The Butcher

The Butcher (1969)

Genres - Horror, Drama, Crime, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Psychological Thriller  |   Release Date - Dec 19, 1971 (USA)  |   Run Time - 89 min.  |   Countries - Canada, France, Italy  |   MPAA Rating - PG
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Synopsis by Robert Firsching

Sexual frustration is the focus of this Hitchcockian thriller from French director Claude Chabrol. Schoolteacher Hélène (Stéphane Audran) comes to a small Périgord village to begin a new job. She is soon romanced by the local butcher, Popaul (Jean Yanne), but is distracted by her job and memories of a previous ill-fated relationship. A series of brutal murders of young women and a dropped cigarette-lighter raise Hélène's suspicions about her suitor, whose pitiable, depraved compulsions lead to a gruesome conclusion. Audran, who was Chabrol's wife at the time, makes an engaging heroine, and Yanne is simultaneously scary and pathetic as the obsessive butcher.

Characteristics

Moods

Keywords

butcher, attraction, compassion, relationship, schoolteacher, serial-killer

Attributes

High Artistic Quality