Hitchcock’s influence, always a lynchpin of Chabrol’s style, was particularly strong in the 1960s, and the French director’s films of this period generally struggled under the strain. Chabrol’s work often didn’t compare favorably with Sir Alfred’s, even though the imitative nature of Chabrol’s films invited such comparisons. In The Beast Must Die, Chabrol begins to chart a divergent path, relying less on over plotting and more on capturing subtle moods and dramatic shadings. Duchassoy and Cellier create a dynamic and believable romantic chemistry, yet their characters remain just slightly in the shadows – and we are never allowed to forget Duchassoy’s dark agenda.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Beast Must Die (1969)****
Hitchcock’s influence, always a lynchpin of Chabrol’s style, was particularly strong in the 1960s, and the French director’s films of this period generally struggled under the strain. Chabrol’s work often didn’t compare favorably with Sir Alfred’s, even though the imitative nature of Chabrol’s films invited such comparisons. In The Beast Must Die, Chabrol begins to chart a divergent path, relying less on over plotting and more on capturing subtle moods and dramatic shadings. Duchassoy and Cellier create a dynamic and believable romantic chemistry, yet their characters remain just slightly in the shadows – and we are never allowed to forget Duchassoy’s dark agenda.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Roma (2018) ✭✭✭✭✭
Alfonso Cuarón’s directorial career has dealt with everything from updated Dickens ( Great Expectations ) to twisted coming of age ( Y Tu Ma...
-
In the quiet town of Bishopville, South Carolina, nestled amid the Baptist church and Waffle House, lies one of the world’s foremost topiary...
-
While going through some boxes at my dad's house, I found this copy of TV Guide from September 14, 1985. It's the special fall previ...
1 comment:
This is such a haunting film. It was a long time ago when I saw it, but I atill have to think about it regularly. Excellent review.
Post a Comment