DIRECTOR - Claude Chabrol

A sensual and sophisticated thriller of sorts, balancing subtle sexuality and emotional inadequacies in a French ménage-a-trois that is far from cliched! Claude Chabrol, you have a new fan! Does anyone know why Jacqueline Sassard never acted again?

I quite like Claude Chabrol although it seems quite unfashionable to say so. It's a well trodden path with La femme infidèle but I think it's Chabrol who we can thank for making it believable. There is a Je ne sais quoi about his films, while he didn't exactly create any genres himself, his style will proceed him for a long time to come. RIP Mr Chabrol.

You can see why Claude Chabrol is regarded by many as being the 'French Hitchcock' with Que le Bete Meure. It's maybe also a little unfair as his style, as influenced as it is, is also very original. Que le Bete Meure or 'This Man must die' is a suspenseful and rewarding revenge story, full of intrigue and great performances. The opening scene is quite powerful and not for the fainthearted - it sets the tone quite brilliantly.

Jean Yanne is a great villain. Although influenced by Hitchcock and constantly compared to him, Chabrol does something here that Hitch never did as successfully; Sympathy for the Devil. The ending is uncompromising and uncomfortable and all the better for it. A great film and influential in its own right.

Juste avant la nuit is a very clever film. Just as you think you know where the story is going it takes an unexpected alternative route. I think that's what I liked about it, it kind of knocks the cliche you might expect out the water and raises a good question along the way. Essentially though, it's strength is the way that it concludes that human nature is irrational and it doesn't always make sense but that is also part of what it is meant to be human in the first place. Many may find it unrewarding but personally it was a breath of fresh air for me (even though it was made in 1971). A must for Claude Chabrol fans.

Farse? Satire? Hmm, seems like more of the same to me to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I really like Claude Chabrol but Les Noces rouges seems to be a bit of a filler as far as his portfolio goes. The acting is good though and it's visually pleasing as you'd expect, it's just that the story seems, ever so familiar. I think the fact it was banned for a short time was serendipity in disguise but I digress, it's still worth a watch especially if you're familiarising yourself with the great Chabrol's work.

First and foremost, Nada is a very knowing black comedy, subtle and with tongue firmly in cheek at times. The fact that their called the 'Nada' gang kind of gives it away that this is parody rather than serious but it does have all the trimmings of a really good thriller/heist movie so often you forget. Pointing out the faults of both sides, Nada highlights the idiocy of conflict and the pointlessness of terrorism but never condemns the passion or the need for rebellion. It certainly one of my favourite Chabrol films.

Claude Chabrol's version of Madame Bovary is brilliant and it's purely down to his excellent direction and Isabelle Huppert in one of her best performances in my opinion. The abrupt end is excellently conceived and quite fitting to the character, no sugar coating here just an honest portrayal of selfishness and consequence. Misery never looked so good.