• Director: Claude Chabrol
• Script: Claude Chabrol, Henri-Georges Clouzot, José-André Lacour
• Photo: Bernard Zitzermann
• Music: Matthieu Chabrol
• Cast: Emmanuelle Béart (Nelly), François Cluzet (Paul Prieur), Nathalie Cardone (Marylin), André Wilms (Dr Arnoux), Marc Lavoine (Martineau), Christiane Minazzoli (Mme Vernon), Dora Doll (Mme Chabert), Mario David (Duhamel), Jean-Pierre Cassel (M. Vernon), Thomas Chabrol (Julien)
• Country: France
• Language: French
• Runtime: 100 min
• Aka: Hell; Jealousy; Torment

It is a film that charts the psychological disintegration of what appears to be a perfectly normal man, in a perfectly happy marriage.  Through a combination of superlative acting, tense plotting  and masterful photography, we are dragged along into a living nightmare.

Few of Chabrol’s preceding films have been this intense and disurbing – his magnificent Le boucher being probably the film which comes closest.  What this film demonstrates more than anything is the director’s complete grasp of how to construct a powerful and believable thriller without resorting to cheap shock tactics.

What makes this film particularly special and memorable are the incredible performances from its two lead actors, Emmanuelle Béart and François Cluzet.  Béart is equally conving in the view we see – that of the doting wife and caring mother – and that which the deranged hotel manager sees – the beautifully seductive siren whom no man can resist.  For his part, Cluzet dominates the film and ultimately comes across as a very dangerous and menacing character, capable of anything.  The disintegration of both characters is played with such conviction that you never for one moment doubt the danger they are both in.

The film’s ending appears at first sight like a bit of a cop out.  But, on reflection it is actually rather clever, and probably the only way the film could end.  Surely, the point about Hell is that there is no way out?

© James Travers 2001