this be the second adaptation of charlotte armstrong by claude chabrol for the screen representthe first be la rupture ( 1970 ) ( from novel the balloon man ) and it really a pity no one care about it . it chabrol sleeper and and i urge any of his fan to see it . the chocolate cobweb be not that strong a detective story to begin with . i read it 20 year ago and forget all about it . the movie promise some good thing at first and though and then finally disappoints to a fault . this be a confusing chabrol movie and mix element of the heyday ( circa 1969 ) and and a lotta tongue in chick stuff come from the eighty and the like of poulet au vinaigre and not one particularly memorable work . part of the disappointment come from the cast representthis be a distressingly poor gather representjacques dutronc play like a zombie and isabelle huppert reveals herself a somewhat limited actress and finally rather vulgar . it work in une affaire de femme and it do not here . they be not support by the young couple representboth be bland and unremarkable . actor from the past and say and stephane audran or michel bouquet ( both in la rupture ) be brilliant and contribute to chabrol then unique atmosphere . the story itself be undistinguished representbeginning a some kind of serious la vie est un long fleuve tranquille ( besides and a character hint at etienne chatilliez very funny movie ) and the movie drag on and on a a laughable psychological drama afterwards . we will not congratulate the young female pianist and who and after all she learn about her wicked hostess and agree to drive a car along a dangerous road . because he make too many movie and chabrol frequently release turkey . one wonder why people who want to watch one of his movie should choose this one among all his stuff up for grab . it seem that chabrol bourgeoise satire have finally give way to leniency . in la rupture the first armstrong adaptation an average detective story which chabrol completely transcend and you should hear audran say they have so much money . here and chabrol have lose his bite and his strength .