Robert an architect and artist finds himself working in Vichy. We watch him as the story begins, watching surreptitiously a young and attractive woman living in an ivied covered house in a forested area. Juliette, the woman of the house, senses she is being watched, although she has no basis for her suspicion. Juliette has a strange relationship with Patrick, a pharmaceutical salesman who travels in the region.
One day, Robert is bold enough to show up at Juliette's door. She is curious, realizing he might be the presence she felt on the other side of her fence. She feels attracted to the handsome Robert, who happens to be separated from Veronique, a vulgar wife in Paris. Patrick becomes jealous watching his girlfriend's attentions on Patrick. Robert, in turn has had mental problems and had been treated for his condition, now being in better mental health. Juliette clearly fancies Robert.
After a road confrontation where Patrick has been following Robert and Juliette, as he is taking her home, the two men fight. Patrick and Robert end up by a river, where Patrick lands after being hit. Robert fishes him out so he does not drown. Patrick is reported missing and the local police becomes involved. What no one realizes is that Patrick has sided with Robert's estranged wife in order to create trouble for the architect.
"The Cry of the Owl" is a film directed by Claude Chabrol and based on a Patricia Highsmith story. The adaptation was by M. Chabrol and Odile Barski, a frequent collaborator. This film from 1987 falls into the director's middle period which is not as important as his early and late efforts, but being a Chabrol film, it is a must for his admirers.
The film, as seen today, seems to be a bit dated. The machinations between Patrick and Veronique to do harm to Robert are roughly handled. The novel was not exactly one of Ms. Highsmith's best, but it suffers in the relocation to France, something which did not happen with Chabrol's adaptation of novels by Ruth Rendell, just to mention one writer.
The best thing in the film is Christophe Malavoy who plays Robert. Mathilda May is too bland for the obsessed Juliette. Jacques Perrot seen as Patrick is not creepy enough and Virginie Tenevent, who is Veronique is perfectly vulgar as the sleazy former wife.
One day, Robert is bold enough to show up at Juliette's door. She is curious, realizing he might be the presence she felt on the other side of her fence. She feels attracted to the handsome Robert, who happens to be separated from Veronique, a vulgar wife in Paris. Patrick becomes jealous watching his girlfriend's attentions on Patrick. Robert, in turn has had mental problems and had been treated for his condition, now being in better mental health. Juliette clearly fancies Robert.
After a road confrontation where Patrick has been following Robert and Juliette, as he is taking her home, the two men fight. Patrick and Robert end up by a river, where Patrick lands after being hit. Robert fishes him out so he does not drown. Patrick is reported missing and the local police becomes involved. What no one realizes is that Patrick has sided with Robert's estranged wife in order to create trouble for the architect.
"The Cry of the Owl" is a film directed by Claude Chabrol and based on a Patricia Highsmith story. The adaptation was by M. Chabrol and Odile Barski, a frequent collaborator. This film from 1987 falls into the director's middle period which is not as important as his early and late efforts, but being a Chabrol film, it is a must for his admirers.
The film, as seen today, seems to be a bit dated. The machinations between Patrick and Veronique to do harm to Robert are roughly handled. The novel was not exactly one of Ms. Highsmith's best, but it suffers in the relocation to France, something which did not happen with Chabrol's adaptation of novels by Ruth Rendell, just to mention one writer.
The best thing in the film is Christophe Malavoy who plays Robert. Mathilda May is too bland for the obsessed Juliette. Jacques Perrot seen as Patrick is not creepy enough and Virginie Tenevent, who is Veronique is perfectly vulgar as the sleazy former wife.