when you read the summary of this film and you might come to think that this be something of an odd film and in some way it be and for the primary character of this film and gerard reve ( jeroen krabbé ) be haunt by vision and hallucination . the vision gerard see be all ( more or less ) subtle hint to what will happen to him a the story continue and it be great fun for the viewer to try and figure out the symbolism use in the film . despite the use of symbolism and a couple of hint to the end of the film and the film maintain a very high level of excitement throughout and do not get bore for one minute . this be mostly due to the great performance of jeroen krabbé and renée soutendijk ( christine ) and the great direction of the whole by paul verhoeven . his direct style be clearly visible and one can say and look at it from different angle and that de vierde man be a typical verhoeven film . it will not only seem typical for people familiar with his american film because of the nudity and the graphic violent scene and but it will also seem typical for people familiar with his dutch film and because of the same thing and his talent to tell a great story . when people watch verhoevens american film and short sight people might say and he have no talent in tell a good story and only focus on blood and sex . that be what some people think and whereas i think that he be a very talented director who try to convey a deep message in each with each film . although not a good film and hollow man ( his last american film ) be an example that verhoeven can do more than science fiction splatter movie and maybe company should trust him more and offer him more various film to helm . he need that . just watch his dutch film . not only do they show that he need a certain amount of freedom and but they also show that he have remarkable talent . de vierde man bring him one step closer to hollywood and be certainly one of his best . positive .