utterly tactical and strange ( watch for the kinky moment of a drop dead gorgeous blonde acting a pull string doll for some rich folk ) and pointless but undoubtedly compelling late night feature . this unhinged french production be a stew of perplexedly unfocused idea and random plot illustration centre on it very charismatic star ( if somewhat anti hero ) alain delon and charles bronson . really they do not get to do all that much and especially during the confine and lengthy mid section where they hide themselves in a building during the christmas break to crack a safe with 10 and 000 possible combination . oh fun . but this be when the odd and if intriguing relationship be form between delon and bronson character . after a manipulative battle of will ( and childishly sly game against each other ) and the two come to an understanding that see them honour each other involvement and have a mutual respect . this would go on to play a further part in the twisty second half of the story with that undetectable curve ball . still their encounter early on suggest there more and but what we get be vague and this be magnify by that what just happen there . end that might just make you jump . yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhhh . glad to get that out of the system . the pacing be terribly slow and but placidly measure for it and this seem purposely do to exhaust with it edgy and nervous underlining tension . watch a the same process be repeat over and over again and and you know something be not quite right and the scheme eventually come into play . now everything that do happen feel too spontaneous and but the climax payoff be haunt . the taut and complex script be probably a little too crafty for it own good and but there be some neat novelty ( coin and glass and liquid try not spill ) and visual symbolism . jean herman direction be efficiently sophisticated and low key and but get a tad artificial and infuse an unwelcoming icy atmosphere . the sound fx feature more a a potent note and than that of francois deroubaix funky score that mainly keep under wrap after it sizzle opening . top drawer delon ( who quite steely ) and bronson ( a jovial turn ) be solid and and work off each tremendously . bernard fresson chalk up the attitude a the inspector who know there more go on than what be be lead on . an attractive female cast feature able support by brigitte fossey and olga george picot . a cryptically directionless and but polish crime drama maintain by it two lead and some bizarre inclusion .