The Crimson Rivers
Directed by:
Mathieu KassovitzCinematography:
Thierry ArbogastComposer:
Bruno CoulaisCast:
Jean Reno, Vincent Cassel, Nadia Fares, Dominique Sanda, Karim Belkhadra, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Didier Flamand, François Levantal, Francine Bergé (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Two criminal investigations. The same day, 300 km apart, two policemen are given two very particular cases. Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) is a man of experience, who has an infallible instinct in criminal affairs but hides painful fears. He travels to Guernon, a university town in the Alps where a violent murder took place. Yougn, sharp, and loner Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel), a former car thief who entered the police force through a love of danger, is investigating a desecrated graveyard at Sarzac at night, and in particular the grave of a child who disappeared twenty years before. As clues bring them together, the two investigations crash head-on. And the murders grow in number. The truth will outdo all theories, taking the two policemen to high altitudes, caught between icy heights and death's door. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
Awesome, and I regret putting this film off for so long. Crimson Rivers is a very intelligent, chilling and suspenseful thriller led by the excellent Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. Those who like movies where the killer is only revealed at the end will not regret it. The resemblance to David Fincher's Se7en is almost palpable, but not offensive, instead competing strongly due to the very impressive treatment of the corpses. 80%
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The first installment of a loose trilogy of crime thrillers associated with Jean Reno as an investigator of brutal crimes is still a relatively decent film, though the weaknesses that sank the following two sequels are already apparent. The screenplay is underdeveloped and clearly prioritizes flashy visuals and shocking revelations over logical consistency, taking evident inspiration from successful American thrillers, notably Se7en. The attempt to emulate Fincher's directorial style is evident in several specific scenes. The result is an uneven film with an awkward ending, but it still has several audience-appealing moments and a dark, though inconsistent, atmosphere. Overall impression: 55%.
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An enjoyable old-school detective film. It may not surprise today, but it must have been shocking at the time. It evokes Se7en, so there's no shortage of morbid murders, the idea and motive of the killer are also quite unorthodox and pleasing. And when you add in the excellent shots in the mountains and the overall setting, plus a fine Jean Reno, it's a winner. It won't wow you, but it's just a good watch.
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Kassovitz successfully conveys the dark atmosphere, and Reno and Cassel are charismatic enough to pull the whole film off just fine. But there are some moments, or rather, entire scenes that are so blatantly ripped-off of Se7en that it’s almost embarrassing. The ending is also contrived and full of clichés. It’s a pity, without that it would have been a very good thriller.
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I like the way the film works. The plot is clever and keeps you in suspense; there are shocking scenes, scenes that can really scare you. Neimans's fear of dogs is an interesting touch and makes the detective a human legend with flaws after all. What spoils the film is the somewhat rushed ending that relies too heavily on the point, to which some viewers will probably say: "Really? This again?" It might not sit well with everyone, but the film builds up to the finale correctly and is gripping in the way it should be.
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