clarity and definition of portrayal of each role in the film.

It shocks. A bit like a knife in the side ;)

I am English and while we once had the knack of making action movies that are believable we have gradually become a poor man's Hollywood. The French have taken the cop show action movie and made it their own. On TV we have the Spiral series and now this.

The star is a true indestructible bouncing along on adrenalin and feeling the pain. He is driven by all too human emotion and one wills him on to succeed.

France is lucky to have lots of good locations and the driving around fits into the plot rather than being a cheap way to fill in the minutes.

This is a simpler story that Luc Besson's Crimson Rivers films but just as suspenseful and exciting.

The best film I have seen fie a few years.

This is a well made well written (the key!) French crime thriller that keeps you entertained.

I enjoyed the French prison part (are they really like this?) with what looked like private bathrooms pillows and desks pens and books etc... The inmates are entertained by cello and harpsichord chamber music (that was funny).

Anyway there are surprises which I love. I even liked the chases up to a point the escape from massive police operations seemed too impossible crack a whip over the writers a little harder there. Also by the time of denouement at the villa I was tiring of the movie...maybe because the first part was so good. And the ending with the letter wasn't needed just adds gimmick to this good movie.

I watched the movie Blood and Wine with Jack Nicholson and Michael Cain last night and the comparison couldn't be starker...this movie was 100 times more entertaining and better shot and directed.

I speak French but makes no difference use the subtitles anyway so I don't miss anything.

RECOMMEND!

THE PREY is yet another example of the riveting action thriller that the French have been putting out lately. The originator of the genre was Fred Cavaye's ANYTHING FOR HER, which really picked up in terms of intensity in the second half, while the recent likes of SLEEPLESS NIGHT, POINT BLANK, and MEA CULPA have shown that the French are head and shoulders above British or American attempts at the genre.

Like those movies, THE PREY has a lean, pared-down plot which is basically a chase thriller. I won't spoil the storyline too much, suffice to say that the protagonist is a petty criminal who must escape from jail to go after an even greater foe. The narrative is chock-full of stunt sequences, intense and suspenseful chase moments, and even some brutal fight scenes which really propel things along.

Albert Dupontel is really great as the put-upon lead but Alice Taglioni and Sergi Lopez are also particularly good among a solid supporting cast. The best things about the film are the direction and the cinematography which combine to deliver a realistic and gritty thriller and one that the viewer can thoroughly get caught up in. An eye-popping prison fight is the highlight here. The ending is a little lacklustre, but it's no matter when the rest of the film has been so fantastically engrossing.

had to see this movie accidentally, just didn't switch off a TV after a hockey. movie is great especially because of scenario. writers had been high for sure. so if you have a sense of humor or are high or both i absolutely do recommend this movie. in case 4 rows are not enough for review i'm adding one more.

You get just about everything in this movie. Who doesn't like stolen loot, prison scenes, fights, plots & twists, shoot-outs, betrayals, and the unexpected? Entertainment is presented and never lets up after a certain point. Only good movies can cause thriller, tensed up feelings where nails are ripe for the biting and one grips the arm rest. Its a good ride, decent story, exceptional acting and direction is good. It appears everyone liked being in this movie and because of that, we get what we wanted...a solid action flick back. Escape here with a tasty drink, some snack and no texting or distractions. Let the movie have you until it lets go...Well done.

A great script/story line can sometimes turn in to a great film. Here we have an example of a great story line well executed and acted. Although I find French actors a bit stiff in the way they deliver their lines there is less talking and more action in this film, which probably ends up saving it.

I judge films on expectation vs results. This film is not pretentious at all like some other french films can be. It delivers the goods it promises. That for me is a film worth watching.