Barracuda

I caught the beginning of this movie late one night while flicking channels and found myself unable to stop watching… the story revolves around a young man who moves in to an apartment with his pregnant girlfriend. Across the hall from him lives an old man who invites him over for dinner, however the young man declines several times before finally conceding. He joins the old man for dinner, and quickly discovers that the old man is insane (he sits a mannequin at the dinner table, telling the young man that it's his wife). When he tries to leave however, the old man knocks him unconscious and locks him in a secret compartment. The rest of the film details the efforts of the young man to keep his sanity and escape, and the ever-increasing cruelty of the old man.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film. The level of cruelty served out by the lonely old man is bone-chilling, but even so you can't help but feel a little sorry for the old man as all he really wants is some company.

**** out of *****

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.

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.

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')

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.