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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Le poignard malais remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you have a thing for old French mysteries that feel like they were filmed in someone's living room. If you want high-octane thrills, look away. But if you’re the type who likes to squint at grainy black-and-white footage trying to figure out who looks the most guilty, you might have a decent time.
Lucien is exactly the kind of guy you expect to get into trouble. He’s got that desperate energy, asking his dad for money like he’s owed the world. When the father shuts him down, you can practically see the gears turning in his head. It’s not subtle.
Then the Godmother turns up dead. The movie doesn't waste a second trying to be a Husbands and Wives level drama; it just pivots right into the gloom. The pacing is weird—sometimes it drags like a wet coat, other times it skips over stuff I really wanted to see.
It’s not quite as messy as The Knockout, but it shares that same feeling of people stumbling through a plot they don't fully understand. There’s a scene where Lucien just stares at a door for way too long. I actually checked my watch during it.
Still, there’s a certain charm to how small it feels. It isn't trying to change the world. It’s just trying to tell you who killed the old lady with a dagger. Sometimes, that's enough.
If you've ever watched This Way Out, you know the vibe. It’s claustrophobic. It’s dry. It’s a bit of a relic. But hey, it doesn't try to be profound. That’s probably its best quality.
Skip it if you hate black and white. Watch it if you just want to kill an hour in a room full of grumpy French people 🍷.