Barracuda

I advise to all the people who could see this film to do not miss it. The story gives a very good character for Jean Rochefort and the best that Guillaume Canet has ever had. I prefer to dont say anything about the story of the movie, the surprise will be greater !

This impressive debut feature from Philippe Haim is a stylish realisation of one of our worst nightmares, that of being trapped and at the mercy of a lunatic.

Just as Kathy Bates was inspired casting as Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's similarly themed 'Misery' so Haim has the great good fortune to have secured the services of veteran Jean Rochefort as Monsieur Clément. The character is a monster to be sure but as one would expect from this superlative artiste he has succeeded in arousing our sympathy. We do not know the source of his particular brand of insanity and are left to conjecture whether it be caused by protracted solitude, excessive loneliness or the desperate need for love. Some have detected a hint of homoeroticism but that of course is down to the individual viewer.

Guillaume Canet plays the hapless victim and one cannot fail to sympathise with the physical pain, mental torture and all-round debasement that he is obliged to endure.

The director's own score together with excellent art/production design, an all pervading sense of claustrophobia, touches of black humour and the dynamic between the two principles combine to make this piece eminently watchable.

In another review of this film the writer claimed the film was boring, where as upon seeing the film I was very impressed that the film sustained my interest for the full length, despite the fact that is was all set in the one apartment.

It was very well acted and made, and the the story and ideas were incredible.

Abandon any ideals that this film is boring, as it is one of the most interesting films I have ever seen.

(and that includes 'Psycho')

First the positive aspects to start with: excellent acting of the actors; interesting precipice between atmosphere and music in the background; really interesting story BUT: This film is just made boring and it can not entertain a wide range of people. And that should be the main character of a movie.

I am sad to have to comment this French movie, but : Guillaume Canet is bad as actor and bad as director, everyone knows that here in France. Jean Rochefort is a well-known good actor: why did he accept to act in this crap??? Only for money i suppose. Director Philippe Haim heavily underlines every action with a heavy music of composer Philippe Haim. Splash splash splash... Poor screenplay (the idea is not bad, but his treatment is boring), poor, even ridiculous French dialogs, heavy and pompous staging, please avoid this very bad movie. This is not French cinema, just a bad taste farcical "grand-guignol" waste of time and energy.