Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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Paul D. Perfume is a horror film in many ways, and the horror is the realization that our "hero" is horribly lost in his obsession. It's a period piece in France about a young man in search of controlling the power of smell. It's fairly graphic with some hard to watch scenes, but beautifully filmed, excellent script and an engaging original concept. Fine acting and set design make this gritty world easy to be lost in. Well worth a watch. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/18/25 Full Review Oaklee D I really enjoyed this film up until the 3rd act, where it loses its momentum and that's why it didn't receive a higher score. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/26/25 Full Review J B Errr I always thought rotten tomatoes was the go to site but 59% ? Wha? This is a great film - you've become to young or inexperienced to give reviews on films that cut through the usual and indulge you in an adult fairy story without meeting your youthful modern sensibilities because you don't understand this, because you weren't alive when 'The Company of Wolves" was made - and others of this genre. Take your brain out sometimes, just believe, and enjoy. I've nevet heard of twyker & whatever his previous, I take things as I see them - loved it. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/18/25 Full Review Jens B Tykwer's Süskind adaptation never transcends mediocrity; the novel's plot is filmed too awkwardly. A generic score lingers over the TV-quality images, and there's never any tension or interest in the characters. Ben Wishaw, on the other hand, is great, as is Alan Rickman (when he finally shows up after 80 minutes); Dustin Hoffman, on the other hand, is completely in camp mode. All in all, a typical 'airs on network TV on a Sunday afternoon' historical/arthouse romp that doesn't dare to do anything. But I really want to read the novel now; it seems truly excellent. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review Ari V A few details don't track and the main character feels too unrealistically like a singleminded machine. Which took me out of it somewhat. But bold and interesting storytelling nonetgeless, especially the less over-the-top 1st half. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Lynneth S The scent of an object may seem the least significant among all other senses that stimulate the perception, for which reason it can never be extracted, can never be preserved, but is only echoed to such that it is tampered with. It essentially loses its novelty. Be that as it may, a scent equates to a particular beauty to which one may be enticed. Yet it never remains and eventually dies out. When that happens, yearning is inevitable. As in the film, Grenouille sought a way to preserve the scent of beauty (literally the young ladies), taking extreme measures to do so. Ironic as it may be, he did not have a personal scent, therefore clenching to those of others. Such a mere talent he possessed became a menacing obsession—an obsession out of “love.” This love may be the representation of the beguiling scents of the women he murdered, forcefully and cruelly extracting it out of them. In the end, Grenouille himself vanished out of love—not a single residual left for all the love that he bestowed upon himself; it was devoured. A peculiar movie, it may seem, but twofold. Not much dialogue is spoken throughout, but it is still able to tell, rendering how passion turns into a haunting pursuit of cruelty. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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