During WW2, three soldiers must escape an underground labyrinth-like tunnel system which is filling with gas while trying to uncover which one of them is a notorious war criminal.

SYNOPSIS:

Overview

EPHEBE is a taut, claustrophobic psychological war thriller/horror film that combines a single setting with a complex teeth-grindingly intense tale of deception, valour, and survival.

Synopsis

1942, France. British soldier, PRIVATE HOLDEN, 20, volunteers for a dangerous mission to go behind enemy lines to retrieve a notorious British war-criminal called DAVID CRESSWELL who is going to sell the locations of British forces to the Nazi’s. Holden enlisted in the army against his pregnant WIFE’S wishes so that he can attempt to show the same valour that his father did, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in WW1.

During the mission, a gun fight ensues. Holden finds a young French boy, FRANCOIS, 8, caught amid the fighting. Holden attempts to guide Francois to safety… but they fall through a manhole into an underground bunker. As he comes around, Holden spots the body of a dead British soldier slumped in the corner… then finds a rifle pointed at him. The rifle is held by the petrified PRIVATE MURRAY, 21, whose brother was killed due to David Cresswell’s actions. They both reveal that they were on the same mission and Murray says the dead body was already down here when he fell through the manhole.

Looking for a way out, Holden discovers that the bunker is connected to an underground labyrinth like system. Holden goes off to look for an exit, leaving Murry with Francois, who is still unconscious.

As he walks through the tunnels, Holden finds childish drawings on the walls, a discarded lamp and comes across a room with a natural pool of water. Holden is blindsided by a man in a blood-soaked Nazi uniform, BASTIAN, 21. But, before the young German can shoot, Murray appears, and the two British soldiers strip the Nazi of his gun.

As Holden goes to get Francois, Bastian escapes from Murray and runs into the tunnels. Finding that Francois is no longer in the bunker, Holden returns to see that Bastian has escaped. Holden berates Murry. They search for Bastian in a storeroom full of dusty wine and rotten fruit… when Bastian bursts in and tries to kill them… but he is distracted by Francois, who runs out from behind one of the boxes just as Bastian was about to fire.

Holden and Murray overpower Bastian… who reveals himself to be a British soldier called ARCHER. He is only posing as a Nazi to get across Axis territory. In the mud, Murray discovers a dog tag with “D Cresswell” on it and instantly believes that Archer is David Cresswell. Holden tries to calm down the usually timid man. Murray accuses Holden of only wanting to keep “Cresswell” alive to win a VC. They tussle, and both find that they are getting out of breath. Slowly, they realise that the tunnels are abandoned due to gas within them. They find the lamps that Holden passed earlier and decide to split up – Holden and Archer, Murray and Francois – to try and find a way out, while also ensuring they mark any tunnels that have gas in them with a chalk “X.”

As the two teams go their separate ways, Archer reveals to Holden that he deserted the British army because he accidently shot a child, and was celebrated for it, which sickened him. He also discusses the discovery of the dog tags, how they could not be his, and that he believes they were Murrays. Holden rejects this… but as Archer continues to plead his case, it becomes more and more compelling. Worried, Holden and Archer go to get Murray.

Meanwhile, Murray and Francois discover another bunker with a manhole cover… and a wooden ladder leading out of it. Forgetting about the other two, the pair go to escape. But, as soon as Francois climbs out of the manhole, he takes a switchblade from his trousers and stabs Murray in the hand, revealing himself to be a Nazi sympathiser. As the ladder breaks, Murray drags Francois back into the hole, just as Holden and Archer arrive. Crazed, Murray goes to shoot Francois… so Holden is forced to kill Murray, to protect the “innocent” kid.

With the ladder broken, Holden and Archer try to escape the tunnels via a towering, slippery wall in the room with the natural pool, which leads outside… but they fail.

As Holden and Archer desperately search for another way out, they discover that Francois is a Nazi sympathiser and that he and his brothers played in the tunnels, which means there are other ways out. Holden and Archer are forced to torture Francois to get him to agree to show them the other exit. But, when Francois leads them to the exit which is through an “X” marked tunnel, he manages to strip Murray of his gun and threatens to fire in the gas filled tunnel, which would kill them all. With no choice, Holden kills Francois with a knife.

With their hope draining, Holden and Archer build a bonfire in the gas free original bunker, in the hope that passing Allied troops will see it and save them. Holden tells Archer how he was offered a disability exemption to avoid going to war but lied as he wanted to get a VC like his Dad did… but when he got to France, someone who had served with Holden’s father revealed that his Father was not the hero responsible for the act of valour which won him the medal, and instead he was a coward who shot himself. Holden left his pregnant wife for a lie.

Due to exhaustion, stress, and gas, both men begin to have visions. Holden’s Wife plants doubt that Murray was Cresswell and says that Archer (who has proven to be a believable liar) is actually Cresswell. While Archer admits to the CHILD he shot, that he knew he was a kid when he shot him, which he previously denied knowing.

In the bunker, Archer finds a gas mask, which one of them could use to go through the “X” marked tunnel Francois showed them. However, Holden refuses to let Archer go due to his belief that he is Cresswell. Archer also has doubts that Holden may be Cresswell.

With neither of them allowing the other to go alone, they decide to fight for the gas mask. They have a vicious brawl, which ends with both men mortally wounding each other.

As they die, Holden notices, on the boot of the dead British soldier slumped in the corner – “D Cresswell.” Shocked, Holden realises that they are both going to die down here, so offers his pistol to Archer so they can each have a quick death. Archer shoots himself, but just before Holden is about to kill himself… he hears approaching Allied troops.

With his final breathes, Holden fans the bonfire, and draws the British troops to the manhole… where they find Holden, Archer and David Cresswell all dead.

The End.