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The Wages of Fear
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The Wages of Fear

1953
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
2h 11m
In a decrepit South American village, men are hired to transport an urgent nitroglycerine shipment without the equipment that would make it safe. (imdb)
Directed by:
Henri-Georges Clouzot Henri-Georges Clouzot
Written by:
Henri-Georges Clouzot Henri-Georges Clouzot Georges Arnaud Jérôme Géronimi
+2 more
Starring:
Yves Montand Yves Montand Véra Clouzot Véra Clouzot Charles Vanel Charles Vanel Peter van Eyck Peter van Eyck Antonio Centa Darling Légitimus Luis De Lima Folco Lulli Folco Lulli Darío Moreno Jo Dest William Tubbs Grégoire Gromoff
More
Franchise:
Wages of Fear
Genres:
Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Action, Adventure
AKA:
Salaire de la peur, Le
Countries:
France, Italy
Languages:
English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian
imdb More information at IMDb
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The Wages of Fear

1953
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
2h 11m
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Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 78.46% from 1678 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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magbMagb
Rated 30 Jan 2007
85
73rd
The Wages of Fear is as suspenseful as any Hitchcock movie you can name. It's the good kind of tension, although there may perhaps be a little bit too much of the "WILL THEY MAKE IT UP THE HILL BEFORE THE ROPE BREAKS" variety. I also really like how fear is pretty much the main character of the movie, and the way people deal with fear is the main theme. Sure, it's basically a thriller, but it's wonderfully cerebral about it.
Rated 30 Jan 2007
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 17 Jan 2007
83
77th
A tense Clouzot nail-biter, with painstaking attention to detail and one hell of an ending. The set-up, although not uninteresting, takes a little too long, and I think the film could have lost the bit about Smerloff (which seems to exist merely to reinforce the kind of guy Jo is, but we've got the idea already).
Rated 17 Jan 2007
kojilessKojiless
Rated 23 Dec 2015
70
75th
Also known as Super Mario Bros. 2, Wages of Fear tells the story of a thin Mario and a fat Luigi, and how, after being hired by Koopa, they set out across the desolate mushroom kingdom carrying Bob-ombs, with hopes of earning some coins and returning to Paris with the princess. Though Luigi loses his last life in area 5-3, Mario is able to deliver his cargo to the final castle, dodging all the fireballs within. Unfortunately, during the ending cutscene, a fatal glitch is encountered--game over.
Rated 23 Dec 2015
terrymacterrymac
Rated 29 May 2020
93
99th
A superb exercise in tension and a very effective study of desperate men. Patience is required for the slow first movement of the film, but its inclusion makes sense by the end. There's some great use of location, and some terrific character work by the cast. Genuinely absorbing cinema. Friedkin's "remake" Sorcerer is well worth seeing as well.
Rated 29 May 2020
joojooJooJoo
Rated 31 Jan 2010
3
31st
Suspense for simpletons [Gee, I wonder if ANOTHER obstacle is gonna come up a few miles down the road!]. A particularly terrible performance in the lead, further exasperated by a weak supporting cast and script. Not what I expect from Clouzot.
Rated 31 Jan 2010
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 22 Apr 2009
8
78th
"Suspense, the movie" but you know what really grinds my gears ? How can a masterfully executed, nerve testing, heart pumping 2nd half (featuring a stirring ending, aah Blue Danube) be preceded by a painfully boring 1st hour, I mean it just boggles the mind. Although a worthy classic, I think I'll skip that 1st hour next time I watch it.
Rated 22 Apr 2009
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 05 Mar 2010
87
75th
This film about high-risk work and its perils has great suspense and good characterization. It is a stylish thriller that involves the viewer because it makes you care about the men involved and empathize with the fear they experience.
Rated 05 Mar 2010
perrystroikaPerryStroika
Rated 11 Apr 2013
75
93rd
The director William Friedkin, who loves this movie and remade it, said that it was a metaphor for "the world [being] full of strangers who hated one another, but if they didn't cooperate, if they didn't work together in some way, they would blow up."
Rated 11 Apr 2013
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 19 Mar 2008
4
74th
The first hour needs some editing. While the village is full of interesting characters, most of them are inconsequential and pointless. Clouzot didn't need a third of the film to drive in the points of poverty and desperation. That being said, once the four men get on the road, the movie becomes very gripping, and Clouzot's methods of suspense are pretty clever. The last half hour of the movie is great, and it ends on a somewhat unexpected pessimistic note.
Rated 19 Mar 2008
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 13 Dec 2010
84
90th
It took me about 20 minutes to really get into the setting, but once you're in you're hooked until the last second. As I'm a pussy when it comes to driving, some of the scenes involving the transports became absolutely terrifying. The suspense in this film is amazing. The misogyny, not so much.
Rated 13 Dec 2010
paradigmaParadigma
Rated 11 Oct 2008
90
97th
A long and difficult entrance but then it is a wonderful experience.
Rated 11 Oct 2008
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 20 Nov 2008
9
97th
The first act drags quite a bit and I thought the ending was needlessly cruel, but the bulk of the story is top-notch suspense.
Rated 20 Nov 2008
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 12 Dec 2006
87
87th
Fun, tense and full of commentary about the world and human relationships. An excellent piece of film making.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
yiannosYiannos
Rated 19 Mar 2017
85
97th
Clouzot's action thriller remains one of the most effective films ever made about desperate men, even if aspects of it have inevitably dated. It is a tense and gripping 'existential' action film that features complex muliti-layered characters whose flawed humanity is revealed when subjected to high pressure conditions. Clouzot's pessimistic outlook penetrates the stark slow burn narrative with dark psychological insight, and it's artfully directed in a non-self conscious manner.
Rated 19 Mar 2017
nobletNoblet
Rated 08 Dec 2011
88
91st
Takes way too long to really get going, but the second half is amazing and features some of the most intense scenes I've seen in a while.
Rated 08 Dec 2011
vdecraimVdecraim
Rated 24 Aug 2015
85
87th
(Director's Cut) Amazing film. The first act might be a bit slow, but it serves its purpose in setting up an emotional bond between the characters, and the stage for the poor man's quest for riches, in a way reminiscent of 'The Treasure of The Sierra Madre'. The journey itself is absolutely nerve wracking. With an ending that could easily come out of a Von Stroheim-film.
Rated 24 Aug 2015
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 29 Sep 2018
84
84th
Mario and Luigi drive explosive trucks cross-country and its tense as fuck, put that on the box. Could easily be 40 minutes shorter and this movie treats women a lot worse than it treats potholes.
Rated 29 Sep 2018
janusjanus
Rated 19 Jan 2017
80
77th
A dirge of dirt and pain. The ending tries to twist the knife but it's just arbitrary and meaningless. Friedkin's remake, however accomplished and underappreciated, was more setpiecey, less character-driven, and less political.
Rated 19 Jan 2017
rufamRufam
Rated 20 Feb 2012
60
29th
"Le salaire de la peur" has its share of tense moments, but it's ultimately tedious. The unnecessary hour-long build-up is mostly uninteresting. The second half of the film begins promisingly, with some conventionally staged yet suspenseful and tightly directed sequences but, after one or two incidents, it becomes monotonous. The bleak ending would have had more impact if I actually cared for any of the characters or if a tighter, more intelligent film had preceded it.
Rated 20 Feb 2012
vincentevincente
Rated 06 Oct 2009
93
97th
null
Rated 06 Oct 2009
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 28 Feb 2020
98
95th
INCREDIBLY tense adventure film is slightly hampered (in the director's cut) by a painfully slow first hour establishing the motivations of ultimately unnecessary characters, before the real story kicks in and our heroes go on the road, leading to some of the most edge-of-the-seat thriller moments in film history. Nice understated performances by Montand and (especially) Eyck amp up the tension, with the lack of a music score only further adding to the disconcerting atmosphere.
Rated 28 Feb 2020
neonmanNeonman
Rated 07 Aug 2015
89
90th
I'm not too sure about the first 30 minutes (which should've been 10), but this is an immensely intense film that continuously offers up likely challenges for these truck-drivers to circumvent, all the while revealing their confidence or weaknesses or cockiness. The acting from the four leads is superb and the scenes are appropriately lengthy, not only stretching out the anxious tension of an explosion occurring, but also stressing the skills of these men. Riveting stuff.
Rated 07 Aug 2015
sebbysebby
Rated 07 Jul 2011
75
83rd
Palpable tension throughout. Nearly perfect. However, the characters could have been established much more quickly before hitting the road, and the ending was, let's just say, the wrong way to go.
Rated 07 Jul 2011
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 23 Apr 2007
91
87th
The Wages of Fear is a gripping and intimate tale of four men carting around lethal nitroglycerine and how it both physically and mentally tolls them. It's really quite excellent both in the way the story is told and the actors that play the roles. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Rated 23 Apr 2007
zayankZayanK
Rated 03 Aug 2011
85
71st
I didn't like the misoginy, the first hour and the awful accents everytime the actors tried to speak Spanish (specially Vera Clouzot). I really liked the rest.
Rated 03 Aug 2011
tonydaltonydal
Rated 30 Sep 2007
85
88th
Grows on you.
Rated 30 Sep 2007
wrexsolwrexsol
Rated 21 Mar 2011
96
96th
This movie is about one thing and one thing only: tension. Once the characters and the objective are established, it pulls out the nitroglycerin and rocky roads and it is impossible to tell whether or not they will succeed. Every obstacle ups the ante of the previous one and it is very clear that the director wants us to dread each and every moment we spend with these characters tasked with the impossible.
Rated 21 Mar 2011
rubanddugRubAndDug
Rated 07 Jun 2011
59
35th
I preferred the first part which is a genuinely atmospheric and engaging portrayal of the city. The rest unfortunately drifts afar and is incredibly dated in spite of it only being from '53. Many sequences seem amateurish and Montand comes across as a poor man's Bogart. Aware of this fact he overplays his part, looking stupid rather than sly. I must admit though, at times the film contains bits of well directed suspense and somehow isn't too lengthy in spite of climbing a mountain and +2hrs.
Rated 07 Jun 2011
dougiedDougieD
Rated 19 Apr 2013
100
97th
Dramatic thriller about a group of men who must transport nitroglycerine across rough terrain is easily the most intense film I've ever seen. The first hour slowly builds the story, providing background detail about each of the fascinating and multi-layered characters. The following two acts are an emotional rollercoaster as the men attempt to carry out their mission - greed pushing them to ignore common sense in a rush to get their prize.
Rated 19 Apr 2013
jyanJyan
Rated 01 Feb 2009
94
96th
Perhaps the most suspenseful film I've ever seen. Nearly had a heart attack at least four times. Fantastic work.
Rated 01 Feb 2009
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 28 Apr 2020
70
72nd
I don't care much about the first hour or so -- a bunch of European characters licking their wounds about not being able to escape with no jobs and no money, being stuck in the third world under big heat, surrounded by bugs -- but the action set-pieces are undeniably vibrant and thrilling -- the wood bridge, the rock being exploded by nitro, the oil lake. Timeless tale of ugly men working for uglier men for some money. When they face the abyss, they don't hesitate to just jump.
Rated 28 Apr 2020
kasperlKasperL
Rated 17 Jan 2008
95
99th
With high levels of intense suspense being an integral part of its great premise, this thriller masterpiece holds up exceptionally well to this day.
Rated 17 Jan 2008
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 17 Jul 2016
85
84th
Sometimes silly, sometimes terrifying. I actually quite liked the beginning scenes for the exact reason that they were so mundane and out of character for the movie we end up seeing afterwards. Such is life.
Rated 17 Jul 2016
psimpsim
Rated 16 Nov 2019
80
74th
Deserves its status as a suspense classic. Aka: The Slow and the Hazardous.
Rated 16 Nov 2019
mandymandy
Rated 29 Mar 2018
8
92nd
The film does take a long time to get going but it sets up the environment and culture that allows the subsequent events to take place. The final half really cranks up the tension.
Rated 29 Mar 2018
pompousasspompousass
Rated 04 Mar 2009
40
71st
The sequence on the "corrugated" road is well timed, even though it violates its own logic. And the maneuvering of the trucks on a hillside platform of rotted wood is intensified to such degree as spoils you for the upcoming boulder in the road and pool of petrol. As one of the cast members somewhere remarks: "It's too much." In truth, it's almost silly. The disintegration of Vanel's character and the stiffening of Montand's are more intriguing developments than any of their external causes.
Rated 04 Mar 2009
saucyjacksaucyjack
Rated 22 May 2007
97
99th
Quite possibly the most gripping suspense film ever made and that is not hyperbole.
Rated 22 May 2007
caimancaiman
Rated 21 Jul 2011
94
97th
It takes a little while for this movie to hit its groove, but once it does it's an intense, exciting experience. Nitroglycerin makes for a great plot device. There are some absolutely nail-biting scenes, enhanced by a great attention to detail. I begin to feel like I'm a part of the situation, telling the characters what to do and fearing for my life. "Use the dry sticks for traction! Yes! Now turn the wheel to the left!" Not too many movies immerse me as much as this one. Great stuff.
Rated 21 Jul 2011
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 30 Oct 2011
96
98th
One of those rare films that manages to be everything at once: a nerve-wracking thriller, an exciting adventure, a buddy film, a commentary on capitalism, class, and death, acted with rawness, written with pure character, and shot with a visionary style that would be adapted later by Leone, Kubrick, and a batch of New Hollywood directors. Nothing less than a cinematic touchstone, and unlike many in that exclusive category, it's an immediately accessible and endlessly entertaining one.
Rated 30 Oct 2011
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 25 Feb 2008
70
75th
The suspense movie for truck drivers. Le Salaire de la Peur is how Clouzot carved out his name as the French Master of Suspense. It's a well made, very tense movie, but its pacing is flawed, some bits seem tacked on, and it's not a masterpiece.
Rated 25 Feb 2008
khyanKhyan
Rated 02 Mar 2012
77
43rd
Genuinely tense, and gripping throughout. Slow start. Silly ending.
Rated 02 Mar 2012
jerkyJerky
Rated 29 Aug 2011
55
58th
The characters are poorly conceived as not one of them resembles a "human" in any way. I felt like I was watching a play starring robots. Still, the truck scenes were done very well, but it all came crashing down (literally) with a brain-dead ending. Ruined the movie for me.
Rated 29 Aug 2011
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 26 Feb 2012
85
86th
Takes forever to get going, but when it does MMMHMM. BALLS OF STEEL.
Rated 26 Feb 2012
iconogassediconogassed
Rated 22 Dec 2023
80
73rd
Those who would excise the first part must mean that they would prefer some other hypothetical shorter film, because the full effect of "the good bits" is absolutely reliant on what we know of the characters from the early scenes that are also interesting human dramas in themselves. And, prevented from filming a frank depiction of the sexual exploitation inevitable in such places, Clozout presents a g-rated portrait of woman-as-dog that made me feel much dirtier. And used Mrs. Clouzot to do it.
Rated 22 Dec 2023
bofbof
Rated 28 Jan 2012
96
99th
Holy shit. How did I never see this before? Four down-on-their-luck Europeans, stranded in a dead-end South American town, take on a job of driving two trucks full of nitroglycerin across a mountain range. Simple enough, you'd think; Clouzot, and a fantastic cast headed by Yves Montand, turn it into one of the most white-knuckle thrillers I've seen in a long time.
Rated 28 Jan 2012
nandorizzinandorizzi
Rated 19 Apr 2010
55
41st
Well, actually it's a movie a little boring to watch. But it has its qualities.
Rated 19 Apr 2010
b4conb4con
Rated 09 Oct 2009
90
84th
This is a movie where the setting and all of its conditions make for the biggest character in the story. I disagree with the criticism that the first hour is a detriment to the entire movie. The first hour is there to draw you into the world and its problems. The only issue (what's primarily being criticized anyway) is that it could have been executed in a way that was less distant from the viewer.. you'd think it could be done more engagingly. Has re-make potential (not the bad kind).
Rated 09 Oct 2009
charlieCharlie
Rated 06 Oct 2012
95
99th
Wow!
Rated 06 Oct 2012
dsonlaDSonla
Rated 25 Mar 2021
90
98th
Thought the running time was quite long but after watching the movie, I now know it was necessary to set up the characters. Even if I knew what the movie was about, didn't expect to be on my nerves for most of the movie.
Rated 25 Mar 2021
scribScrib
Rated 08 Jun 2022
80
78th
I really don't think this justifies its 45-minute long set-up... but once we hit the road, the tension is unmatched and I was with it all the way. An engaging character drama built around a simple but gripping premise: amateur drivers with inadequate gear transporting nitroglycerine across a rugged landscape against the clock. Well-shot as well.
Rated 08 Jun 2022
sellissellis
Rated 06 Jul 2019
83
68th
Admittedly, my expectations altered my experience. After hearing about the throughline for years, I imagined a more tightly woven thriller. It seems to me the first hour develops characterization that can be subverted by the visceral pressure of the journey. It may intentionally lull the audience into feeling an absence of tension to subvert as well. However, the imagery and editing of the set pieces lives up to the hype. Intense stuff. The most French ending to a film you can imagine.
Rated 06 Jul 2019
kowryKowry
Rated 01 Jul 2012
35
79th
Great thriller. Montand is just excellent here. The ending could have been done better, though.
Rated 01 Jul 2012
corcovadocorcovado
Rated 11 May 2008
95
53rd
Use of montage, hateful thriller, the scene at the petroleum puddle questions human decency.
Rated 11 May 2008
damildamil
Rated 22 Sep 2012
85
95th
This is a really awesome film. It does take quite a while to get going (around an hour), and I can see how some people would find that boring or frustrating. I didn't mind it though - I thought it was nice to get to know these characters and their situations. There was lots of tension in the latter half of the film and it was great. I didn't really like the very end of the movie, but otherwise, it was fantastic.
Rated 22 Sep 2012
docbenwaydocbenway
Rated 24 Dec 2019
95
96th
This is the movie that inspired Sorcerer. Amazing.
Rated 24 Dec 2019
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 13 Jul 2011
84
65th
Some great, suspenseful scenes, though perhaps a bit long. The first third could be trimmed, and I'm not quite sure what to think of the ironic ending. Definitely worth watching though.
Rated 13 Jul 2011
yesistastyyesistasty
Rated 02 Sep 2011
89
65th
The set-pieces are some of the most thrillingly taut pieces of film-making I've seen.
Rated 02 Sep 2011
michaelhash2michaelhash2
Rated 09 Nov 2012
92
87th
91.500
Rated 09 Nov 2012
ddelapointeddelapointe
Rated 04 Oct 2022
100
97th
It felt like I was on one of my audacious trips with the Espinosa fools: full of careless trekking and ad hoc decision-making, to return scarred, yet somehow rejuvenated.
Rated 04 Oct 2022
jodamicojodamico
Rated 06 Mar 2011
83
90th
Most of the first half hour is unnecessary and turgid. Clouzot seems to be shooting for Hitchcock here, but lacks the clarity to really pull it off. Still, the centerpiece driving scenes are white-knuckle arresting as hell. And Vera Clouzot is heartbreakingly gorgeous in the first scene.
Rated 06 Mar 2011
pigletPiglet
Rated 26 Jul 2009
79
89th
The utilization of deadbeats for driving a shipment to an oil-rig proves hazardous in this excellent thriller.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
kito1kito1
Rated 01 Feb 2017
80
89th
Drags along for the first ~1h. Then it builds a great tension, has some supernatural elements.
Rated 01 Feb 2017
panzerwolfpanzerwolf
Rated 18 Jan 2022
80
85th
The first hour certainly isn't the best, though some of the parts are necessary for us to know the character motivations and characteristics. Once you get past the first dreary introduction section, it gets very tense, though. The way it is shot with images of the tires and the road and the ever impending death riding right behind the backs of the character is real. I am pretty sure I've never seen such intense truck driving. That ending was harsh, too, yikes!
Rated 18 Jan 2022
venicevenice
Rated 22 Mar 2010
91
92nd
Great film. I recognized the Pyrenees in some of the landscapes, which was kind of funny.
Rated 22 Mar 2010
petrostserPetrosTser
Rated 13 Aug 2015
70
69th
Strong main idea, overlong film. It takes Clouzot one hour to get things really going. The rest of it isn't the definition of consistency either. Still, there are several strong sequences and the points that the story is trying to make are of interest.
Rated 13 Aug 2015
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 01 Mar 2008
90
84th
# 205
Rated 01 Mar 2008
kavuKavu
Rated 30 Dec 2011
90
94th
Absolutely gripping. Brilliant work from Clouzot and the cast.
Rated 30 Dec 2011
toddsaltertoddsalter
Rated 01 Sep 2016
90
70th
Started too slow for me to rate higher but I get it..... Don't give up on this one
Rated 01 Sep 2016
helfen419helfen419
Rated 10 Oct 2010
80
62nd
For a, seemingly, low budget movie it is very well done.
Rated 10 Oct 2010
saviorzetSaviorZET
Rated 25 Mar 2020
64
49th
Yapım yılına göre çok etkili bir filmdi. Aksiyon ön plandaydı. Konusu çok çarpıcı. Sonu desen bi garip. Biraz yavaş bir filmdi ama 2x hızla izleyince daha akıcı oldu :)
Rated 25 Mar 2020
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 23 Mar 2018
60
26th
Mario: "When someone else is driving, I'm scared."
Rated 23 Mar 2018
lintonmyroxylintonmyroxy
Rated 20 Oct 2020
89
86th
The ending could've been executed way better. The guy was swerving around worse than Leland Palmer on his way to the range to test out his new irons. I was also annoyed by the choice to blow up one of the trucks offscreen. I know it was to hammer home the fact that the drivers won't even realize their moment of death, but that could've been done just as effectively with the camera inside the truck upon the explosion. Sorcerer corrected this mistake
Rated 20 Oct 2020
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 27 May 2010
8
80th
Takes a while to take off but once the trucks get moving, a masterfully crafted suspense filled atmosphere emerge. If the character developing start had been trimmed this would of been one hell of a movie. Still top tier work.
Rated 27 May 2010
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
90
80th
206
Rated 19 Dec 2008
brrrpbrrrp
Rated 19 Feb 2024
85
94th
Nailbiter. I think the long introduction is great and really sets up the tension when things get going. Some themes are expressed bluntly, but the direction is generally superb.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
62nd
Somewhat overpraised, its purportedly visceral impact perhaps having diluted over time. Or maybe it's just me (and it's a long time since I saw it).
Rated 14 Aug 2007
dresd_r_e_s_
Rated 11 Nov 2013
3
65th
Fairly entertaining movie. A bit boring at first, but gets going after an hour or so. Has its great moments, but falls in the end. Actually, the end pretty much ruined the whole movie for me, sad to say. - Good.
Rated 11 Nov 2013
hiresdesHiResDes
Rated 05 Jan 2012
86
93rd
A kind of dark comedy that somehow remains both humorous and slightly tense throughout its duration and up until the very last second. Its subject seems a bit trivial, but after overall examination of the morality or lack of morality contained within the plot, the plot definitely seems to be deceptively deep. It just contains a natural,organic grit much like that of the earth. It's a movie about labor, sure, but it's also contains a rather bleak existentialist outlook on life in general as well.
Rated 05 Jan 2012
stainStain
Rated 26 Mar 2007
80
68th
Probably Clouzot's best film. Another of his ugly little portraits of pathetic men and women scrambling for crumbs (and I mean that in a good way)
Rated 26 Mar 2007
vahidartvahidart
Rated 13 Jan 2011
100
94th
brilliant!5*
Rated 13 Jan 2011
timon88Timon88
Rated 21 Jun 2008
87
92nd
Pauline Kael wrote, "An existential thriller--the most original and shocking French melodrama of the 50s." She then caps her extraordinarily thoughtful mini-review with, "His most controversial film, it is also his most powerful; the violence is not used simply for excitement--it's used as in Eisenstein's and Buñuel's films: to force a vision of human experience." This film is an experience not to be missed under any cirumstances.
Rated 21 Jun 2008
turinturin
Rated 13 Jul 2007
93
98th
A masterpiece thriller: nothing much happens, but the tension is unbearable!
Rated 13 Jul 2007
sheddlesheddle
Rated 09 Jul 2010
80
60th
Like many, I think the first hour of the film should have been the first half-hour of the film; or even less. It was clear right away that the characters wanted to get away from the hell of the village, and then it just went on and on.
Rated 09 Jul 2010
mrcarmadyMrCarmady
Rated 22 May 2011
90
79th
One of the most suspenseful films ever, simply put.
Rated 22 May 2011
chiefgchiefg
Rated 30 Aug 2010
70
57th
I seem to be all alone in this, but I enjoyed the first - casablanca style - half much more than the second. It's just not nearly as thrilling as it's made out to be.
Rated 30 Aug 2010
francogonzoFrancoGonzo
Rated 27 Feb 2016
18
96th
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Rated 27 Feb 2016
picklemanPickle_Man
Rated 05 May 2018
95
87th
Linda (Vera Clouzot) is a terrible character, but basically everything else about this is perfect.
Rated 05 May 2018
jackdurdenJackDurden
Rated 20 Aug 2009
9
90th
I would have given this a perfect score if it weren't for the horribly boring first hour and the overly harsh ending, but for what its worth, this is definitely still a classic. A masterpiece of suspense, with a great story and wonderful performances. Highly recommended.
Rated 20 Aug 2009
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 09 Feb 2012
86
94th
The striking photography caught my attention immediately, and the town felt really vibrant and full of activity. The candid and unpredictable characters added a large amount of depth to the atmosphere. And when the action started heating up, it kept the tension high right up to the finish.
Rated 09 Feb 2012
yorgoyorgo
Rated 20 Nov 2023
95
90th
Superb movie. "Almost" a masterpiece. The pace is a little slow in the beginning and it takes some time for the movie to get going, but the second half is breathtaking. It's almost impossible to look away from the movie for a second. Incredible suspense. The locations have been selected perfectly. The main actors have done a stunning job. The ending could've been concluded better though. It has its flaws, but overall, terrific suspense/thriller.
Rated 20 Nov 2023
babamotsbabamots
Rated 02 Jun 2012
81
72nd
First hour should have been halved or refocused, but the rest is constant drama and teeth-clenching.
Rated 02 Jun 2012
bartbaardBartbaard
Rated 29 Nov 2019
85
94th
What a ride! Very tense thriller. The setup, though necessary, very much a product of its time. Interesting dynamic between the drivers make for a very enjoyable watch!
Rated 29 Nov 2019
heynicefilmHeyNiceFilm
Rated 18 Jun 2023
84
58th
I love it when movies drop RIGHT INTO the plot. They take a half minute to set things up and then Thrills! Action! Suspense! This is not that movie, HOWEVER, it does have the 3 aforementioned attributes, including moments when I gasped out loud and was at the "edge of my seat". After the boring ass "character development" intro, I felt like I deserved the second half! Chop 40 minutes from this one and you have a certified CLASSIC. Otherwise, its just knocking at the door.
Rated 18 Jun 2023
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 08 Jun 2012
71
50th
meksika, gidisi kolay, dönüsü zor kasaba, petrol cikan kasaba, patlama, yangin, nitrogliserin, yolculuk, tehlikeli yolculuk
Rated 08 Jun 2012
frankhowleyFrankHowley
Rated 05 Jul 2012
75
69th
Starts off slow, but once the action starts it's great. The ending is pretty silly though.
Rated 05 Jul 2012
n1k0o8N1k0o8
Rated 19 Sep 2021
65
29th
A nice movie but too many flaws to appreciate it now
Rated 19 Sep 2021
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 27 Jun 2020
80
78th
Wow. I think I held my breath for the last hour of the movie. Thinking about the review, though, makes it sound rather poor: a too-long setup, and then a truck ride that seems to have dozens of obstacles (I was waiting for aliens around the next corner). Sometimes simple plots and characters can still make a gripping thriller.
Rated 27 Jun 2020
hulothulot
Rated 22 Mar 2010
60
54th
watched: 2010, 2012
Rated 22 Mar 2010
monisitMonisit
Rated 16 Jul 2018
83
70th
The first act of this film sort of overstays its welcome, but after that it is far from a smooth ride - with a lot of tense moments that had me stiff. Though the intent of the ending was clear, I think that should have been more fleshed out. The characters weren't exactly likable, but they are sympathetic enough that you have emotional attachment to MOST of them.
Rated 16 Jul 2018
payenspayens
Rated 24 Jul 2012
89
88th
The first hour is kinda boring, but the second half you just can't breathe, incredibly tense!
Rated 24 Jul 2012

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