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      The Bridesmaid

      2004 1h 50m Mystery & Thriller List
      93% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 59% Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings Philippe (Benoît Magimel) meets and instantly falls in love with Senta Bellange (Laura Smet), who is a bridesmaid at his sister's wedding. At first he is drawn in by her mysterious nature and intense passion, but as time passes, he finds her unpredictable behavior increasingly troubling. When Senta asks Philippe to commit a horrible, violent act as proof of his love for her, he is unsure whether it's one of her delusions or if she really expects him to act. Read More Read Less
      The Bridesmaid

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      Critics Consensus

      Chabrol has crafted another sophisticated, unsettling thriller about sinister doings among the bourgeoisie.

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      Critics Reviews

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      David Parkinson Empire Magazine Chabrol develops the situation with sly restraint, while Eduardo Serra's cinematography generates a palpable sense of provincial menace. Rated: 3/5 May 17, 2012 Full Review Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com A prickly, twisted, mean-spirited, borderline crazy and highly seductive picture. May 17, 2012 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader This 2004 French feature seems concerned not so much with the psychopathology of everyday life as with psychopaths who lurk behind the everyday. May 17, 2012 Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog This is Claude Chabrol's second Ruth Rendell adaptation after 1995's La Ceremonie. While that one may be the superior effort, The Bridesmaid is more fun. Rated: 3/4 Feb 6, 2022 Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine A seamless work of breathtaking imagery. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Tom Dawson The List Locating his story in a recognizably everyday world, Chabrol maintains a quietly menacing atmosphere in which dark undercurrents such as the disappearance of a young girl lurk beneath a facade of normality [and] respectability. Rated: 3/5 Apr 24, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member One of many later Chabrol films that seems to have all but been forgotten. It is actually an almost brilliant study into insanity that cuts a surprisingly layered piece of cinematic cake. The film's plot is not all that complicated, but the implications and shadows behind each action are about as complex as humanity can get. Laura Smet is clearly intended to be an important erotic add to French cinema, but she is not what makes this little movie such an interesting cinematic turn. This film does not belong to the bridesmaid herself, this is Benoit Magimel and Aurore Clements' film. Both of these actors bump around more Freudian impulses that can be listed. Chabrol's brew from 2004 is a sort of dangerous concoction. Sharp as a razor and seemingly always waiting for the chance to slice -- "The Bridesmaid" is almost as sensual as it is nervously crazy. It is easy to imagine Hitchcock liking this movie, but this film belongs on the darker shelf of Claude Chabrol. This is one smart and reflexively twisted movie. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I was happiest that Chabrol had not lost his touch with this carefully made thriller? It felt like a romantic thriller but had that slow and careful build up to the climax that be is fond of doing. There is a lot of depth in the detail and background like many of his earlier films, making it rich enough to watch more than once. The characters were all colorful in their own ways and I liked the context surrounding Phillipe that helped us make sense of his persistence for love. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review jesse o This is a solid movie with a good, and twister, story. Problem lies in the fact that the film takes too long to get to the point. The movie does give you hints here and there that Senta is a narcissist and psychopath that is not to be trusted. I do think there's something here with Phillippe sort of denying all these negative qualities about Senta just because he's, really, in lust with her. I don't think for one second that they loved each other. If there's one thing I like about the film is that the suspense itself isn't over-the-top, the suspense itself is realistic, it's quiet and restrained. That's both a negative and a positive in the film, because while the suspense itself is more believable as a viewer, it can also mean that the film seems like it's going nowhere most of the time. Though I did like the surprising amount, not a lot, of comedy. It isn't anything outstanding or hilarious but it is appreciated. The acting is strong, so I can't complain about that. Anyway, this is a good movie. It just so happens that one of its strengths is also one of its main flaws. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Alexander W Mind-bogglingly creepy. Loved it! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/13 Full Review Audience Member Classic suspense-drama-mystery-crime-thriller, only in french. There are seriously disturbed people around. Just have to wish one does not run into them.... seriously. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Love is strange and powerful. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Philippe (Benoît Magimel) meets and instantly falls in love with Senta Bellange (Laura Smet), who is a bridesmaid at his sister's wedding. At first he is drawn in by her mysterious nature and intense passion, but as time passes, he finds her unpredictable behavior increasingly troubling. When Senta asks Philippe to commit a horrible, violent act as proof of his love for her, he is unsure whether it's one of her delusions or if she really expects him to act.
      Director
      Claude Chabrol
      Screenwriter
      Pierre Leccia, Claude Chabrol
      Production Co
      Alicéléo, France 2 Cinéma
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      French (Canada)
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Oct 21, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $111.1K
      Runtime
      1h 50m