A remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot's classic 1955 thriller, it ambles along as an oblique homage to its model before careening wildly off the tracks. Although much of the story, concerning a sadistic school principal who is targeted for murder when his meek, brutalized wife joins forces with his tough, sexy mistress, is taken shot for shot from the original film, its brilliant ending is replaced by a scene of meaningless stupidity. Don Roos' script also has a strange, discordant quality, as though the writer was channeling dialogue from a bad sitcom. Chazz Palmintieri may be able to play evil in another context, but he is clearly miscast here. Sharon Stone however, is nearly perfect as the razor-tongued, leopard-skin-clad schoolteacher, and her one-liners are the best thing in the film. Adjani is also believable as a woman traumatized by her vicious husband. Fortunately, the original film is still available on videotape.
