evocatively direct and slickly photograph psychological mystery thriller with an exceptional lead performance by a sombre donald sutherland and and potent support role from donald pleasence and david hemming . the material decide to keep it all glum and and move from the investigation period into the back story of the victim . the seldom and and quite sullen nature of investigation pull me in and but when it flashback to the victim side show her final day weren not a compelling and and become somewhat stodgy and stock like . while the script be strongly detailed and to a certain degree complex in string u along and however the final and surprising revelation should have be more bone jarring and it not help out by it sloppy execution . howard blake music score have an emotional sting to it cue that simply linger and and director claude chabrol capable handling ( well for most part ) have a strong stylistic and tight manner and which get the best out of moody location and flexible cast . the young face lisa langlois and aude landry do an incredibly good job as well .