Directed by:
Frédéric TellierCinematography:
Matias BoucardCast:
Raphaël Personnaz, Nathalie Baye, Olivier Gourmet, Michel Vuillermoz, Christa Théret, Thierry Neuvic, Adama Niane, William Nadylam, Chloé Stefani (more)VOD (1)
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Paris, 1991. The true story of Franck Magne, a young inspector starting out in the Criminal Investigation Department at 36 quai des Orfèvres, in the Crime Squad. His first case deals with the murder of a young woman. His investigation leads him to study similar cases that he's the only one to link together. He's quickly confronted by the reality of police investigation work: the lack of equipment, bureaucracy... For 8 years, obsessed by this investigation, he'll hunt the serial killer that no one else believes exists. As a decade goes by, the victims multiply and leads become muddled. The gap between the brutal murders grows shorter. Franck Magne hunts down the monster that begins to emerge, so as to stop him for good. The inspector from the Crime Squad becomes the architect of the most complex and vast investigation ever undertaken by the French Criminal Investigation Department. During it, Magne crosses paths with Frédérique Pons, a dedicated lawyer determined to understand the destiny of the man hidden behind this merciless killer. The film plunges us into 10 years of investigation, amongst opinionated cops, determined judges, conscientious forensic policemen, and impassioned lawyers who will all be affected by this case that became the sensational "Guy Georges, the killer of Eastern Paris" case. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (9)
It seems crazy to me that the film is based on real events, as the brutality of the murders was quite shocking. Otherwise, Serial Killer 1 does not deviate from the usual standard of similarly tuned crime thrillers. Another problem I see is that the central character of the detective searching for a serial killer of women is rather bland, despite some resemblance to Alain Delon. Perhaps the only one worth mentioning is Adama Niane, who gave an excellent performance as the assassin Guy Georges. (65%)
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This was a pleasant surprise at the 2015 French Film Festival. In full glory, a genre returns to the scene that French cinema was once proud of - the old-fashioned crime film, this time shot in the style of Fincher's Zodiac. Not as a conflict between the police and the criminal underworld, but as a difficult and lengthy process of collecting clues, putting together small pieces that someone might later be able to assemble to make sense. A maze of clues, dead ends, and mistakes that cost the lives of more victims. Serial Killer 1 describes the case of a serial killer who terrified the inhabitants of Paris for years and kept the police apparatus busy. It shows how easy it is to stray from the right track, and how tricky it is to apply rational thinking where the opponent lacks it. The viewer follows the intricate investigation and at the same time, the court trial with the suspect, where the filmmakers leave him in uncertainty and tension, whether that antisocial oddball spreading negative energy around him from the position of the accused is the actual perpetrator. Overall impression: 95%.
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A realistically shot French crime drama that evokes older French films with actors like Gabin and Delon. But it's modern, it's raw, and it's quite gritty when it comes to the crime scene shots. But the focus is mainly on the characters and their relationships and their development, which puts the story a bit in the background.
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A great "police procedural". A skillfully composed and rhythmic mosaic of exhausting investigation, frustration and lack of cooperation. A must-see for fans of distant detective films (and at the same time characteristically moralist and socially responsible). Given how few such things arise, it's definitely a great pleaser. Fréderic Tellier is a man to watch!
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Gritty, raw and bleak French crime drama following the 10-year hunt for serial killer Guy Georges! The resemblance to David Fincher's Zodiac is definitely spot on. The film has an interesting narrative style, following two timelines. One is set in a court trial and in the other we follow the work of the police as they try to solve the increasingly frequent murders of young beautiful girls. Very nicely portrayed, as such work goes. Frustration, helplessness, lack of evidence, no leads and no cooperation. You won't envy the detectives. The film has a slower pace, but the topic makes it very engaging, the acting is perfect, and the court scenes also have a lot of charge. For a film that is 6 years old it still hasn't got into people's minds, needs to be rectified! Story****, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence***, Entertainment****, Music***, Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Suspense***. 8/10.
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