THE MOST INTIMATE ACT OF ALL IS… MURDER!

Montreal cop Steve Carella (Donald Sutherland) investigates a case where two young cousins were attacked by a knifeman in an alley; one of them, Patricia (Aude Landry), survives, but turns out to be an unreliable witness. Claude Chabrol’s first English-speaking film has an unremarkable mystery, dominated by the two women’s family, but enough forbidden thrills (as indicated in the title) to keep audiences intrigued. Very uneven acting; Donald Pleasence is memorable as a pathetic child molester, but some of the young talents are less convincing, including Laurent Malet in a key role as Patricia’s brother.

1978-France-Canada. 100 min. Color. Directed by Claude Chabrol. Screenplay: Sydney Banks, Claude Chabrol. Novel: Ed McBain. Cast: Donald Sutherland (Steve Carella), Aude Landry (Patricia Lowery), Lisa Langlois (Muriel Stark), Laurent Malet, Micheline Lanctot, Stephane Audran… Donald Pleasence, David Hemmings.

Trivia: French title: Les liens de sang.

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