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Cul-de-Sac

Play trailer Poster for Cul-de-Sac 1966 1h 50m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When on-the-lam crook Richard (Lionel Stander) and his injured partner-in-crime, Albie (Jack MacGowran), seek shelter in a remote castle by the sea, they find themselves confronted by the owners -- George (Donald Pleasence), an eccentric and weak retiree, and his oversexed wife, Teresa (Françoise Dorléac). Richard seizes control of the castle, but, as the criminals are pulled further into the isolated world of the strange couple, a volatile test of wills ensues.

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
As a study in kinky insanity, Cul-de-Sac creates a tingling atmosphere. This sags riskily at times when the director unturns the screws and does not keep control of his frequently introduced comedy. Go to Full Review
Geoff Andrew Time Out 02/09/2006
If the subject matter is bleak and bitterly serious, the tone throughout is darkly comic, while the precise imagery effortlessly conveys the tension, the claustrophobia, and the madness of the situation. Go to Full Review
Bosley Crowther New York Times 05/09/2005
2.5/5
After two clean hits -- Knife in the Water and Repulsion -- Roman Polanski is entitled to one wild swing. Go to Full Review
Tom Meek Cambridge Day 08/07/2020
3.5/4
The stark, yet gorgeous cinematography is provided by Gilbert Taylor... Go to Full Review
MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin 01/22/2018
The sheer affectedness of the whole thing... rocks the film off its foundations and leaves one irritated to watch a talented director going through the motions of proving what an enfant terrible he is. Go to Full Review
Christopher Machell CineVue 02/28/2017
3/5
Cul-de-sac's greatest strength is that while its script resembles a bourgeois comedy of errors, its visuals are more in tune with existential horror. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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thiago s @Thiagostone May 12 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. See more Alejandro E @Alex970 03/22/2024 The story of a couple that is taken hostage in their own home by a gangster on the run, mixes suspense and absurdity in equal parts. It may not be to everyone's taste, but it leaves no doubt about the talent of a then-incipient Roman Polansky. See more Alec B 02/21/2024 I dunno, a lot of the provocations here are pretty derivative of what had already been happening in theatre at the time and after awhile it becomes tedious. See more Christopher B 08/20/2022 While Repulsion (1965) is my favorite Polanski film to date, Cul-de-sac is the most artistic and filled to the brim with dark humor and wit. The combination of said humor and drama combined with the suspense and violence throughout makes it almost genre elusive. It is a Polanski film, period. Recommended, if you can watch Polanski and don't have some moral issues with him. I think everyone should at least respect him as a director if nothing else. Much like the director Polanski, the characters in the film aren't very likeable but still are complex and fascinating making them interesting to watch develop. Make no mistake that Polanski has made better films, several of which are masterpieces including the previously mentioned Repulsion (1965) and the horror masterpiece Rosemary's Baby (1968). Still this is a very different work from the gifted director and one that is worth a watch, a few if you can handle it. See more 04/28/2022 I dunno, a lot of the provocations here are pretty derivative of what had already been happening in theatre at the time and after awhile it becomes tedious. See more 02/09/2020 Exceptional cast of Roman Polanski's most eccentric effort. See more Read all reviews
Cul-de-Sac

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Movie Info

Synopsis When on-the-lam crook Richard (Lionel Stander) and his injured partner-in-crime, Albie (Jack MacGowran), seek shelter in a remote castle by the sea, they find themselves confronted by the owners -- George (Donald Pleasence), an eccentric and weak retiree, and his oversexed wife, Teresa (Françoise Dorléac). Richard seizes control of the castle, but, as the criminals are pulled further into the isolated world of the strange couple, a volatile test of wills ensues.
Director
Roman Polanski
Producer
Gene Gutowski, Michael Klinger, Tony Tenser
Screenwriter
Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski
Distributor
Transmission Films Ltsd. [us], Sigma III Corp, International Film Distributors, Nightmare Video, Globo Video [br]
Production Co
Tekli, Compton Films
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 1966, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Mono