Malpertuis (1971)

Malpertuis is an enormous, Gothic castle presided over by ailing patriarch Cassave (Orson Welles). He dies, leaving his enormous fortune to an oddball collection of relatives and denizens on the stipulation that they must live forever in Malpertuis, only the last male and last female get the fortune, and those two must marry. Everyman sailor Jan is our hero: he stays only to marry fiery redhead Euryale, but sleeps with a cousin or two while waiting. Exploring the castle, he figures out there's something more going on than meets the eye; something sinister. Malpertuis is a trap from which he and his family may never escape. Evil taxidermists, gorgons, gut-eating buzzards, flame-breathing old men, and intelligent rats are some of the many odd things to be found lurking in Malpertuis.

The title tells you the most important thing in the film: the castle. The characters come second. The sets are awesome, engrossing the viewer in this Gothic world. The oneiric quality is enjoyable: it's like the Villa Grapps sequence of Kill, Baby, Kill extended into a full film as the film becomes increasingly nightmarish. I don't think it's the deep, arthouse masterpiece some think it is. It is certainly arthouse and it is a good film, but it doesn't amount to much but a fascinating and entertaining dark fantasy. Definitely a perfect double-bill with Don't Look Now (a superior film in every respect).

Great fun for fans of dreamlike, headfilms along the lines of Mulholland Dr. and for fans of great sets. I also enjoyed the performances, particularly Welles and Michel Bouquet (a favourite of mine); but Susan Hampshire steals the show--next to the set, of course--in four roles, three of which are very important.