Review of Cul-de-sac (1966) by Blake P — 02 Feb 2012

Criminals Albie (MacGowran) and Dickie (Stander) are on the run, and when in the middle of nowhere, they find a castle-like house that belongs to the old and meek Englishman George (Pleasence), and his sexy and much younger French wife Teresa (Dorléac).

In the meantime, Dickie dies, and Albie, who thinks he's getting a ride back to town, ends up staying with the couple. The three develop a very unhealthy relationship. Roman Polanski had just finished making the groundbreaking "Repulsion" when "Cul-de-Sac" came out.

Though filmed around the time that his more famous "Rosemary's Baby" came around, "Cul-de-Sac" almost always falls through the cracks, even though it is a terrific movie. Call it what you will, but this is more of an acting based film than anything.

Though it has many wonderful dark comedy moments, the main focus of the movies is how the three leading actors pull everything off, and that's one of the reasons I love this movie so much. Many of the situations can be awkward, violent, funny, or even scary, but no matter what's happening, the cast keeps the oddness of the film in tune perfectly.

Jack MacGowran is the best of the cast with his growly, mean persona, Françoise Dorléac gives an excellent performance (who could've made it just as big as her younger sister Catherine Deneuve had she not died in 1967), and Donald Pleasance is perfectly casted.

There's so many things I'll remember from this movie, from Dorléac's infectious laugh (which she so easily do on the spot), MacGowran attempting to kill the couple with a machine gun (but instead blows up their car), Pleasance dressing up in a woman's nightgown, and much much more.

"Cul-de-Sac" is a wonderfully quirky black comedy that any fan of Roman Polanski will love. Recommended.