Mostly fun movie with some uneven examinations of gender roles. Pleasance is great.

Here Polanski shows a slightly better knack for comedy than in Fearless Vampire Killers. Slightly, but not much... though it's an amusing farce, only once did it bring me close to an actual laugh. But the interplay between Pleasance, Dorléac and Stander is inspired and the film has a few sly comments about gender roles and 60's social politics. Most impressive was cinematography, with imagery rivaling that of Repulsion. Few comedies have such strong visuals. Fun, but falls short of greatness.

I thought it was hilarious!

This film is a real gem. It's one that I hunted a long time for, because it is (or was) difficult to find in the USA on home video. I loved all of the performances. It achieves a unique atmosphere and is beautifully filmed. If you've seen the film "The Ref" with Kevin Spacey and Dennis Leary, you'll be surprised with the similarities that the two films share.

One of the strangest atmospheres I've ever seen a film take on. The whole thing is fairly slow paced but remains energetically engaging with its loony characters and black humor. I'd almost call it fun. I'm just thinking of the tide coming over the highway that sets up the wacky mood throughout the film. I can't really pin this film down, it's that unique. All I can say is watch it.

An absurdist comedy should first and foremost be that: comedic. Unfortunately, as interesting as a concept this film may be--and I do grant it that--it was, for the most part, a slog to get through. I'd be wary of Polanskiites overhyping this--it is rather weak Polanski.

Didn't find this too funny and it doesn't work as well as a drama, so it bored me. Another odd film in Polanski's uneven career.

78.375

Neither as quietly compelling as "Nóz w wodzie" nor as spectacularly daring as the psychosexual freak-out of "Repulsion", "Cul-de-sac" still bears the marks of a typically surreal, beautifully crafted and darkly humorous Polanski thriller. Although the plot isn't exactly engrossing which results in several dull stretches, the memorable acting interplay, beautiful cinematography and Polanski's directorial trademarks make this a highly intriguing if uneven film.

Similar to Knife in the Water, Polanski puts three characters - a husband, a wife, a stranger - in a situation and lets them duke it out. This is a strange movie, a nicely directed and filmed movie, but not a masterpiece. Donald Pleasence is quite good, as is the rest of the cast and Polanski was an incredible talent, but I don't think everything works. Definitely something I want to rewatch, though.

#888

Interesting concept and characters. Weak acting and dialogue.

780

It's decent drama but there wasn't a single funny moment in it.

This is really hard to review. It's at least as odd as anything Polanski has ever made. Its plot anticipates Peckinpah's Straw Dogs but the atmosphere is proto-Herzog. It's tense and dramatically complex and laced with black humor that almost seems too cruel. It arouses moral repulsion but it's an excellent movie.

# 758

"Agnes!" (Who's Agnes?)

Good Movie

828

It strikes a highly odd tone, almost a mix between a serious dissection on the breakdown of a marriage coupled with ludicrous black humour. Perhaps it'll feel better on a rewatch, but it's still very good. Donald Pleasance and Francois Dorleac are captivating.

An interesting reflection on power dynamics, social conventions and the variety of human reactions to stress. The actions of the characters are somewhat frustrating but it generally still works as it provokes a 'what would I do' reaction.