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Cul-de-Sac

Released Nov 7, 1966 1h 50m Comedy List
84% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 78% Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (25) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety 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. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out 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. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times After two clean hits -- Knife in the Water and Repulsion -- Roman Polanski is entitled to one wild swing. Rated: 2.5/5 May 9, 2005 Full Review Roger Moore Movie Nation As a thriller, the film is at its most nerve-wracking in its score. Frequent Polanski collaborator Krzysztof Komeda serves up jazz-pop with a keening screech (Theremin? Synthesizer?) as the lead instrument. It gave me chest pains. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 31, 2022 Full Review Tom Meek Cambridge Day The stark, yet gorgeous cinematography is provided by Gilbert Taylor... Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 7, 2020 Full Review MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin 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. Jan 22, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alejandro E 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. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/22/24 Full Review Alec B 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. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review Christopher B 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/20/22 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Exceptional cast of Roman Polanski's most eccentric effort. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Cul-de-Sac

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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
Compton Films, Tekli
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 1966, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Mono