La route de Corinthe (The Road to Corinth, AKA Who's Got the Black Box?)
Dir: Claude Chabrol
1967
****
After a brilliant opening scene, it's not always clear what Claude Chabrol's La route de Corinthe (AKA Who's Got the Black Box?) is supposed to be. For the most part it's an unconvincing farcical spoof of the spy genre but compared to the director's previous work and the films he made later it lacks consistency. The film has an opening anonymous quotation that reads: `I don't ask you to believe it but I suggest that you dream about it.' which  leads me to the conclusion that Claude Chabrol's heart wasn't really in it and he relied purely on the beauty of his lead actress and hoped that all the film's unanswered questions would be subjective enough to lead to various interpretations and lady serendipity would take over from there. It's hard not to think that way considering the excellent Les Biches came out only 12 months later. It's a complete mess but it's so odd and ridiculous that I rather liked it.

Madame Bovary
Dir: Claude Chabrol
1991
****
Claude Chabrol's version of Madame Bovary is stunning and this is purely down to his excellent direction and Isabelle Huppert in one of her best performances of her career in my opinion. The abrupt end is excellently conceived and quite fitting to the character, no sugar coating here just an honest portrayal of selfishness and consequence. Misery never looked so good and it makes me sad that not all period dramas are as good as this.

Que la bête meure (This Man Must Die)
Dir: Claude Chabrol
1969
****
You can see why Claude Chabrol is regarded by many as being the 'French Hitchcock', especially once you've watched his 1969 thriller Que le Bete Meure. It's maybe also a little unfair as his style, as influenced as it is, is also very original. Que le Bete Meure (This Man Must Die) is a suspenseful and rewarding revenge story, full of intrigue and great performances. The opening scene is quite powerful and not for the fainthearted. It sets the tone quite brilliantly and it has been recreated dozens of time since but never as well (apart from maybe John Carpenter's 13 Precinct).

Juste avant la nuit (Just Before Nightfall)
Dir: Claude Chabrol
1971
****
Juste avant la nuit is a very clever film. Just when you think you know where the story is going it takes an unexpected and alternative route. I think that's what I liked about it, it kind of knocks the cliche you might expect out the water and raises a good question along the way. Essentially though, it's strength is the way that it concludes that human nature is irrational and it doesn't always make sense but that is also part of what it is meant to be human in the first place. Many may find it unrewarding but personally it was a breath of fresh air (made in 1971, it still surpasses many thrillers made since). A must for Claude Chabrol fans.