The Crimson Rivers (2000) User Reviews

It deserved a much better end.

[filipemanuelneto · 7/10 · 6 November 2018]

French cinema, not infrequently, offers us some pearls. This is one more. A solid, well-made thriller with action and suspense and two excellent actors in the lead roles. What disillusioned me a little was the ending, which falls into an absurd cliché.

The script is based on an apparent coincidence: two police officers investigating isolated cases end up realizing that they will have to collaborate to solve a case that ultimately unites them: a wave of macabre and mysterious murders, all around an ancient and prestigious university, isolated in the middle of the French Alps.

Much of the quality of the film comes from the excellent performance of Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel, two of the most international and prestigious French actors today. The former gave life to a hard-working, unrelenting professional detective, while the other was able to perfectly embody an unconventional, young, untimely cop. The other actors, for me, were a group of illustrious strangers who only gave support to these two professionals, but it is to be noted that everyone did well what they had to do.

The film made good use of the icy landscapes of the Alps, as well as the whole winter environment. The soundtrack is very good and adds suspense at the right times, as well as sound, visual and special effects. It's not a CGI show, though. It is based entirely on the weight of the two main actors, on the ability of both to interpret well, and on the story told.

As I mentioned initially, the film is perfect until very near the end, when it tries to surprise us with a turnaround that, for me, made no sense and prejudiced the plot. The climax, in the middle of a glacier, is absolutely cliché and boring, and ends up resorting to the ragged solution of the bad twin vs. Nice twin. Absurd. It would have been better to solve the movie otherwise, he truly deserved it. Anyway, as this happens even in the final part, the film is still one of those I like to see.

I'm talking about Demons, and you talk to me about the police?

[lastliberal · 8/10 · 26 July 2007]

Mathieu Kassovitz's film featuring the incomparable Jean Reno (The Professional) and Vincent Cassel (Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen) is a thrill ride that never stops.

The French countryside with the spooky houses is a feast for the eyes. Thierry Arbogast's (The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc) camera made this entire film a joy to watch. The scenery was complimented by the music of Bruno Coulais (The Chorus).

But, it was Jean Reno that brought me to this film. His Commissioner Niemans was just what I expected from him. He has a way that makes the perfect cop. That is not to dismiss Callel's Lieutenant Kerkerian, who was a perfect partner.

The story was definitely creepy with some graphic scenes of tortured bodies, but it was not off putting. It was essential to the story, which really had some extremely interesting twists and turns.

Niemans and Kerkerian prevail, of course, but it was the journey that was so satisfying.

I especially like the dialogue between the two detectives

[raymond-15 · 7/10 · 16 August 2004]

The isolated University of Guernon specializes in the study of eugenics through which the researchers hope to produce academics of the highest calibre. Chief Inspector Niemans (Jean Reno) is called from Paris to investigate an horrific murder involving torture of the University's research librarian(close your eyes if mutilated bodies offend you)...At the same time a local police officer is looking into the desecration of a grave in the local cemetery. Some intriguing clues ( a bit far-fetched though)bring the two investigations together.

The two policeman have a strange relationship. The Chief from Paris is rather a loner who has his own ideas while the energetic local officer is kept at arm's length until he producers a clue of his own. The dialogue between these two keeps the film alive. The rest of the characters behave in suspicious ways of course but on the whole play minor roles.

Dissection of bodies and opening of grave sites are always gruesome and not every one's idea of entertainment. In this film they are important parts of the plot and certainly add to the atmosphere. It's strange when you come to think of it that police have to do so much of their work by torch light. But then the shadows are greatly enhanced and who knows what may jump out at them!

The police get very little help from the suspicious-looking University staff, a fact which surprises me considering their lives are possibly in danger.

For me the final scene when all is revealed is quite a let-down after a reasonably interesting investigation. The solving of the crime in this way seems just a little too convenient. The final avalanche was more exciting than the solving of the crime.

Needlessly confusing

[neil_mc · 6/10 · 14 December 2005]

So hands up, who knows which babies were swapped, when, where and why, who got run down by the lorry, why the mother went to live in a convent, and just what happened to the 'bad' twin once her death had been faked? Oh, and can anybody explain why none of this was explained.

Thankfully, all of the above has become clear to me now, but only after sifting through the IMDb message boards for this film. Turns out, the film's star Vincent Cassel doesn't have a clue either. It also turns out that "everything is revealed" on the DVD making-of. Great.

But it's a real shame though, because they genuinely had a tense thriller on their hands before it descended into Nazi nonsense. The atmosphere was simmering for the opening hour or so, and using the two detective's investigations as two separate narrative strands was some really intelligent film-making. But then the plot gets ridiculous and unclear, and when you do eventually realise the extent of the convoluted plot, you can understand why they didn't put any explanations of it in. It's a load of nonsense.

P.S. I've decided not to mention the 3 minutes of Jet Li theatrics somewhere in the middle of this film. I thought it would save embarrassment for all concerned were I to merely brush over it.

Stunning thriller, good story and characters, marred by badly thought-out finale

[agc110 · 12 August 2001]

Echoes of "The Boys From Brazil" and "Name of the Rose" in this fast-moving, gorgeously-set (small alpine towns near Grenoble) French thriller, which has a really nasty conspiracy in a closed community as an underlying subplot. Two interleaved storylines involve two detectives in towns 100 km apart. Young, feisty Kerkerian (Cassel) is investigating the desecration of the tomb of a young girl. Meanwhile, supersleuth Niemans (Reno) is drafted in from Paris to assist local gendarmes in solving a nasty torture-murder of an academic at a small private University. More bodies turn up, suspects become victims, and eventually the paths of the two cops cross. Visually utterly beautiful, particularly the College, the Library, and the glacier/ice tunnel scenes. Characters strongly drawn and sympathetic. One pretty straight fight scene, little dwelling on active perpetration of violence, but much lingering on the unpleasantly gory aftermath. This is particularly the case with the rather gratuitous opening sequence, which is overdone relative to the rest of the film. My main cavil involves the poor ending, where a last-minute surprise twist creates more loose ends than it ties up. Nevertheless, so watchable that this one gets 9/10.

Two great actors in a solid serial killer thriller

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 20 May 2016]

Although it bears superficial similarities to David Fincher's Seven, CRIMSON RIVERS is very much its own film and if I had to pick a film to partner it I'd choose the Christopher Lambert-starrer RESURRECTION. This is a French thriller full of Gallic charm and style even if it covers familiar ground and the technical qualities are strong enough to make it stand on its own merits. The film has a strong structure, initially cutting between two separate and seemingly unconnected story lines. Jean Reno (LEON) is on hand as a tough-as-nails detective hunting down the killer of a man found tortured to death, his body hung from a mountain. Vincent Cassel (EASTERN PROMISES) is an unorthodox cop looking into a case of desecration. Before too long, the paths of these cops intertwine and then the film gets really good, thanks to this central pairing.

The buddy-buddy cop idea is as old as the hills but Reno and Cassel are two fantastic actors who breathe new life into it. Watching their verbal and physical sparring is delightful. Reno plays it subdued and brooding while Cassel is wonderful given a rare opportunity to shine in a good guy role for once. Really, the serial killer story is merely the background for these two fine Frenchmen to do what they're made to do. The story itself is adequate, but the climax suffers from being rushed and too confusing, leaving many viewers scratching their heads and wondering just what has been going on. The eventual twist is also rather outlandish. Still, this doesn't matter, because the movie never stops being entertaining.

The bleak and chilly surroundings reminded me of INSOMNIA, while the instrumental soundtrack adds heaps to the suspense. There's an undercurrent of sadism and themes of Nazism and genetic engineering that give this film its dark heart. There are also some nice action set-pieces, including an excellent car chase that breathes life into the tired film cliché, and a fun fight between Cassel and a couple of thugs that doesn't fit with the rest of the movie but which I enjoyed all the same. A film that works purely because of the strength of the two main actors involved, CRIMSON RIVERS is a lot of fun and a highlight of the genre.

A Hollywood Thriller

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 10 December 2005]

!!!!! SPOILERS !!!!!

Before anyone sends me a message pointing out that CRIMSON RIVERS is in fact a French thriller let me just say I know , I think it was the fact that everyone was speaking French that convinced me of this . When I said " A Hollywood thriller " I meant that I've seen too many of these types of movies being churned out by American studios since the early 1990s and I've no idea why the legendary French film industry would want to follow suit and if you cast Robert DeNiro and Josh Hartnett in the lead roles and set it in Montana it'd still be the same film . Come to think of it wasn't this made in the mid 1990s with Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt ?

For a French film this lacks a Gallic identity People are being found dead in a French rural town with their bodies slashed , their hands chopped off and their eyeballs removed and it's up to Inspector Pierre Niemens to solve the murders while on the other side of town Sgt Max Kerkeiran is investigating the desecration of a young girl's tomb . Soon it becomes clear that the two cases are linked but what really lets the story down is the misconception involving eugenics which isn't in fact a uniquely Nazi ideal . Nazis also believed in state ownership so does that mean someone on the centre left who believes public transport should be owned by the government is in a fact a Nazi ? Aldos Huxley and HG Wells both believed in the benefit of eugenics but they were very much on the political left so characters gasping " They're Nazis " seems somewhat strange and considering the political subtext is something of red herring only introduced so Max can get involved in a quite laughable fight scene with some neo-fascists .The eugenics sub plot seems somewhat tenuous . It should also be said that the idea of two intellectuals breeding more intellectuals is somewhat silly . There's no evidence in the real world that intellect is in anyway down to genetics

CRIMSON RIVERS is an okay film and I guess the producers were more interested in making a movie that would sell abroad hence the rather over familiar plot and techniques in story telling but certainly both Reno and Cassell will both be making better French movies in the future

A highly successful French thriller by Mathieu Kassovitz...

[decibelio · 10/10 · 10 May 2004]

...who is famous for his intelligent films about social issues; such as 'La Haine'. The suspenseful story, IMO often wrongfully compared to David Fincher's 'Se7en' because of its seemingly similar thematic elements, is set in the French Alps, in the fictitious towns of Guernon and Sarzac. The marvellous scenery contributes a lot to the overall mysterious atmosphere of the film and is an ideal background for the movie's convincing cast. This is especially true for the leading roles which are portrayed by two of the most talented French actors: Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel.

The plot is based on a novel by Jean-Christophe Grange who, together with director Mathieu Kassovitz, also developed the screenplay. With the book being quite complicated due to its many carefully intertwined lines of action, a lot had to be simplified, altered or simply cut out, a well-known issue with adaptations. Unfortunately, many of the novel's explanatory scenes were omitted, so that ,you end up with a film which is not boring but quite confusing', as main actor Vincent Cassel puts it correctly. The following is a basic plot summary that intends to spoil as little of the story as possible:

Commissaire Pierre Niemans is called to the remote university town of Guernon to solve a gruesome murder case in which the victim - the university's librarian - was brutally tortured and mutilated. Neither the university officials nor the students prove to be too helpful during the investigation and Niemans soon gets the impression that there is something very suspicious about the whole situation. Meanwhile, Commissaire Max Kerkerian investigates the desecration of a grave in Sarzac. Soon it turns out that the seemingly unrelated cases are strangely connected with each other and, after a second corpse is found, the two very unlike cops team up to discover a long kept secret. This knowledge eventually gets them into life-threatening situations, the most deadly of them marking the end of the movie, which is set on top of a huge, snow-covered glacier.

The acting is simply excellent: Jean Reno portrays Niemans as a surly, reserved but brilliant professional with an attitude that often offends the people around him, even if he does not mean to. Vincent Cassel is Max Kerkerian, a quite lively character, sharp-witted but at times lacking self-control and totally unconventional in his methods (the book even mentions him being a former car-thief). The third leading role, Fanny Ferreira, a glaciologist working at the university and the one to find the first corpse, is portrayed by Nadia Farés. Her enigmatic character is more involved in the mystery than it seems.

The action is greatly enhanced by the spectacular panoramic views and camera trails used for the location shooting, even though the opening scene, where the camera follows Niemans' car as it approaches the first crime scene, is obviously a rip-off of Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'. One scene shows Niemans and Ferreira, the scientist, descending a glacier, a dangerous shot for which huge cranes had to be transported to the glacier in order to secure the actors. The wonderful score was composed by Bruno Coulais, who managed to provide each scene with the appropriate musical background.

As stated before, major changes were necessary to transfer the complex novel onto the screen. The outcome was that many viewers felt puzzled by the movie's abrupt, confusing and seemingly illogical ending, as much is left out in the film where the book provides extensive background information. This is where the movie's biggest flaw lies. Other alterations include the renaming of Karim Abdouf (novel) to Max Kerkerian (film). While his characteristics remained more or less the same, it was the author's original intention to include a police officer of Algerian origin in the story. The characters in general are darker in the novel where Niemans even kills a hooligan before the actual story begins. The conspiracy revealed by the cops is larger and was also one of the aspects which were simplified for the movie.

All in all, one could complain that some of the action scenes look rather out of place, like Kerkerian's fight with two skinheads or the obligatory car chase later on in the film. The 'mismatched-cop scenario' is not too innovative either, but since it is depicted in such a unique way, it would be unfair to dismiss it as a cliché. While I can only reiterate that it may be difficult to completely grasp the movie at once, it is not at all impossible to follow the storyline as some have claimed. ,The Crimson Rivers' is definitely a great movie in its genre, featuring spectacular camera shots and an excellent cast and is in this vein well worth a visit.

Stunningly well-directed film....if only it made sense!

[gridoon · 6/10 · 5 January 2004]

I'm a big fan of the genre (and "Seven" is still one of my 10 favorite films of all time), but "The Crimson Rivers" just didn't cut it. It is undeniably directed with enough skill and confidence to rival any Hollywood blockbuster, it is filmed on wonderful locations and it has great performances by both leading stars. But the pace is slow and the plot is muddled. Supposedly the DVD "making-of" documentary clarifies matters somewhat (and I plan to watch it right now)....but still, that should never be the only way you could interpret a movie. (**)

Great gothic visuals and intense set-pieces , dealing with two very different policemen seeking the truth about separate crimes

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 7 March 2023]

Suspense and action movie with a series killer committing grisly murders . It is entertaining enough and fast pace but lacking coherence at times . This thriller from France with considerable blood and guts centers on Inspector Niemans (Jean Reno) , a prestigious French detective assigned to investigate a brutal murder at a prestigious college located high in the Alps . The victim was first disfigured and dismembered , then strangled to death . Niemans soon realizes the murder was not an isolated incident when several similarly mangled corpses are discovered. Meanwhile , in a town 150 miles away, a young police investigator, Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel), is called in to investigate when the grave of a ten-year-old girl is dug up and ransacked . Before long there's more than a victim , all of whom have ties to university . As Niemans meets the young Kerkerian , agressive partner in provincial policeman , creating a peculiar couple , in buddy movie style . So two tough police inspectors join forces and find a terrible common link in the murders . Evil rises to new heights !. An unholy crime... An unstoppable killer... Caught in a deadly tide!.

Audacious and gruesome thriller set in French Alps in which a librarian from the local private university is found horribly mutilated on a mountain slope and Parisian investigator is called in , meantime another cop carrying out parallel discoveries , both of them nvestigating a series of creepy murders . In the picture there is thrills, chills , frenetic action , emotion , mystery , plot twists , spooky sets and a little bit of gore. This film has some good moments, such as the dark atmosphere and some thrilling pursuits and red herrings . The movie is a crossover between the intrigue of the ordinarily sinister American thrillers as ¨Seven¨ and the ¨French Polar¨. From the beginning of the film until the end , action-packed is nonstop , it's fast moving and that's why the picture results to be quite entertaining . The final confrontation between the starring and the contenders in the snowy mountains is spellbinding . Stars Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel who make a terrific screen team , an attractive buddy couple with just the right amount of humanism and humor to allow some tension relief for the story. These two awesome French actors are nicely accomanied by a fine support cast , such as : Nadia Farès, Dominique Sanda, Jean-Pierre Cassel , Philippe Nahon and Didier Flamand . The special effects are adequate as is the cinematography by Thierry Arbogast and excellent musical score by composer Bruno Coulais .The flick will appeal to thriller buffs and dark atmosphere enthusiasts . Rating : 6.5/10 , well worth watching .

The picture was well directed Mathieu Kassovitz . He is an actor and director , known for Amelie (2001) , The Fifth element (1997) and has directed a few films , such as : The hate (1995 ) , Assassin (1997) , Gothika (2003) , but he disowned the theatrical cut of ¨Babylon A. D.¨ (2008) suggesting that the studio behind it 20th Century Fox, had turned it into a dumb action movie and removed the complex issues and themes he had originally wanted the film to feature. This movie ¨Les rivières pourpres¨ (2000) obtained a lot of success , as the sequel "Rivières Pourpres II ", using the same character of Niemans . Les rivières pourpres 2 - Les anges de l'apocalypse (2004) was directed by Olivier Dahan featured by Jean Reno , Benoit Maginel, Christopher Lee , Camille Natta , Johnny Hallyday . Here Niemans/Reno , the police of the first part has to investigate weird murder series in isolated monasteries of Lorena (north of France) helped by Benoit Maginel , Vincent Cassel's similar role , they will take on Apocalypse angels , some monks with supernatural power and a villain and his evil henchmen . It is an acceptable sequel , but the plot is totally confused and quite silly, wasting what could be a good movie.

An okay story with excellence of execution.

[=G= · 8/10 · 16 October 2001]

"The Crimson Rivers" tells of two French detectives on converging investigative paths leading to the "who" in whodunit as they leapfrog from one tense moment to the next in this good but not great macabre and sometimes gruesome serial killer mystery. What this flick lacks in story it more than makes up for in artistry and verve as it carves itself out of hauntingly beautiful vistas, superb cinematography, great sound and score, and, perhaps best of all for English speakers, excellent dubbed translations. Well worth the time for those with an eye for artistry in film and a taste for dark thrillers.

I really liked it

[sascha-2 · 7/10 · 25 June 2001]

I really liked LES RIVIÈRES POURPRES.

When I first heard of this movie, I thought: "What an unusual, interesting and poetic title! I wonder what this movie might be all about! It could interest me." Then I saw this absolutely fantastic movie poster, which I still like a lot: a beautiful red - I had to think of the title again! - with the two protagonists in the background and some red blurs (the blood cells, of course, but I didn't know that then).

Then I learned something about the movie's content and thought: "Usually, I don't like serial killer movies at all, because often they're too violent, but that mostly concerns Hollywood movies. So, let's see, what the French made out of it!" Which I did shortly thereafter.

And what shall I say? I really liked the movie, because it was full of suspense. It had two great lead actors: Jean Reno at his best (Watch his face, as he looks at the first corpse!), and a great Vincent Cassel, whom I didn't know before. The two stories in Guernon and Sarzac were well intertwined (save for the end, on which I will comment later on).

The cinematography was overwhelming (for example the shots in the mountains, when Niémans drives to the crime scene in the very beginning, and those, when he and Fanny climb through the snowy mountains before finding the second corpse). And finally the soundtrack by Bruno Coulais was brilliantly adjusted to each scene.

Moreover, I liked the movie for not being too violent. Although the victims were drastically tortured, before they were killed, neither the torture nor the killing is shown. And the violence is not "celebrated", which means it's not shown, as if it were any kind of fun or something the viewer also should do.

Once again: Watch Niémans' face, while he looks at the first corpse; this scene shows clearly what he thinks of the torture and the killing and that it's absolutely barbaric and immoral to do a thing like that. Hollywood movies often don't show that as clearly (e. g.: Is John Doe in David Fincher's absolutely disgusting and way overrated SE7EN not in a way shown as being "sympathetic"?).

Are there any weaknesses in this movie? Yes, of course there are. Firstly, there are the first scenes of the movie, while the credits start: The camera shows a rotting human corpse, which was a) quite disgusting, b) totally unnecessary, and c) in no connection to the movie. Because, of the corpses in LES RIVIÈRES POURPRES not one had the time to rot! (Think about it for thirty seconds - you will see that I'm right!)

And then there's the end of the movie; let's say the last fifteen minutes. I must admit that I didn't really understand it completely, which in other words means that I don't think it's absolutely logical. In my opinion, it's quite stupid and very disappointing compared to everything in the movie that happened before (though I can't and won't tell you about the end in detail here; go see the movie for yourself!).

Shakespeare wrote: "All's well that ends well." Does that mean everything's bad that has a bad end? (And let's face it: The end of LES RIVIÈRES POURPRES can in my opinion only be described as really bad!) The answer is no! Because for 90 of 105 minutes the movie is absolutely great and worth a watch.

Behind BILLY ELLIOT and CHOCOLAT it's my third favourite movie of 2001 so far. And if not for the end, it could have easily taken the first place of this list.

I'd like to rate it an 8, but because of the end I can't. So I rate it a 7. But it's a strong one.

mis match of ideas gone awry

[truehorrorfan · 5/10 · 6 June 2010]

People can comment on camera work, imagery, and acting quality of a film, but all of that does not matter if the writing is...well...crap. Perhaps something was lost in translation here but the film had so many plot holes that bowling balls would fall through it. I wont explain specifics to avoid spoilers but by the time the facts, twists, and the killer was revealed I just didn't care. It was not "Oh my god," but "Ok, sure, whatever." This was due to a poor story development which meanders and looses it's audience, not to mention poor pacing which made it quite anti-climatic.

I gave it a five out of 10 because the story had potential, however it was told poorly, acting and imagery aside.

One last rant: What was the deal with the transplanted fight scene in the "paintball club?" The choreography there was terrible and did not look real. It appeared to be a feeble attempt at making it seem like an action movie.

I know that the french can do better than that, considering "high tension", and "frontiers" to name a few.

French cheese can be stinky

[Oosterhartbabe · 16 August 2004]

(spoilers) I rented this film because it has two of my favorite French actors in it, the lovely Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno. It started out in a very interesting way-a body is found up on a mountain in a horribly mutilated state.body is that of a librarian/professor at a nearby exclusive college in the French Alps. Reno's character is a hotshot cop from Paris who is sent to investigate the body.

So far, so good. But this film quickly degenerates into a morass of trite dialogue, puzzling 'clues' and stupid fight scenes. I had the so-called mystery figured out in about twenty minutes, what there was of it.

The director dragged this film out for a long time on a very minor and quite cheesy plot. It was painful to watch two such talented actors as Reno and Cassel wander through this trite film with absolutely nothing to do but spout hackneyed lines and, in the case of Reno, tremble and fairly p**s himself every time his character came near a dog. Sad, really.

This movie is a below average thriller. The plot is a head scratcher. There were so many loose ends that I think I could have knit myself a sweater from them. And the demon twins at the end were just laughable. That last fight between Cassel and the 'crazy' twin resembled the fight scene at the end of the really bad and cheesy Canadian film The Final Sacrifice. I was sorely disappointed in this film.

Jean Reno delivers, the film doesn't.

[buyussomegolfshoes · 6/10 · 6 September 2011]

This film that starts out grabbing you ends out leaving you feel dazed and confused. The dead body found of a young men, horribly tortured and left to die slowly, is the reason d'entrance of Jean Reno. Answering a local investigators question "where the unit to investigate" is with a stoic "I am the unit", you feel you're in for something good. And that's pretty much what you get. A hunt for a killer, slowly paced giving Reno all the chance to shine, which he does, leading you from clue to clue. Not a groundbreaking concept but the beautiful and meticulously filmed scenery quite makes up for that. Then a typical book-like twist is made introducing what appears to be another main character: Vincent Cassel. His investigation into the desecration of a tomb seems to lead him to Reno's dead bodies. So far so good until, out of the blue, the writers feel the need to make Cassel go Chuck Norris on some wannabe Nazis's in a fight scene so absurdly bad, including 1980's sound effects, it makes you question what kind of movie you're actually watching. Or what movie the makers want you to watch. Unfortunately, it's all downhill from here. As if the over the top action scene with the Goring 2.0's wasn't enough, a whole lot more of Action Jackson is released upon the viewer as the more and more unlikely plot is revealed quite fast in contrast to the beginning of the movie. After the interesting fight the movie goes for two awards in the weird category with an even so interesting foot-chase ending up in the middle of anti-climax land leading right to a totally uncalled for Mexican stand- off between Jean "The Unit" Reno and his local constabularies. From here, the credit build up from the start of the movie has declined pretty much completely and the final revelation are met with a sincere "Huh. So that was what that was all about. Huh." Still, Jean Reno delivers which makes this film watchable.

highly watchable as a popcorn police thriller

[thisissubtitledmovies · 6/10 · 26 August 2010]

The Crimson Rivers (Les Rivières Pourpres), based on the best selling French novel of the same name by Jean-Christophe Grangé (who also co-wrote the screenplay) is an unabashed attempt to make a French Hollywood-style thriller.

Another problem is that for all the interesting ideas and larger conspiracies alluded to, the film doesn't deliver with its grand finale - a cop-out that leaves the viewer feeling short changed.

The Crimson Rivers is highly watchable as a popcorn police thriller. It's just such a pity that the film is let down by its final third after producing an initially compelling plot line. CSA

Duo investigations lose tension

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 May 2014]

Parisian police commissioner Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) is called in to investigate a murder of 32-year old single professor Rémy Caillois of mountain-side picturesque university in Gueron. He's been horribly beaten left naked in a fetal position on the side of a mountain. The university is an isolated self-sufficient incestuous place. Meanwhile volatile inspector Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel) is investigating a grave desecration and a school break in.

I really like the start with the creepy isolated location and the vicious murder investigation. I like the tone of it and I love Jean Reno's work. Then they split the movie into two investigations. I have nothing against Vincent Cassel or his side of the story. I just couldn't wait for them to get back to Reno. It just breaks up the movie and takes away the tension. The two investigations give off different tones anyways. Around midway, the two detectives are forced together but it needed to happen sooner. They form a fine combative duo. With more time together, they could create more chemistry in the relationship. The mystery is a convoluted one and not altogether satisfying. There is just one too many craziness going on.

Cutting-edge thriller!

[mailtoby · 8/10 · 10 February 2004]

Although french, this movie is better than most hollywood churned wannabes. A gripping thriller with a slightly outlandish plot revolving around genetics and nazism. But dont let that turn u off. The film is absolute edge-of-the-seat fare. Jean reno is good as usual but vincent cassel dishes out excellent acting nuances which add to his character. Great acting! The scenes set in winter among the French Rhone Alpes are breath taking to say the least. The thrills keep on coming without having to take resort to loud background music, which make these moments even more rivetting. The english dubbing is good without too many quirks. RECOMMENDED! [Writing "Highly Recommended" would make you biased! ;-)]

What a pity

[Pax73 · 6/10 · 13 November 2000]

This film left me a sense of empty,the impression is of a big occasion waste.In fact the first half of the picture is really brilliant and thrilling ,the story seems very well thought and the places where the plot is developed are suggestive..but after 1 hour of watching ,the picture starts being a little boring and the good ideas shown during the first half aren't well developed,so the final ,really too easy,can delude the audience!,the plot has too many holes and the talent of the actors (Reno and Cassel ,really very good) isn't enough to save the movie from being banal.With an initial plot like this Hitchcock or Polanski would have realized a masterpiece.. but after the success of "La Haine" Kassowitz ,who has anyway an undeniable talent, doesn't seem (yet) able to realize a film that can finally give him an international credibility.

Great Movie, But With a Deceptive Conclusion

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 28 August 2005]

In Guernon, an isolated mountain area where the local University rules the town, the Chief Inspector Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) arrives from Paris to investigate a hideous crime, when the victim was tortured and mutilated before dying. Meanwhile, Detective Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel) comes to the same place, following the investigation of a profaned tomb of a young girl. They join forces and find a plot of eugenics in the University, with abductions, murders and revenge.

Yesterday I saw this great movie again, trying to find some answers to questions I raised the first time I saw it four years ago. Unfortunately, they have no explanations along the story. "Les Rivières Pourpres" has magnificent locations, maybe the most beautiful landscapes I have seen in a crime movie. The cast is outstanding, highlighting the charismatic Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. However, the screenplay has flaws and presents a deceptive conclusion. My questions are: (1) If Judith was kidnapped in the nursery of the hospital, exchanged by the daughter of another person, what happened to the other child? (2) Who raised Judith, if her mother got crazy and went to a dark cell in a convent? (3) If her mother knew where her other daughter was, why didn't she go to the French justice and fight to retrieve the child? (4) How Judith found and approached Fanny? Anyway, usually worths watching serial killer stories and this one is very above the average. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Rio Vermelhos" ("Red Rivers")

Something about good genes ( not the Levi's kind) ........

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 9 December 2009]

The movie works for the most part, but gets progressively less coherent as it goes along. Certainly the mountain setting is perfect, and the acting totally acceptable. There is good chemistry between Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. The action sequences are also quite good. The problems with the film are two fold. The English dubbing in places is only marginally understandable, and the story doesn't flow so that you are able to comprehend what is taking place on the screen. I don't know? Perhaps something is being lost in the translation, but to me, "The Crimson Rivers" is somewhat flawed, but watchable. Just my opinion. - MERK

Solid and compelling French thriller

[MaxBorg89 · 8/10 · 27 September 2005]

The novel by Jean-Cristophe Grangè on which this film is based is simply one of the best thrillers ever written,in the same league as The Silence of the Lambs and Misery,and with the help of writer/director Mathieu Kassovitz(who was also supposed to be one of the actors)the author has successfully brought his masterpiece to the screen.

From the very beginning,thanks to the location and Bruno Coulais'unsettling score,we realize French people can make good horror thrillers: Pierre Niemans(Jean Reno) is in Grenoble to solve a couple of weird and brutal murders,while Max Kerkerian(Vincent Cassel)investigates a damaged tomb somewhere else. Soon they discover the two cases are connected,and the two men have to run against the clock in order to uncover the awful truth about what's been going on in the local university for years.

The book has been simplified(the first chapter is entirely missing,as well as some of the details about Cassel's case),but the movie manages to be very interesting,and the chemistry between Reno and Cassel is great.

Special praise for Dominique Sanda,her creepy cameo being the film's best sequence(Sissy Spacek appears in a similar scene in The Ring 2).

Only defect:why did they make the sequel?

Good serial killer investigation movie..!

[kamalbeeee · 7/10 · 30 July 2023]

The two detectives from different place join together by linking of one murder and try to find the serial killer... At starting of the film both are investigating different murder then join together later... Good investigation thriller..!

Unexpected climax... Must watch movie..!

The two detectives from different place join together by linking of one murder and try to find the serial killer... At starting of the film both are investigating different murder then join together later... Good investigation thriller..!

Unexpected climax... Must watch movie..!

The two detectives from different place join together by linking of one murder and try to find the serial killer... At starting of the film both are investigating different murder then join together later... Good investigation thriller..!

Unexpected climax... Must watch movie..!

I was suprised to learn the director wasn't a child.

[gooseshaw · 4/10 · 1 April 2020]

This movie has some unique and potentially interesting elements to it, but ultimately it's filled with a lot of stupid things including a random kung-fu fight scene between a french pot-smoking cop and some neo-nazi skin-heads (only one of whom is an actual skin-head...), an action packed chase scene with a giant armoured semi-truck rolling down an improvised death-trap road, and countless scenes of the two main police officers beating people up, breaking into private residences, choking people, and pointing their guns at just about everybody, including other police officers (just to prove a point).

While it starts off interestingly enough, there are so many things in this movie that make it seem like the screenplay was written by a 13 year old. I wouldn't recommend it - I started to fall asleep and considered not even finishing it myself.