Cul-de-Sac

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Abraham R Jan 12, 2019 I think this film is wonderful. I saw it when I was 15 (1970) and it delighted me. A black comedy in black and white, directed by a young Polanski, challenging and witty. mad as a box of frogs, quirky, frightening, absurd, hilarious. See more

Hagrid W Jan 7, 2019 weird movie but i enjoyed it

Leia S Aug 13, 2017 Roman Polanski's buzzed-up crime comedy opens on a hooty tooty British coastal town, populated by frolicking man-children and slapstick stereotypes. The first half feels like a live action Looney Tunes skit starring your four least favourite characters, all of whom are hell-bent on reciting the same joke for an hour and a half. Fortunately, the film soon takes a dark turn, followed by a drunken turn, and finally a psychological turn, allowing us all to rejoice that this dopey drama has stopped spinning in circles and started to deliver something worth our attention. Flat visual gags devoid of all subtly are cast aside, and we finally feel as if Polanski has a purpose here besides desperately drawing our attention to how awfully cooky his characters are. In fact, the film's absurdist aesthetic begins to flow naturally once Polanski's oh-so-hapless home invader (Lionel Stanley) is given directorial permission to develop a real relationship with Cul-de-Sac's lead players and castle-owners (Donald Pleasence and Francoise Dorleac). This relationship straddles Stockholm syndrome, reverse Stockholm syndrome and everything in between, descending into a psychological power game destined to end in gorgeous destruction and decay. The question is as follows: is watching these nincompoops burn the best aspect of the film? If so, be prepared for a long wait. See more

Abraham R Jul 23, 2017 An offbeat black comedy from Roman Polanski, the early Polanski when he was creative as hell. His usual themes which he pursues throughout his carrier can be traced here. The sexually frustrated character of Donald Pleasence is an amusing type. He always played such eccentric characters. It's funny to watch him go from submission to aggression and backwards. His sexually loose young wife is having troubles also: she is bored and doesn't know what she wants. So there go their problems complicated with to unexpected guests. Absurd and hilarious situations follow. See more

Kylo L Mar 5, 2017 Unlike almost anything you'll ever see. Impossible to pigeon hole into any one genre. Part black comedy, part psychological drama. Uneven but the parts that work are priceless especially the role reversals which take place when uninvited guests arrive for dinner. See more

Anakin W Mar 6, 2016 8.0 [Roman Polanski]

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Cul-de-Sac

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