Nightcap

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Simon T Unease threads its way throughout Chabrol's delicate thriller. The complex family relationships - hidden, opaque, mysterious - are echoed in Isabelle Huppert's almost robotic stepmother: so controlled, unknowable even to herself, hiding behind her almost permanent warm smile as she tries to eliminate family members via poisoned hot chocolate. Huppert is of course superb. It's a pity that Jacques Dutronc as her husband doesn't match her. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review isla s This is the film for you if you like piano recitals and domestic crime dramas. The plot has some intriguing twists and its somewhat thought provoking. Its interesting to see how the man reacts when the accusations are told to him. Watching various characters interact and admit their fears or concerns to others is certainly interesting. Its quite satisfying to see how things play out and the performances are decent too, especially by Isabelle Huppert, who plays the scheming Mar-eClaire aka 'Mika' Muller. There's certainly an element of manipulation at play, though I won't elaborate even further, so as not to provide any more/accidental spoilers. There does appear to be an element of handbags at dawn about this film though, its fair to say. Its about family secrets and being truthful. I thought it had the feel of a theatrical play about it - a play about a crime, perhaps slightly Poirot-esque (well it is French). It's a film for you if you like subtle but underhanded films about sneaky women, I suppose. Yes, I'd recommend this film. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Nightcap, also known as Merci pour le Chocolat, was based on the novel The Chocolate Cobweb by Charlotte Armstrong. It's directed and co-written (with Caroline Eliacheff) by Claude Chabrol, whose career is being re-released by Arrow Video in several box sets. André Polonski (Jacques Dutronc) is an internationally recognized concert pianist whose love life is interesting to say the least. He was first married to Mika Muller (Isabelle Huppert), the owner of a chocolate company before he left her for Lisbeth, the mother of his son Guillaume. When Mika dies in an automobile accident, he finds himself back in Mika's arms and they're soon married. Guillaume is listless and doesn't care for anything, while André abuses sleeping pills and ignores Mika. When a potential student Jeanne (Anna Mouglalis) arrives, she sees bad intentions in everyone. And as for her, she may be André's daughter. And as for Mika, she may have murdered Lisbeth and is definitely poisoning Guillaume with the hot chocolate she serves him every night. Shot in the home of David Bowie, Chabrol found himself turning to Hitchcock while making this film, if the poison-laced hot chocolate is any indication, as it's so close to the arsenic coffee from Notorious. John Waters selected this movie in his top ten films for 2002, saying "It's her again. Isabelle Huppert poisons her family, and Claude Chabrol tells her how to do it with cinematic perfection." He's right. If you ever need to cast a dispassionate murderess, always go with Isabelle Huppert. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Isabelle Huppert can master all characters with ease, but she is most good at playing sinister women. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member A truly loveliest european film with wise plot ,wonderful actresses and the prettiest setting ! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Se Isabelle Huppert me oferecesse um chocolate, eu beberia este chocolate. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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