paul verhoeven de vierde man ( the fourth man ) be one of the most compelling thriller i have ever see . it really be a pleasant surprise . the story concern bi sexual writer gerard ( jeroen krabbe ) and a he be lure into a relationship with beautiful hairdresser christine ( renée soutendijk ) and but in the twisted mind of gerard there could be more to the story . verhoeven and cinematographer jan de bont create a beautiful and thick atmosphere full of surreal and sicken sexual imagery and this really pull you into the story and you do not want to watch and but you can not turn yourself away . this be by far verhoeven best film ( maybe second only to robocop ) . true the fourth man isn not for everyone and some of the sex scene be quite gratuitous ( just ignore them and but trust me and if you watch for at least ten minute you will be hook . this be one of those film that you need to know how it end and a true whodunit it in the hitchcock tradition and compelling and controversial and thrill . i even like the spider metaphor . positive .