:
Jean Reno,
Vincent Cassel,
Nadia Farès,
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:
Mathieu Kassovitz
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: 
: Columbia TriStar
: Foreign, France, Neo Noir, Cops
: 105 min.
: English, French
: English, French
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Two very different policemen seeking the truth about separate crimes find a terrible common link in this thriller from France. Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) is a noted French detective assigned to investigate a brutal murder at a prestigious college located high in the Alps; the victim was first disfigured and dismembered, then strangled to death. Niemans soon realizes the murder was not an isolated incident when several similarly mangled corpses are discovered. Meanwhile, in a town 150 miles away, a young police investigator, Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel), is called in to investigate when the grave of a ten-year-old girl is dug up and ransacked. While interviewing the mother (Dominique Sanda) of the young girl, he crosses paths with Niemans, whose investigation has led him to the same town, and the two men begin to realize a surprising and troubling link between the crimes. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| good
by mickeyd
March 28, 2008 - 11:45 AM PDT
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1 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| I'm a fan of Jean Reno so I like just about all of his films. But, as another reveiewer, stated this movie is a little creepy. The opening credits are a little over the top with scenes of one of the murder victims bodies complete with close-ups of his injuries and maggots in the wounds. And throughout the film, the victims ar tortured and killed in horrific ways. The killer seems to go out of his way to kill his victims in elaborate ways for shock value that stray from the plot of the film. Speaking of the plot; a secluded college community with an in-bred, neo-nazi faculty and staff trying to create the perfect race. A bit far fetched. Overall I thought the acting and production were good. A good action thriller despite the storyline. |
| Imbalance: Disturbing-ness vs. Believability
by spazgirl
November 3, 2002 - 10:18 AM PST
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5 out of 14 members found this review helpful
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| We watched this three days ago and I am still kinda creeped out by it, and I shielded my eyes from the screen from many of the most disturbing parts of the movie (which include, because of an incredibly bold and disgusting and almost unbelievable move on the part of the director, the very long and gross opening credits.) I won't mention anything whatsoever about the plot (because I hate to know these things before I watch a film), but I will tell you that I had a hard time following the convoluted and drawn-out storyline. It was really farfetched, and the plot was supposed to justify the horrors we witnessed on the screen (I'm not much for horror flicks, and this is more of a suspense film, so it's not even campy in its portrayal of how wretched people can be to other people.) I really wish I hadn't watched this movie, because it was shot really well in some parts and beautiful to watch in many ways and there are images that I will have a hard time getting out of my head. And I didn't come away from it learning anything substantial or thinking deeply about anything really, other than "Why do people get to make movies like this? Aren't there better screenplays out there? What audiences are clamoring for this kind of stuff?". The hackneyed underlying theme has been done much better in other films (which I won't mention so as not to spoil anything.) Anyhow, this is one big, disturbing BLECH of a film. Oh, and it doesn't help much that it's all cheesy in an American big-budget film kinda way, but it's French, so it's just a little less big budget. It's just so bad, but there *are* worse films out there, so that's why it gets a "2" from me. Okay, that's all. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 5.70)
92 Votes
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