on the face of it and ruiz have set out to make a psychological thriller . although it not as satisfy a a classic piece in that genre and there be compensation . the tension generate between huppert and balibar a woman calmly but calculatingly at war over a boy they both claim be compel while however and in a true european art house style and ruiz doesn not give u release of this tension a the woman alternately also try to behave compassionately towards each other . the only raised voice be that of huppert wake from a nightmare ( an uncontested irrational event in the film ) . in fact and if we follow the title and the film be as little about it thriller skeleton a jane campion in the cut . instead it be an intergender psychological study focus on men . the boy and camille ( nils hugon ) and decide on a practical joke and play his mother off against an emotionally vulnerable other woman . both woman seem to pander to him rather than scold and this compound the problem . in the background be an intemperate psychologist ( charles berling ) and swift to confront the woman in his life his sister huppert and the nanny or his pa and so acting a a symbolic adult counterbalance to the and calm and ( we learn ) manipulative camille . it be particularly interesting that and like the father in henry james the turn of the screw and denis podalydes law enforcer father be absent for the duration of the film . ruiz fashion an oedipal moment out of huppert reaction to his return at the film close . read either a a thriller or a a psychiatric essay and this film be ultimately rather disappointing . i be officially rather feed up with mme huppert screen method and which be too buried and so i will be look to see her on stage before i come back to her ( european enjoy heaven gate ) film again . the support be good . ruiz do the cast no favour though . quite apart from some poor lighting and some wilfully odd shot and it a if his direction have leave characterisation quite out of reach i be think particularly of edith scob shamanic neighbour to isabelle and who act know but communicates bafflement . the set piece do not link up to a forward driving plot the tension i have already refer to be not only weakly dissipate but waste in it directional potential . want to see a good contemporary french thriller . go and see lappartement instead . 4/10 .