Reviews

This is one of those films that is so funny, it makes you (well me anyway) smile just to remember it.

The essential storyline is of a professional hitman and a guy that he finds he can not get rid of. (The English translation of the title is pain-in-the-behind.)

This is black comedy done to perfection with a brilliant gradual build-up. It starts straight-faced so, if you do not know what you are watching, it could be any old thriller. Gradually the gags come in until it reaches a manic pace.

The two stars are the completely deadpan Lino Ventura and the songwriter Jacques Brel.

It is sadly under-rated and hard-to-find. Seek it out!

I saw this film about 20 years ago and remember it as being particularly nasty. I believe it is based on a true incident: a young man breaks into a nurses' home and rapes, tortures and kills various women.

It is in black and white but saves the colour for one shocking shot.

At the end the film seems to be trying to make some political statement but it just comes across as confused and obscene.

Avoid.