The Belgian French-language horror-comedy Employee of the Month (2021), also known as L’employée du mois in its original French language, is “dreadfully hilarious… the perfect dark comedy”, as it was stated by Nightmare on Film Street.
In the movie, after working for EcoClean — an industrial cleaning supplies company — for nearly 17 years, model-employee Inès believes it’s time for a raise. Despite daily jibes from her incompetent and misogynistic co-workers (including Patrick, EcoClean’s ineffectual owner), she remains professional and dedicated to the company’s brand. When Inès confronts Patrick about her salary, he not only disparages her request but makes a lecherous pass at her. New intern Mélody witnesses this and jumps in to help, but in the process both women accidentally find themselves with blood on their hands. Spiraling more out of control by the minute, Inès and Mélody must conjure up increasingly maniacal solutions to cover their tracks — and clean up their mess.
This is the debut fiction feature film of the director Véronique Jadin, also the co-writer of the screenplay together with Nina Vanspranghe.
Jasmina Douieb, Laetitia Mampaka, Alex Vizorek, Peter Van den Begin, Laurence Bibot, Achille Ridolfi, Christophe Bourdon, Ingrid Heiderscheidt, Philippe Résimont, Philippe Grand’Henry, and Blaise Ludik form the main cast.
Employee of the Month (2021) has been part of the line-up of Tribeca Film Festival, Fantasy Filmfest, Screamfest Horror Film Festival, Gijón International Film Festival, and Fantasia Film Festival. Brian Fanelli of Horror Buzz has said about the film that “director Véronique Jadin crafted a hilarious film, fit for The Great Resignation. This is one dark comedy that may ring true for too many workers”.
The movie is now having a North American distribution by Film Movement and is coming out on DVD and digital on May 12, 2023.
Watch the official trailer for Employee of the Month (2021).
